Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

In 2000, the board of management identified a site that was deemed suitable for the proposed new school building. The Department gave the board approval to acquire the site on the basis that the Minister would purchase it from the school's management subsequently. The vendor agreed in writing in a letter to the board of management to the sale of the site in 2003. In February 2005, however, the vendor wrote to the board to advise it that, as property prices had risen significantly since the site's valuation in 2000, she would request that the price be increased in line with that.

On 7 April 2005, the Department wrote to the board and asked whether the former could enter into negotiations with the vendor directly. This was agreed. In line with what was then normal practice, the OPW identified two other sites as well as the one eventually acquired, as it was the cheapest option. The deal on the site was formally closed by the OPW in 2007. The Department is committed to this project, as demonstrated by its purchase of the site in question.

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