Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 787: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans for the future use of the Old Monastery, Kilcock, County Kildare; the extent to which plans have been formulated or progressed for its conversion as a library for educational purposes or other civic use; the extent to which this forms part of the regeneration plans for the town square; the intended timescale for its future development or alternative use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34371/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The building referred to by the Deputy is in the ownership of Kildare County Council. This property was in the ownership of my Department, but was transferred to Kildare County Council earlier this year. The transaction involved an exchange of lands between my Department and Kildare County Council to facilitate the construction of Gaelscoil Uí Riada.

As part of the transaction it was agreed that the Council would lease back to my Department a portion of this property for the continued operation of the Gaelscoil, pending construction of the new school. This lease expired in June 2007. My Department is currently in negotiations with Kildare County Council regarding further short term use of this property to facilitate primary accommodation provision for Kilcock for September 2008.