Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this important issue. It is one I raised previously when I was a Member of the Seanad and, indeed, it has been raised by many members of the local authority in County Meath, including by my colleague, Councillor Seán Smith. It is an issue related to the continuation of the good relations the community has with the Department of Education and Skills in Ashbourne. It is fair to say that. While not everything is perfect in regard to schooling in Ashbourne, there have been significant improvements. Many buildings have gone up and schools are pretty happy with them. As a result, a substantial 16 acres of land in the ownership of the Department of Education and Skills is now available on either side of a main road in Ashbourne. Local authority members, including my colleague, Councillor Smith, and organisations such as the Ashbourne Playspace Network, would love to see the land come into local ownership. It is already in public ownership, but they would see it come into local ownership to form part of what is called the "linear park" for Ashbourne. This land would be a significant amount of land for a park.

Ashbourne is a town with a population of approximately 11,000 at the time of the last census and, obviously, there are surrounding areas too. The town has no public park and limited green space. It is a burning desire of the people, as Deputy McEntee will also know, to have their own park. This issue goes back over many years to flawed development plans which did not provide enough parkland. While improvements are being made and there is a currently a Part 8 planning application in regard to a linear park in Ashbourne, the land the Department of Education and Skills owns would be a significant addition and would improve the town no end. It would contribute to national objectives on healthier living, getting together with friends, exercising dogs and doing things people should be able to enjoy. I am sure that if the Department wants the schools to have a special role on the land, there would be no objection. That is a matter for another day.

Shortly after I raised the matter in the Seanad a year and a half ago, the Department met the local authority and an evaluation report was carried out. I understand that talks have taken place between the local authority and the Department of Education and Skills, which is welcome and encouraging. While I am happy with that, we would like to see some finality on this. It is within the gift of the Department for this to happen and I would love to see an imaginative arrangement to ensure that it goes ahead and that a park is available for the town which, in every other respect, is a fantastic place to live. A few years ago, it was given the Retail Excellence Ireland award for fourth-best town for shopping in Ireland. In fairness, there has been a huge investment in the cycle lanes and schools in Ashbourne. By and large, it is a pretty good place to live and we are just trying to tidy up some pretty important aspects of it, including the provision of a park. Everybody will work together on it. I would be delighted to hear the Minister of State's response on what is a net issue yet one which would have significant benefits and good consequences for the public if there were final movement on it.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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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.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for what he has said and the positive and constructive approach the Department has taken which I noted in my initial contribution. He believes the matter will be sorted out and has said the Department is examining various mechanisms to ensure we can have a linear park. I also understand the Department's concerns about ensuring value for money from its point of view. It is encouraging that the issue is being examined closely. The Department can see not only its responsibilities in terms of the value of the land but also its wider responsibilities to the community in meeting the needs of the town of Ashbourne where many people will be extremely pleased about this, given the work they have done. Many voluntary groups, in particular those involving young mothers, have worked very hard to try to advance the project. They have pushed politicians to highlight the matter to ensure the project will be delivered. As I said, Councillor Sean Smith and others have has paid particular attention to it. We will take the response in a positive manner and allow negotiations to continue. I appreciate that negotiations on land are sensitive. We cannot jump up and down in the Dáil about every last detail and I will not do so. I will take the news of a positive approach home with me and share it with those in my constituency. They will be very happy and patient in allowing the process to play out, knowing that the Department and Meath County Council will continue their engagement which, up to now, has been constructive. We will await further developments.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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There are two sites involved, sites A and B, the owners of one of which went into receivership. There is a road through the land. People might ask why the Department will not transfer lands needed for the linear park to Meath County Council for a nominal sum. As the Deputy knows, the land was acquired for a considerable sum of money and the Department is, therefore, seeking to ensure the moneys paid for the surplus land can be recouped in full in facilitating the progression of the linear park project within a short timeframe. The Department has told me the mechanisms that can be used to facilitate the linear park project, while also ensuring the Exchequer will obtain the best value for money. They are being explored. As I said, based on my information and given the ongoing discussions and so on, I am hopeful some conclusion can be reached by the Department and Meath County Council within a short period.