Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the acquisition of a site for a school (details supplied); the process for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4041/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended that demand for patronage diversity should be met in areas of stable population by divesting patronage of existing schools where there is evidence of parental demand for change.

In 2012/13, my Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 44 areas of stable population to establish the level of demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools. Sufficient demand emerged in 28 areas, including in the area referred to by the Deputy, and intensive consultations followed with the main Catholic patrons in each of these areas to discuss divesting options. 

Under this process, a divested school could be opened where a school building became, or was due to become, available as a result of an amalgamation/closure of an existing school.  In some areas, in responding to demand for diversity where existing patrons were unable make school properties available, my Department also included an examination of properties held in public ownership.

The school referred to by the Deputy opened in September 2015 in temporary accommodation under the patronage divesting process.  My Department is investigating the current ownership of vacated school buildings in the area to facilitate the completion of the divestment process.