Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021
389. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education when a permanent building for a school (details supplied) will be provided to alleviate the crisis in school places in the locality; if the tender for this school has been issued; if not, the timescale for issuing this tender; when the temporary accommodation for the school previously promised for September 2020 will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8212/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. The tender process to establish a new Design & Build Contractors Framework commenced on the 4th December 2019. The second stage of the tender process which involves the detailed tender for several schools has commenced and is expected to be concluded in Quarter 1 2021.
The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the first bundle of projects currently being tendered to this new Framework. This is the earliest that the project can be tendered.
It is my Department's intention that the construction of the new 1,000 pupil school will be phased to provide permanent accommodation as early as possible in the 2021/22 school year with the second phase of the new school being completed as early as possible in the 2022/23 school year.
Regarding the interim accommodation for the school, I can confirm that the contractor started on site on 9 December 2020 and the proposed handover of this accommodation is early March.
My Department will continue to keep the school authority updated in relation to the project.
