Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been identified for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14525/14]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the new school for a school (details supplied) in County Cork is on schedule to be finished by September 2015 as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14526/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.

The school referred to by the Deputy was included on the list of projects, announced in March 2012, to commence construction in 2015/16. The Deputy may be aware that I signed a Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA) in 2012. This Memorandum of Understanding fosters increased levels of cooperation and formalises the Local Authorities' part in identifying and securing sites for educational use. In that context, my Department is working in conjunction with Cork County Council towards securing as soon as possible a permanent site to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. Whilst I can advise the Deputy that options are under consideration, due to the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further information at this time. However, once the acquisition of a site is finalised, a design team for the project will be appointed with a view to its progression to tender and construction.