Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the site selection process for the three school campus at Buncrana, County Donegal, which incorporates new schools for a school (details supplied); if he will provide assurance that this project will proceed without further delay in view of the fact that it has taken 11 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29744/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The project to which the Deputy refers was announced as part of the Six Year Capital Programme last year. The project is scheduled to go to tender and construction in 2019-2021.

As the Deputy may be aware, officials from my Department have been working closely with officials from Donegal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in order to identify and procure a suitable site for this project.

Following a comprehensive technical assessment of a significant number of identified site options by my Department in conjunction with the Local Authority, a preferred site option was identified. Officials from the Local Authority have since engaged with the relevant landowner and are progressing with negotiations.

My officials continue to liaise with both officials from the Local Authority and with representatives of the school authorities and all parties are working to complete this acquisition as soon as possible.