Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has challenged the Department of Education and Skills to speed up the process of the tendering for St Mary’s National School, Stranorlar.
He said it is his firm belief that this is being dragged out at present and that inordinate delays are occurring in this most urgent project for a new school build at St Mary’s National School.
Pat the Cope added it is also important that Donegal registered or based Building Contractors are shortlisted at pre-qualification stage in order that they are able tender for the project.
“I raised this matter in advance of pre-qualification of contractors with the Minister in the Dáil some months back, that in my view that many Donegal firms were being excluded from pre-qualification and tendering of State Contracts due to their location and that vast inconsistencies exist within the state tendering process at present.
“All I require is that Donegal firms get an opportunity to tender – a fair chance to compete for state contracts as opposed to be continuously excluded from state jobs,” added Pat the Cope.
The Donegal Deputy said he is not satisfied that the tendering of St Mary’s National School is moving at the pace which other projects are at within the Department at present.
He added that inordinate delays are occurring and even yet no firm date can be given by the Department of when we will see contractors on site.
He added “I have worked diligently and tirelessly on this project along with my Municipal Area colleague Cllr Patrick Mc Gowan, who continues to work closely with the school authorities on this priority project for the Finn Valley area.
“This is simply not good enough for this urgent school building project – we all need to put our shoulder to the wheel and bring St Mary’s NS to brick and mortar stage without further delay – this project needs an urgent injection of priority status within the Department and that is what I am publically calling on the Minister and his Department to do – to immediately move this project through the final stages at a priority level speed and get construction underway in Stranorlar for St Mary’s National School”
Copy of Dáil Question –
QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the shortlisting of contractors for a school (details supplied) has been completed; if firms or contractors in County Donegal have been successful in the shortlisting process; the number of firms and contractors in County Donegal that applied to be shortlisted for the contract; the timeframe for the next part of the tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) St Mary’s National School Stranorlar Co Donegal
REPLY
The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Design Team is currently in the process of completing the pre-qualification process to select a shortlist of contractors for tender stage. The outcome of the pre-qualification process has been notified to contractors who expressed interest in tendering for this project. Feedback and issues arising from same are currently being dealt with by the Design Team. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate at this point in time for my Department to comment on the composition of the shortlist.
In parallel with the pre-qualification process the Design Team is currently working on a submission to the Department outlining the steps required to achieve compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations 2017 (NZEB – “Near Zero Energy Building”).
When the pre-qualification process has been completed and the design team’s NZEB submission has been considered and any consequential amendments to Stage 2(b) design and tender documents have been implemented this project will then be progressed to tender stage.
A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.
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