John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date on the site acquisition process that will identify the location of the new 1,000 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Tallaght, Newcastle and Rathcoole area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24852/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next four years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country. The school to which the Deputy refers was part of that announcement.

In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department is seeking to maximise the use of sites already in my ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable. In addition as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department is examining all potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant area. Taking into account all of the above, a decision will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to an appropriate site for the school to which the Deputy refers and will be confirmed at a later date.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school referred to is included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme.

The project for the school in question was being progressed in the School Building Programme on the basis of an available site, i.e. the current site in the ownership of the ETB. In that regard a technical site visit was carried out by my Department at the ETB site with a view to developing the project brief. In regard to the alternative site referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that my Department has not received a submission from the school Patron in relation to the acquisition of this site. A submission for an alternative proposal would be considered by my Department should the Patron wish to submit same.