Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider putting a compulsory purchase order on the playing pitches at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30620/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In the case of the school pitches to which the Deputy refers, my Department understands from the Christian Brothers Congregation that arrangements have been made to dispose of the lands in question to a developer.

My Department has written to the Christian Brothers Congregation seeking clarification on a number of points, including whether the land in question is now the subject of a legally-binding agreement. The Congregation have advised that they will reply to my Department in the coming weeks.

My Department does not have statutory CPO powers. Given the cost of land acquisitions generally, where my Department has requested a local authority to purchase land under CPO, it has been for the purposes of constructing a new school building. I understand that the school community referred to by the Deputy wish to retain the right to use the land in question for recreational purposes and playing pitches.

For the reasons stated above, a CPO would not be appropriate in the circumstances.