Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to contact south Dublin county council in relation to his Department seeking to purchase a site as a site for a permanent school for a school (details supplied); if so, when he plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32822/17]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a design has been agreed for a permanent school (details supplied); if not, the timeframe for same to be agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32823/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.

A project to deliver permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers was announced in November 2015 as part of my Department's Six Year Plan and was listed to proceed to construction in 2019-2021. In that context, officials from my Department have been working closely with officials from South Dublin County Council to secure the acquisition of the site on which the school is currently located in temporary accommodation.

The disposal of the site to my Department has been approved by South Dublin County Council however title issues were identified with the property and, as the Deputy may be aware, a Compulsory Purchase Order was undertaken by the Council with a view to regularising these.  This process is now complete and my officials are liaising with Council officials with a view to progressing the acquisition.

My Department will be in further contact with the school in due course in the context of initiating the architectural planning process for the new school building.