Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Deputy's ongoing commitment to this issue in his constituency. It is an issue on which Deputy Aindrias Moynihan has also engaged with me. I thank Deputy Creed for raising the matter, as it allows me to provide an update to the House on the current position on the provision of interim accommodation for Le Chéile Secondary School in Ballincollig, County Cork.

In September 2021, the school opened in contingency interim accommodation in the former Cork Film Centre in Ballincollig. The school will operate in interim accommodation pending delivery of its permanent school project. As the Deputy outlined, the Department of Education had sought planning permission from Cork City Council for the planned interim accommodation for the school on the grounds of Ballincollig GAA Club. That planning application has been refused by Cork City Council.

At the moment, my Department is exploring what other options may be available, but it is proving difficult. Having done this previously, my Department had identified the Ballincollig GAA site as the best option. My Department will be liaising urgently with the local authority on alternative options. My Department will endeavour to make the appropriate and necessary interim accommodation arrangements in the shortest timeframe possible and will keep the school and its patron informed as viable options are examined and arrangements for September 2022 are made.

My Department has been in contact with the school regarding its first year enrolment for 2022. The school's admissions policy, as published on its website, confirms that 72 places are available. My Department understands that the school made offers to applicants on 11 November and that the closing date for acceptance of these offers is 7 December.

My Department will continue to work with the school and its patron in exploring the accommodation options for mainstream and special education needs pupils for the 2022-23 school year. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Cork City Council on the identification and acquisition of a suitable permanent site for the school in question. A number of permanent site options were identified. Each of these was investigated by the Department in conjunction with officials from Cork City Council. Unfortunately, in the case of all options identified, either the land could not be readily acquired from the landowner or the site was ultimately considered unfeasible for development. There has been consistent engagement and liaising with the local authority on identifying an appropriate and suitable site, and this will remain ongoing.

A potential suitable site has been identified in conjunction with the city council and discussions are ongoing in terms of exploring all options available to the Department to obtain possession of it. The Department is unable to provide any further information at this stage due to commercial sensitivities related to acquisition of the permanent site, but this is a priority for the Department.

I acknowledge the need within the area. We have taken a proactive approach. We have engaged from a pre-planning point of view and in respect of a variety of other sites that had potential, each of which was evaluated in conjunction with the local authority. I acknowledge the liaising with the local authority, which has been most helpful. As we proceed, we needing that liaising to continue. I assure the Deputy that we will do everything possible to prioritise the acquisition of a site and move matters forward in a timely and appropriate manner so as to meet the needs of the school and the area.

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