Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he will not enter into negotiations with the Health Service Executive regarding the purchase, for a nominal price, of a field adjacent to a school (details supplied) in County Sligo, to provide much needed parking which would provide critical safety infrastructure at this busy primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41692/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The proposal to purchase land adjacent to the school referred to by the Deputy was considered. While the purchase price of the land is nominal, the development of the land for use as car parking/set down area will incur significant costs. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced this year is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, the purchase and development of lands for purposes other than the provision of additional classrooms and other educational accommodation, is not a priority and cannot be considered at this time. However, this does not preclude the school authorities from acquiring the land and carrying out the development works concerned.