Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton. I am pleased to outline to the Seanad the current position on the site selection process for the new school campus at Buncrana. The project in respect of the education campus in Buncrana is included on the Department of Education and Skills capital programme and this project requires the acquisition of a site to facilitate the new school accommodation. In that context, the Department has been working closely with Donegal County Council under the memorandum of understanding for the acquisition of school sites with a view to securing a location for the campus project. A significant number of site options were identified and thoroughly technically appraised by both Department and council personnel. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of all parties, the site acquisition process to date has been protracted due to technical challenges with identified site options and difficulties in reaching agreement with landowners.Department and council officials recently undertook an exercise to identify the best next steps in order to advance this site acquisition process. A number of options to progress the site acquisition process were identified and a significant amount of work has been undertaken by both council and Department officials to thoroughly appraise these to ensure value for money for the State. This exercise included the consideration of further information regarding the availability of the preferred site and, in light of this and in the context of the identified options for progression, negotiations recommenced with the landowner in respect of that preferred site option, with a view to reaching agreement on mutually acceptable terms. These negotiations are currently under way and appear to be progressing.

Should agreement on the proposed acquisition be reached, the process will advance to the conveyancing stage when draft contracts are prepared and legal due diligence is undertaken in respect of the proposed transaction. Once a site for the school is secured in State ownership the project to deliver the new school accommodation can progress to architectural planning stage.

The Senator will appreciate that commercial sensitivities attach to site acquisitions such as this and given that negotiations are at a critical point I am not currently in a position to disclose further information. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Bruton, I assure the Senator that the school authorities are being kept apprised of the situation and will be informed of the permanent location for the campus as soon as it is possible to do so.