John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Meath County Council has plans to develop a linear park in Ashbourne. The development of a portion of land alongside the Broadmeadow River, which is in the ownership of the Minister for Education and Skills, is incorporated in the plans for the park. The land is part of two portions of land in Ashbourne acquired by my Department to meet school accommodation requirements in the town. One of these portions was acquired for the purpose of providing school accommodation for Coláiste De Lacy, Gaelscoil na Mí and Ashbourne Educate Together national school. The second portion, adjacent to the new campus, was acquired to facilitate access to the permanent site and to provide temporary accommodation for the post-primary school during construction.

Permanent accommodation for all three schools has now been provided on the campus site. Construction of the first phase of Coláiste De Lacy is complete and the school is in operation. A design team is working on phase 2, which will increase capacity to 1,000 pupils. Construction is also complete on a new permanent 16-classroom building for Gaelscoil na Mí and a new permanent 16-classroom building for Ashbourne Educate Together national school.

Some of the lands in my ownership or that of the Department adjacent to the new Ashbourne school campus will be surplus to the requirements of the Department. They include lands incorporated into Meath County Council's plan for the development of the linear park. My Department is considering the future use and disposal of the surplus land. Any such disposal would be conducted in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11, 15 and 17 of 2016.

On the transfer and disposal of State assets, officials in Meath County Council previously made my Department aware of the proposal for the linear park in Ashbourne and meetings were held to discuss the development. There has been ongoing positive and constructive engagement between officials of my Department and Meath County Council in that regard. Officials of the Department met senior officials in Meath County Council within the past month to determine how best to progress matters, with a view to facilitating the linear park. At that meeting it was agreed that my Department would work closely with officials in Meath County Council and keep them apprised of developments.

As an alternative to direct purchase by Meath County Council of the lands at market value, officials of my Department are exploring possible mechanisms to facilitate the mutual objectives of the delivery of the linear park and the achievement of value for money for the Exchequer. My officials will engage further with officials of Meath County Council as the matter progresses. It will be sorted out within a relatively short period following the completion of the ongoing negotiations. The development of the schools and community amenities is at the heart of sustainable community development. Officials of my Department will continue to engage with officials in Meath County Council to advance the matter.

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