Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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421. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of the site selection process for the proposed three school campus at Buncrana, County Donegal; and if he will prioritise resources in his Department to ensure the speedy progression of the planning, procurement and construction phases of the project in view of the long delays in site selection. [1384/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware the project in respect of the education campus in Buncrana was announced as part of the Six Year Capital Programme in 2015.

A preferred site option was identified and officials from Donegal County Council, on behalf of my Department, have engaged with the landowner in question with a view to its acquisition.  These negotiations have not yielded a positive result to date but are currently ongoing.

At the request of my Department, Council officials have also engaged with the relevant landowners in respect of a second suitable site which may provide an alternative option, if agreement can be reached on a purchase price.  These negotiations are also ongoing.

Due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to provide any further information at this time regarding the negotiation process or the site options. Once a suitable site has been acquired my Department will be in a position to progress the project concerned into the architectural planning process.