IPPN

Published: 24 January 2011

 The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan, TD, today announced details of the work that will be proceeding under the Department’s school building programme in 2011.

The Tánaiste also announced plans to establish a further nine new post primary schools which will open between 2012 and 2016.

Department’s 2011 school building work programme

"I am publishing details of the work programme for 2011. This includes new projects and those currently approved, outlining their planned progression and targets for 2011," she said.

• 102 projects will begin the process of appointing design teams (architect, engineer and quantity surveyor) in 2011. The design teams will then begin work on designing major projects for the schools in question.
• 42 schools are currently being advanced to secure planning permission, with a view to tendering as soon as planning has been secured.
• 41 schools - each major building projects - will go to tender in 2011.
• 48 further major projects, currently at tender stage, are scheduled to award contracts in 2011 and will start on site as soon as possible thereafter.
• 51 major school building projects which are currently on-site and work will continue on these during the year.
• 123 other schools on which design teams are presently deployed are being progressed through the system.

"Details of all these projects will be published on my Department’s website, allowing schools to see where their project stands at present.

"These major projects are in addition to the ongoing work on small to medium scale works in schools around the country, funded by my Department. In this regard, applications for the Summer Works Scheme 2011 have been received in my Department and are currently being assessed," said the Tánaiste.

"Unfortunately, it is not possible to progress all projects at once. This means that it was necessary to prioritise those projects which meet the most urgent needs. I recognise that this means that there will be some schools unhappy that their project will not be progressing to tender and construction in 2011." However, these projects will be considered for progression in future years under the multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

With regard to projects which are currently in the design process, officials from the Department will be in contact with school authorities to evaluate project progress to date and to plan the project targets for this year.

 

Full Story: www.education.ie