Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 684: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position on the provision of a new school site for a school (details supplied); her views on the compulsory purchase order option in regard to available lands; the circumstances in which she would take such an action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19782/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is keenly aware of the need to provide a site as quickly as possible for the school to which the Deputy refers and it is in consultation with the local authority in relation to this matter. The question of a compulsory purchase order does not, therefore, arise at this time. Generally, however, the Department will be asking local authorities to use the CPO mechanism for land where no alternative course of action exists.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 685: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 4 July 2007, she will provide a detailed response setting out the exact position in view of the concerns of one of the schools involved (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19785/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, agreement has been reached between the trustees of the three existing post-primary schools 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. The Office of Public Works is continuing to work with my Department to identify and secure a suitable site for the proposed amalgamated school. Once a suitable site has been secured, the project will then be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme.