Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Department is building a school and an access road. We are not in total control of the site for the latter. It looks like that matter will be finalised shortly. I cannot say when, as it is a legal agreement that must be finalised. Waving a magic wand to sort it out overnight is not in our gift. We are doing all that we can. It looks like the school has progressed and is on track to be open for the 2016-17 year. The tenders are signed. The Department has prioritised this project and pushed it as much as it can, but I cannot answer for problems with bad planning that go back years. I was not a councillor in the area. The Department has sorted out a difficulty, leaving the legal agreements to be finalised, but those are not totally in our control. I can say no more. It seems like the project is close to being finalised, after which it can proceed to construction. It has gone through every other phase. Nothing else is holding it back. This is the best that I can give the Deputy. She is not happy with it, but it is the truth. I hope that the project will move quickly, but she knows that, when it comes to legal arrangements, I cannot say whether they will be agreed tomorrow, next week or later.

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