Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising the issue. It is an issue of considerable concern. I have spoken to the Deputy's constituency colleagues, including the Minister, Deputy Creed, and others, who share his frustration. I understand it. It has a very long history. The planning process started way back in 2012 at which point planning permission was refused by Cork County Council on the ground of access. It then came up with an alternative approach to access and alternative site access proposals. They were granted but subject to conditions that, as Deputy Moynihan has said, the Department felt could be leaving them exposed to building a school that would not have adequate access and could not open. Based on the conditions, the Department instructed the Office of Public Works, OPW, to appeal the conditions to An Bord Pleanála but they were upheld so the Department had to proceed. That has added complexity to the project.

I understand the project has been delayed in more recent times due to issues concerning clarification of the ownership of the lands adjacent to the site and on a number of sides, the passing of some of that land into county council ownership, and the acquisition of licences that are required to carry out the necessary enabling works for the project. I gather the issue was related to building an access road and footpath which were required due to the new condition.

I am pleased to note that the issue around the land passing into county council ownership has been resolved and a licence has been received from the county council to allow the necessary electrical cable enabling works on that land to proceed. This development permitted the OPW to agree a design with the ESB for the works and the OPW is now proceeding to tender for them. I gather that that element of the works could take up to nine months as it involves groundworks and overhead diversion works, all of which must be completed. A further licence from another landowner to allow foul sewer works during the building project has progressed and is now being finalised. That does not hold up the enabling works for the electrical works, which are now proceeding to tender.

With the progression of the enabling works my Department will be in a position to approve the pre-qualification of contractors for the project later this year and then to approve the project to proceed to tender and construction. While I fully understand the frustration the Deputy and the various stakeholders in St. Colman's boys school and the Convent of Mercy girls school in Kanturk have experienced, we are now in sight of getting all the issues resolved and will be in a position to move to the pre-qualification stage for contractors. I am encouraged by that and I assure the Deputy that my Department is determined to push this project on, given the difficult experience people have had.

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