Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 737: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if it is possible for her Department to acquire a site for educational purposes by compulsory purchase order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34168/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department does not have the authority to use compulsory purchase orders in relation to matters arising from site acquisitions. The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally. In certain circumstances local authorities also acquire sites on behalf of my Department. The use of compulsory purchase procedures can be quite protracted and it would not necessarily mean the faster acquisition of sites. Neither would compulsory purchase orders mean the acquisition of sites at a price below market value. Where no alternative course of action exists, my Department may ask that CPOs be used.

My Department is working closely with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to explore ways of streamlining and improving the process of acquiring school sites.