Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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8. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of engagements that have taken place with the landowner of a proposed new school site (details supplied), if there has been engagement with council planners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35347/21]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Population growth in Ballincollig has required two new schools to be established recently, Gaelscoil An Chaisleáin in 2017 and, more recently, Le Chéile second level school which is due to open its doors next September. Can the Minister outline the efforts being made to get permanent homes for these schools and advance buildings for them on a permanent basis?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the memorandum of understanding in place between local authorities and my Department in respect of the acquisition of suitable sites for schools, officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Cork City Council in regard to a site for the school, Le Chéile, in respect of which the Deputy is inquiring.

A number of site options have been identified and assessed by my Department in conjunction with officials from Cork City Council. Unfortunately, in the case of most of these options the land could not be acquired from the landowner or the site was ultimately considered unfeasible to develop for a variety of technical reasons. However, two potential site options have been identified and negotiations are currently under way. These site options include potential campus arrangements with Gaelscoil An Chaisleáin.

There is ongoing active engagement with Cork City Council, including with its planners in the context of the ongoing development plan review process. This consists of a number of communications via phone calls, email and conference calls specifically in regard to advancing this.

I appreciate that the process is taking a considerable length of time, but I can assure the Deputy that the acquisition of a suitable site for the school is very active in the programme of site acquisitions and every effort is being made to secure a suitable site for the school as expeditiously as possible. I know this is a high priority for the Deputy. He has continued to engage on an ongoing basis on this and I assure him we wish to expedite this as quickly as we possibly can. He will appreciate and be aware that negotiations in respect of site acquisitions are, by their nature, sensitive and for that reason I am not in a position to provide further specifics. I assure him it is a matter of priority for the Department.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge that Le Chéile is newer and due to open its doors in September. The population projections for the school predict an increase from 600 to 1,000 students so a larger site is required. The gaelscoil has been in temporary accommodation since its establishment in 2017. It is outgrowing its site and its temporary planning. There is increasing pressure.

Due to the fact a larger footprint is needed, is the Minister engaging with the development plan which is going to public consultation shortly to request additional grounds to be zoned? Is she proposing to move ahead with existing zoned ground?

Tá géarghá le suíomh do Ghaelscoil An Chaisleáin a bhogadh ar aghaidh. Tá siad ag feitheamh ó bunaíodh an scoil in 2017. Tá brú orthu agus tá siad ag fás agus ag síneadh amach mórthimpeall an tsuímh atá ann. An féidir é seo a bhogadh chun cinn go práinneach?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As I said, I appreciate the bona fides of the Deputy's inquiry. It has been an ongoing priority on his agenda with the Department of Education. I want to be very clear that the Department is doing all it can to engage with all sides to ensure we can expedite the provision of an appropriate site for all concerned as quickly as possible.

In regard to Cork City Council, I want to acknowledge that there has been excellent and ongoing engagement between the Department of Education and the local authority and I want to acknowledge the manner in which it was facilitated by the local authority. That includes the development plan review process. That work is ongoing.

We are 100% committed to expediting this as a matter of priority.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I seek to clarify two points on the two potential sites that possibly are being advanced. The Minister indicated the campus option is being considered. Is the campus option for both of those potential sites or is there still a possibility of one site for each of the schools?

On the city development plan, which is going to public consultation shortly, is the Department requesting that either additional or new sites be zoned? The site that would be needed for either a campus or for a 1,000-pupil school would be much larger than the grounds that are already zoned. Is there active engagement about zoning ground and are submissions being made on the development plan?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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It was remiss of me not to say that I appreciate the importance of seeing progress being made here as quickly as possible from the point of view of school communities, staff, parents, boards of management and local communities. I know I am repeating myself at this stage but I assure the Deputy that every effort is being made. There have been ongoing and protracted engagements in an attempt to advance this as quickly as possible. It is a positive that we can say that two potential sites have been identified and that the negotiations are under way. The Deputy is correct that the site options include potential campus arrangements. It would be early days to say any more than that at this stage. The potential for a campus arrangement between the two is there but it is just potential at this stage.

On the development plan, all aspects that would be of benefit to advancing the schools are being discussed.