Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy will be aware that the Department, under the terms of the Fingal model agreement, requested Fingal County Council to acquire a number of sites in the council's administrative area, including a site for Tyrellstown Educate Together and Mulhuddart national school. Following the recent acquisition of a site by the county council, the previous Minister included both schools in the announcement of 16 February 2010 on the appointment of a design team. Since February, departmental officials have held preliminary discussions with the local authority in regard to the schools. Template drawings for the project have also been prepared and a tender competition for the appointment of a project manager and design team is under way. Following completion of this competition, a contract will be awarded and it is anticipated that the project will progress through the design and construction phase as soon as possible thereafter.

Any further proposed building projects required arising from the forward planning section's analysis will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme for 2010 and subsequent years. However, the House can rest assured that the Department is fully aware of the rapidly developing nature of the Dublin 15 area, including Tyrellstown, and the associated demands for school places.

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