Seanad debates

Thursday, 1 October 2015

Commencement Matters

Site Acquisitions

10:30 am

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I think the Minister of State is a Minister of State in the Department of Education and Skills.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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No, I am a Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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That is a pity. He was.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I was.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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Apologies. I am raising an issue about a school. It is the second time the Cathaoirleach has allowed me to raise this issue about the purchase of a site for St. Peter's national school in Dunboyne. It is a pity I am here a year later because it is not just this year, it is over ten years at this stage.

St. Peter's national school is the first Church of Ireland denominational school established since the foundation of the State. It plays a very important role in an area of severe demographic pressure in Dunboyne. It caters for people from all over south Meath and students from west County Dublin. I spoke to Senator Barrett, who is a member of that parish. He was unable to stay for the debate but he is certainly aware of the issue and is also putting on pressure. We really need to know what is happening. The parents are very frustrated. They are in very cramped accommodation on a very dangerous piece of road in the village, in a completely unsuitable situation.

There seem to be huge difficulties with the purchase of a site in terms of what sites in the area are zoned for educational use. If the Department cannot very quickly secure one of those sites, it will have to look somewhere else. What seems to be happening is that the small number of people who have educationally-zoned sites are playing extreme hard ball with the Department and it is about time the Department decided to put the interest of the students first, which I know is their interest, and find a suitable site for them somewhere, in conjunction with Meath County Council.

This matter is going on too long. The parents are in limbo. They do not know what is happening. They want their school and they are entitled to it. I do not get too many calls nowadays about schools because many schools were built by the previous Government and by this Government, which we are happy to see. It is very unfair on this school, which is relatively small but which serves a very important demographic. They need their site and they need to be up and running and then left to do their own thing, which is teaching their children and bringing them up as good citizens of this country.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Again, I am taking the matter on behalf of Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, the Minister for Education and Skills. At the outset, I acknowledge that this issue was raised by the Senator a year ago and I acknowledge the frustration of the school community, which has high expectations of delivery.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order, can we get a copy of the script?

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I will continue to deliver, if that is okay? The Senator might want to check against delivery, but the school is currently located on a temporary basis on a site owned by the patron. In the context of increased constraints on the school's temporary site, the Department recognised the need for the acquisition of a suitable alternative site to provide a permanent location for the school. A potential site was identified and following on from a favourable assessment of the site's suitability, the Department opened negotiations with the landowner. Despite the best efforts of the Department and a significant investment of time in the negotiations, these ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Officials from the Department have since worked closely with officials from Meath County Council towards identifying an alternative permanent site to meet the needs of St. Peter's Church of Ireland national school. In general, the first step in a site-acquisition process is the identification of a number of suitable sites by the relevant local authority. The identified sites are then technically assessed on a joint basis by officials from the local authority and from the Department. Subsequent to this, a valuation of the preferred site is procured and negotiations with the landowner are opened. Such negotiations may encompass the resolution of complex technical issues and in that context can, at times, be lengthy.

Once agreement in principle with the landowner has been reached, the legal conveyancing process commences. The Senator will appreciate that due diligence must apply in relation to any site acquisition and in that context the process can at times be protracted if complex issues emerge. In this instance, a number of site options were identified by Meath County Council.These were comprehensively assessed and the preferred site option in terms of technical feasibility and suitability for development has been identified. Department officials are in regular contact with officials in Meath County Council, and the acquisition of this preferred option is being actively progressed. The Minister appreciates that the process has taken some time, but assures the Senator and those concerned that officials are working to acquire a suitable site as soon as possible for the benefit the school community.

Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, the Minister is not in a position to comment further. However, the acquisition of a new site for the school is a priority for the Department, and the patron body will be informed of the location for the school as soon as possible. The Minister thanks the Senator for raising the matter and giving her the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position regarding the acquisition of a site for St. Peter's Church of Ireland national school in Dunboyne.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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It reminds me of the school situation that brought me into politics - namely, the Laytown schools crisis in 2006, when there was no site and almost 1,000 pupils were affected. The Department bought the site and did the deal, even though landowners were playing serious hardball and causing immense difficulties. While I do not know what is happening with the discussions, they are taking an inordinate length of time. It appears, from the word on the ground, that the sites the council has identified are unavailable. If this is the case, let us look elsewhere for a proper, suitable site for the school. The Minister's response brings us no further forward.

Neither I nor anybody from the school community, nor any political representative, wants to get involved in the commercial negotiations. They are not a matter for us. However, we must give some expectation to parents that it will be brought to a conclusion. If it is to be a negative conclusion regarding the sites the council has identified, let the Department reach that conclusion and at least let us know, and then find a different site. What has been happening so far is not working. The Minister must be made aware of it. It is the first Church of Ireland school to open since the foundation of the State and it should be, and is, a cause of pride for the school community and the whole community of south Meath and west Dublin. The school needs its place, and it is unfair that it has been left until last, which is my reading of the situation as I look at schools throughout County Meath.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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While the Senator has not said anything unreasonable, to be fair, the Department is in discussions with Meath County Council and recognises the need to acquire a suitable alternative site. A process is under way. The Senator stated that the potential alternative sites may not be available.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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This is what we hear on the ground.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The process under way for the acquisition of sites, which involves the Department liaising with the relevant local authority, is a process that has delivered sites and new builds, and we must have some confidence in it. The Senator's point about the inordinate length of time it is taking is well made, and I will convey it to the Minister.

Sitting suspended at 10.55 a.m. and resumed at 11.30 a.m.