Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 669: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will permit the sale of the site of a closed down school (details supplied) in County Carlow; if he will clarify the ownership of this site; if his Department would be entitled to 83% of the proceeds of this sale and the local parish entitled to the remaining 17%; his views on granting his Department's share of the proceeds of any sale to the parish in order that it could help fund the building of an extension for another school within the parish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15333/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is in receipt of a request to surrender my interest in the school referred to by the Deputy. I am advised that the School is owned by the religious and a lease was entered into in 1964 to protect the interest of the State in the property. My Department is agreeable in principle to surrendering my interest as originally sought. Accordingly, my officials instructed the Chief State Solicitor's Office to draft a Deed of Surrender to release my interest in the school property. I understand that the Chief State Solicitor's Office wrote to the solicitors representing the school authorities seeking to progress the surrender of the interest and I am advised that a reply from same is outstanding.

An agreement exists in relation to vacant Catholic national schools whereby 85% of the current market value of a school building is sought as a consideration for the surrender of ministerial interest. On this basis my Department did at the time seek a consideration of 85% of the value of the building.