Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have indicated that officials in the building unit of my Department are examining the reasons given by the local authority for the refusal of planning permission and whether these reasons can be addressed, taking into account a value for money perspective, which is important. The Department would not be engaging in this assessment of the outcome of the planning process if it was not committed to the project. It has also undertaken a review of demographics in Kanturk and its hinterland, the area to be served by the new school. The review was part of the ongoing process to deliver the school. I glean from this response that the Department remains, and shall remain, committed to delivery of the project. Cork County Council raised one issue in the planning process. It was not satisfied with the access road to the school proposed by the OPW and required the road to continue past the school site to link with the town centre. The cost of providing the link outside the school site on third party lands has and should raise serious value for money issues for the Department. This is and should be the primary subject of any subsequent meeting between OPW officials, officials of the county council and officials of my Department. I will endeavour to have that meeting arranged as soon as possible. It needs to take place and I am confident that, with the collective expertise of those sitting around the table from the Department, the OPW and Cork County Council, a satisfactory conclusion can be reached soon.

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