Emer Currie
Ceist:310. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a Stage 2a meeting for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33895/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 7 May 2026
Ceisteanna (310)
Freagraí scríofa
The major building project referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under the 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 department’s comments in relation to the site and design options presented.
Department Officials and Design Team members have met on site at St. Patrick’s National School 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.
I recognise that there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects under the NDP.
As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender. The department-led Energy and Condition Survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.
Based on this ongoing prioritisation process some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027 having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond.
Any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by the department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs and approach for addressing same.
The accommodation needs at St. Patrick’s National School will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.