Summer start for St David’s extension
WORK to refurbish and extend St David’s Secondary School is expected to begin in this summer. Minister Simon Harris confirmed the news following consultation with the Department of Education.
The major building project for the Greystones school is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the applications for planning permission, fire cert and disability access cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The current status of the project is that the design team is in the process of completing the Stage 2(b) report which will be submitted through the Board of Management to the Department.
In September 2018, the school provided the Department with an updated project programme from its design team which indicated that the stage 2(b) report is expected to be submitted to the Department for review end February. On this basis, the Department responded to the school confirming that it would be satisfied to authorise the commencement of the pre-qualification process to select a shortlist of contractors this month. Upon receipt and review of the stage 2(b) report and completion of the pre-qualification process, the project will then be progressed to tender stage.
The school and its’ design team are currently programming construction to commence in July.
Minister Harris, himself a former student of St David’s, said the project will bring ‘a major improvement’ to the area.
‘St David’s is a fantastic school in the heart of Greystones and this work has been long awaited. It will mean a major improvement to the school infrastructure in the area,’ said Minister Harris.
‘I am always eager to work with our schools to help them to grow and develop. St David’s Greystones is one of the schools I have been working with since I was first elected. After a sustained campaign working with the school community, I was delighted to secure the approval and funding for a major extension and refurbishment of the existing building. Although the planning permission process and other issues did cause some delays, I am delighted that the Department have confirmed that they expect construction to begin in July,’ he said.
Minister Harris added that he has invited Minister for Education Joe McHugh to visit the school to see need for urgent progress on the build.