Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2024
198. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the status of a building project (details supplied) which was granted permission on appeal by An Bord Pleanála in 2021 and to make a statement on when she anticipates that building works can be approved by her Department; and when it ought to commence [27113/24]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.
All Statutory Approvals have been secured, and the Stage 2(b) Submission was received in the Department late Q4 2023, for review. The Department's Professional and Technical Team will review it as quickly as possible having regard also to the many other projects they have to manage for progression through the Department's pipeline.
I am pleased to advise the Department recently the School Authorities and their Design Team to begin the prequalification of contractors process, which will be carried out in parallel with the review of the Stage submission and the Departments due diligence procedures.
The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3, tender stage. Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by the Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.
Department officials will continue to keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps.
