Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has identified a site for the new Cork Educate Together Secondary School, which her Department has indicated is intended to be located in the Cork south suburbs within the functional area of Cork County Council; if her Department has engaged with Cork County Council as the planning authority, in connection with seeking planning; when her Department intends to inform Educate Together and the local parents planning committee that a site has been identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31166/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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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 has worked closely with Cork County Council towards acquiring a permanent site to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. The acquisition of the site in question is currently being progressed. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time. I can, however, assure the Deputy that the acquisition of a new site for the school is a priority for my Department and the patron body Educate Together will be informed of the location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.

To facilitate the commencement of the school in September 2016 the Department has identified a suitable property for temporary use and officials from my Department will be meeting shortly with the patron body, Educate Together, to discuss arrangements in relation to this.