The permanent building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under the Department's Design and Build programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
The Grant of Planning decision was received in April 2022. It is intended that the project will be included in the next bundle of projects to proceed to tender before the end of this year and will be tendered to the Department’s Design & Build Contractors Framework.
The tender process normally takes approximately 8-10 months. Once a Contractor has been appointed, the construction of a 1,000 pupil post primary school on a Design & Build programme normally takes some 70 weeks.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school's Patron body with regard to any interim accommodation requirements of the school pending delivery of the permanent accommodation.