Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 598: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will play a more proactive role in tackling the serious problems of overcrowding at a school (details supplied); if her Department will liaise with the school to set up a negotiating team to deal with a company regarding the purchase of the land; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5717/06]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 599: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is an opportunity to provide lands for a school site should the entire lands at St. Edmundsbury be purchased by the State as part of a Liffey Valley national or regional park; if the extension of a special amenity area order will render residential development on these lands impossible; if contact will be made with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding the plans for these lands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5718/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together.

My Department has acknowledged the need for accommodation at the school to which the Deputy refers. However, the fact that the school is located in a mature part of Lucan complicates the identification of a suitable site, particularly given its desire to remain in close proximity to its church. The school authority undertook to carry out its own negotiations to acquire a site to meet its needs in this regard. However, in the absence of any firm proposal from the school authority, my Department is considering alternative options in an effort to resolve the accommodation difficulties at the school, cognisant of the possible acquisition of lands at St. Edmundsbury.