Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

29. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new building for a school (details supplied); when construction will commence and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34884/16]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister for an update on the status of a new school and, in particular, the purchase of a site for a three-school campus in Buncrana, County Donegal, to facilitate Crana College secondary school, Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha primary school and Coláiste Chineál Eoghain, which is a Gaelscoil secondary school.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, the project in respect of the education campus in Buncrana was announced as part of the six-year capital programme last year. Officials in the Department have been liaising with officials in Donegal County Council under the memorandum of understanding for the acquisition of school sites with regard to the procurement of a suitable site for the campus.  A significant number of potential site options were comprehensively technically assessed by officials from my Department in liaison with officials from the local authority.

The Deputy will appreciate the importance of a thorough appraisal of site options in order to ensure the achievement of value for money. In this case, the complexity of the issues associated with the development of the site options under consideration, combined with competing demands on my Department's resources, resulted in a lengthier time for site appraisal than would generally have been the case.

Following on from the site assessment exercise, a preferred site option was identified and officials from Donegal County Council, on behalf of my Department, have engaged with the landowner in question with a view to its acquisition.  These negotiations have not yielded a positive result to date but are currently ongoing. At the request of my Department, council officials have also engaged with the relevant landowners in respect of a second suitable site and this may provide an alternative option, if agreement can be reached on a purchase price.

Due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to provide any further information at this time regarding the negotiation process or the site options. Once a suitable site has been acquired, my Department will be in a position to progress the project concerned into the architectural planning process.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I raise the issue with him to try to ensure top priority is given by his Department to securing and purchasing a site so the other stages of the three-school campus project can proceed. Of the three schools, Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha has been very successful since it was established in the early 2000s but it has been operating from the premises of a local youth club. While it is operating very well there, it does not have a purpose-built school building and those involved have been very frustrated by the length of time it has taken to proceed with a new building. Likewise, Crana College secondary school is at capacity on its current site and is long past the stage where it needs to move to a larger building. Coláiste Chineál Eoghain also needs this new site.

Will the Minister indicate what the timeline is likely to be for site negotiations to be completed? Will he give an assurance that, once the site is acquired, it will immediately proceed to the planning and architectural stage?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I cannot give a definite timeline. We have to work through these issues of both site acquisition and the technical assessments, which are complex. If I gave a commitment, I could not guarantee it would be honoured because we have to work with other parties and satisfy everyone that the site is suitable to achieve what we are all trying to achieve. I can assure the Deputy that I will convey to my officials the urgency with which he treats this. I can see from the frustration there has been and the build-up of need that this is a high priority. I can also assure the Deputy that, once the site is settled, we will certainly proceed to support the schools through the planning process and the various architectural requirements.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The urgency with which this is addressed is crucial because of the need of the three schools involved and also because the way it has been handled up to now by the Department leaves a lot to be desired. If we go back three years, a site had been identified at that stage but the Department then restarted the clock, went back to basics and restarted the whole process of identifying a site. It changed its agreement as to how sites should be identified from one of working with local education and training boards, which in this instance was Donegal ETB, to asking county councils to carry out that work instead. Given that a new agreement was signed by the Department, it restarted the process entirely. This means we are now only as far forward as we were three years ago with regard to identifying a preferred site and trying to ensure that site is purchased. It is crucial there is no further delay in this regard. I ask the Minister to live up to his commitment to do his utmost to ensure this process is concluded.

With regard to the capital programme, when will the money be brought forward to build this campus? The period from 2019-21 is indicated in the capital plan.

Will the Minister ensure in his review of the capital plan that he will reconsider bringing that funding forward to ensure the three-school campus can be built as soon as possible?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am sorry to learn of the difficulties that arose in the selection of a site. I have no doubt that the county council has a broader footprint within the county and is used to dealing with site acquisition for other purposes. I am sure that is a better arrangement for the Department. I recognise the urgency the Deputy cites.

We have a capital programme that is adequate to our needs but it is high demand. We have to deliver 20,000 extra places every year. There is pressure on the capital budget. As the projects come through, however, we are meeting them and we have the resources to meet the flow of projects that we are working through. I am confident that when we get a site and get through the planning process, we will be able to fund the flow of projects as they come.