Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 1599: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary which has applied for additional facilities; if all information requested from the school has been received; and when a decision will be made in this case. [1807/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The application for additional facilities referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. In October of 2005 my Department wrote to the School Authorities with issues that needed addressing on a stage 1 / 2 submission (outline sketch scheme with costings). The School's response was examined and discussed at a meeting with my Officials in January of 2006. At that meeting the design considerations of the School in question, particularly in relation to the site, highlighted new concerns over the viability of further development regarding effluent discharge.

In February of 2006, my Department wrote to the School Authorities requesting them to carry out a site suitability test for the discharge of effluent to ground waters indicating that when this was completed my Department would be in a position to further progress the School's building project.

In August of 2006 a Feasibility Study was carried out by the School's Design Team and this documentation was reviewed by my Department's Technical staff who indicated that the current School site was very small and had a number of constraints. My Department requested the school authorities to explore the availability of an alternative site that would meet all the criteria, as a contingency plan, should the existing site not prove to be viable.

When this information is received in my Department, my Officials will be in a position to further progress the proposed building project at the School in question.