Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
100. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the badly needed extension for a school (details supplied) that is stuck on pre-stage 1 and has not progressed to planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16347/24]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was granted approval under the my Department's Additional Accommodation scheme for the provision of 4 General Classrooms, 1 Technology Room with Preparation Area, 3 Science rooms with Preparation Area, 1 Art Room, 1 Music Room,1 Multimedia Room, 1 Textile Room, 1 Home Economics Room, a 4 Classroom SEN Base, 1 SET Room and 1 user assisted WC long with conversion works to existing accommodation to provide 2 Special Education Teaching rooms and ancillary accommodation. The school also received approval for the purchase of SEN Modular Accommodation for September 2023.
The project is devolved for delivery and the school has appointed a design team to oversee the delivery of this project. While the project is at stage 1 (initial design) of the architectural design process, a preliminary design report has been received by my Department and is currently being reviewed. In order to provide practical assistance to the school authority, my Department will be scheduling a technical meeting with the relevant stakeholders following the review of their Design Team's pre-stage1 submission. Following the successful conclusion of this initial design phase of the project, the project will advance to detailed design and costing before planning approval is sought.
The Department will continue to engage with the school authority and its design team in order to progress this important project.
