Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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350. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the process of site acquisition for a school (details supplied); when the process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46199/17]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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351. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the process of site acquisition for a school (details supplied); if the planning permission process can begin before the site acquisition is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46200/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has been working with South Dublin County Council to acquire the site on which the school is currently located in temporary accommodation in order to facilitate the development of a permanent building for the primary school.

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 a Compulsory Purchase Order was undertaken by the Council with a view to regularising these and obtaining title on the lands.  This process was completed by South Dublin County Council in June 2017.

There is ongoing contact between the Department of Education and Skills and South Dublin County Council and both parties are working constructively to progress the site transfer as soon as possible.

Draft contracts in respect of the transfer were received in September and my officials have been liaising with officials in the Council with a view to advancing matters.  Due diligence must apply in relation to the legal site transfer. However, my Department is not aware of any specific issues at this time which would impede the site acquisition process.

It is intended to progress the project to the architectural planning process shortly, with a view to the design stage running in parallel with the completion of the conveyancing process.  My Department is working to ensure that a new building for Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna is delivered as soon as possible.