Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 533: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the proposed new community school at Skibbereen in west Cork; when it will proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11155/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Agreement has been reached between the trustees of the three existing post primary schools in Skibbereen to amalgamate into a single school.

The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works was requested to source a site for the development referred to by the Deputy. In answer to an advertisement and subsequently, a number of sites were identified and examined. Those considered potentially suitable for the provision of a school building for the amalgamation were then discussed with Cork County Council.

Following that exercise and to date, no site has been identified that is suitable from the perspectives of my Department, the Office of Public Works and Cork County Council.

In order to try to progress the amalgamation, the Department and OPW are currently examining the feasibility of providing the accommodation for the school on the existing site owned by the Vocational Education Committee.