Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4982/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which he refers was announced as part of my Department's Six Year Capital Programme in 2015.

Officials in my Department are working closely with officials from the relevant local authority under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable permanent location for the school to which he refers.  A number of site options were identified and assessed and a short-list of technically suitable site options was selected with the assistance of local authority officials and assessed in further detail.

Engagement with the relevant landowners is ongoing with a view to reaching agreement in principle on the most suitable site acquisition as soon as possible.  The school patron will be appraised of developments in this respect and will be informed of the proposed permanent school location as soon as it is possible to do so.  

I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to secure the suitable site for the school as expeditiously as possible.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a sports hall will be provided for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4997/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's six year construction programme.

I wish to advise the Deputy that a school site visit, by my Department's technical staff, has taken place, in the context of progressing the school project concerned. Schedules of accommodation, for purposes of the school's project brief, are currently being devised and my Department will be in further contact with the school authorities when these have been finalised.