Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Bruton, who is unable to be here. On his behalf, I thank the Senator for raising this matter.

The Ballinteer Education Together national school was successfully relocated to the Notre Dame campus on Upper Churchtown Road in Dublin 14 pending delivery of the permanent accommodation at the St. Tiernan's community school site in Balally, to which the Senator referred. On behalf of the Minister, I extend my thanks to all concerned for their work and efforts over the summer months in facilitating that logistical move. The accommodation provided for the school at the Notre Dame campus since September comprises 11 classrooms. It also includes ancillary accommodation. Provisional enrolment data indicate an increase of 40 pupils from a total of 234 pupils in September 2016 to 274 in September 2017, meaning that an additional two mainstream teachers were required.

Regarding progress on the permanent school accommodation, as has been stated previously, access to the permanent site is a complex planning issue. Since June, the Department has met a third-party landowner on a number of occasions with a view to negotiating an acceptable solution to the access issue. As these are commercially sensitive negotiations, it is not possible to comment further at this stage. All aspects are being progressed in close liaison with the local authority in order to ensure that a further planning application has the best likelihood of success. The Department is fully committed to bringing this project to a satisfactory conclusion as soon as issues relating to the planning process have been resolved.

The Senator asked if I would give him an assurance that I will bring the issues he raised today to the Minister's attention. I give him that assurance now.