Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when Meath County Council informed his Department that the members of Meath County Council voted in favour of a site on the Navan Road in Kells for the new school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37601/08]

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when his Department officials investigated the site on the Navan Road, Kells, County Meath as a suitable alternative to the site on the Cavan Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37602/08]

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will make available the report of the inspectors of their findings regarding the site on the Navan Road, Kells, County Meath; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37603/08]

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the land requirements by his Department for a new secondary school site for an expanding town such as Kells, County Meath to cater for a school population of 700 to 800 pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37604/08]

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the landowners of the Navan Road, Kells, County Meath site are prepared to exchange approximately 12 acres of land with his Department in return for approximately 9.4 acres in his Department's ownership at no cost to the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37608/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 to 237, inclusive, and 241 together.

My Department has had ongoing communications with Meath County Council to discuss a range of issues including the issue in question. As the Deputy is aware my Department acquired a site for a post-primary school under the Redress Scheme. My Department carried out technical inspections on both the redress site and the proposed alternative site which the Deputy referred to. The technical report in relation to the redress site deemed the size and location of the site generally suitable for a Post Primary School of 700 pupils. My Department is of the view that the optimal solution is to use the site under the Department's current ownership for the proposed new post-primary school and asked Meath County Council to consider rezoning accordingly. A response from Meath County Council is awaited.