Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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347. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 189 of 23 May and 152 of 27 June 2024, and a response provided to a parent of one of the students affected, the details of how this assurance can be made given the report from the architect (details supplied). [29655/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 - Construction.

Works commenced on site in June 2023 with an estimated completion timeframe of 18 months. However, due to a number of unforeseen site issues, and additional delays in relation to the relocation of ESB wires, which were outside the control of my Department, the campus project was delayed on site. In a recent update from the Design Team, overall completion for the campus project for the two special schools is now estimated at Quarter 3 of 2025.

Whilst the school referred to by the Deputy will be largely complete in late 2024/early 2025, it is important to bear in mind that it is a campus project to provide 2 schools on the same site. The Design Team are assessing the scope for phasing the handover of the campus so that the school referred to by the Deputy could be occupied at an earlier stage. However, this needs careful analysis from a technical, safety and education perspective given that it would relate to a special school operating beside a live construction site on the same campus. The Design Team and my Department’s Planning and Building Unit are liaising closely on this matter and will continue to keep the school communities updated on progress and timelines.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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348. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a Stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted regarding the outcome of this review as it has been confirmed that it has been near completion for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29671/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the project for this school has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. It includes an extension to the existing school buildings, decanting if required, necessary to satisfactorily develop the post primary school on its existing site to cater for an enrolment of 700 pupils

The Stage 2b architectural report has been received and reviewed by my Department. Following the outcome of this review, I am very pleased to advise that officials in my Department very recently reverted to the school authority and instructed them directly in relation to the next steps to progress this significant project.

As soon as this stage is finalised, the project will then move onward to tender and construction in due course.