Rush National School

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a permanent school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Rush National School, Rush, Co. Dublin

REPLY

The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design).
 
In order to mitigate against potential further delay to this project, a process to replace the Chief Architect/Design Team leader for the project at the school referred to by the Deputy was completed in early August 2018.
 
The newly-appointed architect was immediately provided with the project drawings and detailed design to date completed by the previous in-house Departmental architect, in order to familiarise, review and update the project to comply with current Technical Guidance Documents and Building Regulations, including that of NZEB (Near Zero Energy Building) standard.
 
A Design Team meeting is anticipated in the coming weeks to evaluate design options that best comply with the regulations and meet the school needs.
 
Following this review, the Design Team will provide a report and project programme to the Board of Management which will in turn be forwarded to my Department for review.
At that point, my Department will advise the School Authorities of the timeline for the progression of this project to tender and construction.