Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Stanley for raising this issue, which my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, has also raised with me. I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, but I have heard from people, including Deputy Stanley, about how progressive the school is, how pupils want to go to it and how well it is managed. I have also heard that it has an excellent principal. I acknowledge those facts.

Coláiste Dhún Másc opened in September 2017 under the patronage of the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, ETB, to serve Portlaoise. In line with the establishment of such new schools generally, it commenced with an intake of first year students and enrolments at the school are continuing to grow. The school is currently located in interim accommodation sourced by the ETB and a building project to deliver permanent accommodation is included in the Department's capital programme.

The delivery of the permanent school building for Coláiste Dhún Másc requires the acquisition of a suitable site. In that respect, the Department has been working closely with Laois County Council under the memorandum of understanding on the acquisition of a site. Officials have also been closely engaged with officials in the Laois and Offaly ETB regarding the process. A number of potential site options were identified and comprehensively assessed, with input from officials in the county council and the ETB.

The Deputy will appreciate that multiple factors must be considered in respect of potential school sites, including sometimes complex technical issues as well as the suitability. Unfortunately, all the sites initially identified presented challenges in respect of the proposed acquisition or the delivery of school accommodation thereon. A further site option was subsequently identified and was found to present a viable solution for the delivery of accommodation and ancillary facilities for Coláiste Dhún Másc. Negotiations with the landowner in respect of the proposed acquisition of this site are at an advanced stage. The Deputy will appreciate the commercial sensitivities that attach to school site acquisitions generally and in this instance, given the delicate status of the current negotiations, I am not in a position to disclose any further information regarding the proposed location of the school's permanent accommodation. However, I assure the Deputy that departmental officials are working to advance the acquisition of a site for Coláiste Dhún Másc as expeditiously as possible with a view to facilitating the progression of the project to deliver its permanent accommodation into architectural planning at the earliest possible date.

The Department will continue to liaise with officials in the Laois and Offaly ETB in order to keep them apprised of the status of the site acquisition process and will inform the ETB and school community of the permanent location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.

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