FOOT-DRAGGING ON LMETB HQ MUST BE ENDED
4 June 2020
Deputy Ged Nash has revealed that quarter of a million euros has been spent to date on plans to relocate the LMETB HQ to Drogheda, but there’s no clear sign when construction will start.
Deputy Nash slammed the authorities, claiming they have turned “foot-dragging into an art form.”
He said;
“Every attempt has been made to delay, frustrate and undermine this key landmark project I secured for Drogheda.
“It’s not on and the ETB and the Department need to get their fingers out, stop with the excuses and get on with the project that will see over 50 staff located in a new premises on the grounds of St. Oliver’s.
“The relocation from Navan and Dundalk has been resisted. That’s the truth of it and this must be faced down. This project has to be delivered and I won’t rest until it is.”
See PQ reply below.
* To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is policy to build the LMETB headquarters building at a site in Drogheda, County Louth; the amount spent on the project to date; when the building will be occupied; the number of ETB staff that will be accommodated in the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Ged Nash T.D.
REPLY: As the Deputy will be aware, the project to which they refer have been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB).
A number of design issues have arisen with this project. These have included issues relating to the need for additional security features for the proposed building that became apparent at tender stage and which required a change in brief with consequent design alterations. Currently, the capacity of the building, and the number of staff it is required to accommodate, is being reviewed to ensure it meets the needs of LMETB into the future.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort to progress the project has been made and will continue to be made. A number of meetings between officials from my Department and LMETB and its design team, with a view to addressing the relevant issues, have taken place. However, it is still too early at this stage to give a commencement date for construction.
To date, approximately €260k has been spent on costs related to the project including design team fees, planning and statutory consent fees and surveys for the project.