Emer Currie
Ceist:141. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline on the revised stage 1 submission for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55542/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 15 October 2025
Ceisteanna (141, 142)
Emer Currie
Ceist:142. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline on arranging a stage 1 stakeholders meeting for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55543/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The Brief for this project is the development of a 32 Classroom Primary School with 4 classrooms for pupils with Special Educational Needs including Pyrite Remediation, the Refurbishment of Existing Buildings and the construction of a New Build Extension and all associated site works, including associated play areas.
The major building project is currently at an early stage of architectural planning - Stage 1 - Preliminary Design, where the design team assess the site and current buildings, and prepare their initial sketch schemes. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out will be established during this early stage, to be then further detailed and developed and fully cost-planned, before seeking statutory approvals, including planning permission.
Interim Stage 1 architectural workshops were held between the Design Team and the Department in Q4 2023, and the Design Team submitted their Stage 1 report to the Department in late Q4 2023.
Upon review of the report, a further detailed architectural workshop was held between the School Authorities, the Project Manager, Design Team and the Department in February 2024.
Following that meeting, the Design Team were requested to consider the Departments comments in relation to the site and design options presented.
Department Officials and Design Team members have met on site at St Patricks NS in attempts to develop appropriate design solutions that will best meet the needs of the school, and being cognisant of the 3rd party occupiers at the same site.
The Design Team are to prepare a revised Stage 1 submission, which upon receipt, will be reviewed, and a Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting will then be arranged.
Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated onsite date.
In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation the department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
The department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
Question No. 142 answered with Question No. 141.