Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am sorry for keeping her waiting. I could not make it here before 2.45 p.m. I thought I was due to respond to the third Commencement matter. I apologise for the problems that were caused.

As the Senator is aware, officials from my Department have been working closely with officials from South Dublin County Council to secure a suitable site to facilitate the delivery of permanent school accommodation for Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna. Agreement in principle on the acquisition by the Department of a site owned by South Dublin County Council has been reached. That is going back quite a while now. The site in question is the current location of the school’s temporary accommodation and has been deemed to be technically suitable for the development of permanent accommodation. As has been outlined to the Senator previously, certain title issues associated with the site were identified as part of the standard conveyancing process. As the Senator will understand, it is critical for these issues to be resolved before the Minister takes ownership of the site. The resolution of title issues can sometimes be complex. Unfortunately, this has proven to be the case in respect of the site for Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna.

South Dublin County Council has worked closely with the Department of Education and Skills and the Property Registration Authority for some time in an effort to achieve a satisfactory outcome. The complexity of the issue has meant that the site acquisition has been delayed significantly while officials work towards a resolution. Officials from my Department have discussed with their counterparts in South Dublin County Council possible mechanisms which could provide a satisfactory resolution to the title issues and thereby facilitate the land transfer. Officials from my Department have been informed that South Dublin County Council intends to initiate a compulsory purchase order process as soon as possible, subject to legal advice which is under discussion with a law agent.My officials have also been informed that representatives of the council have arranged to meet the school's board of management next week to update it and discuss the matter.

Once the acquisition of the site is finalised, it is the intention of my Department to initiate the architectural planning process for the provision of a new school building. Officials from the Department will continue to work closely with officials from South Dublin County Council to progress matters in the context of the pressing need to advance the project for the provision of permanent accommodation.

I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position to the Seanad. The matter has been ongoing for a long time. I would have assumed that it would have moved on at this stage, but it has not. At this stage the only way to move the issue forward involves compulsory purchase orders. The council has tried to do all it can to avoid having to do that, but it looks as though progress will involve that. There is a commitment for that to happen. I can make sure the Department keeps the Senator informed of the situation over the next couple of weeks.