Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a site for a school (details supplied) will be purchased and publicly announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41964/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the school to which she refers is included in my Department’s 6 year construction programme. The acquisition of a suitable site is required to facilitate this project.

With the assistance of officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites a number of site options were identified. These were comprehensively assessed and a preferred site option has been identified. Negotiations with the landowner in respect of the proposed acquisition of this site are currently ongoing. The Deputy will appreciate that negotiations on school site acquisitions can be complex and price is only one of multiple aspects which need to be agreed. Nonetheless, officials are working to bring matters to a conclusion at the earliest possible date.

Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally, the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to provide further details at this time but I can confirm that the school patron is being kept appraised of developments in respect of the site acquisition process.

In the interim the school is based since September 2018 at the former Institute of Horology property, Mill Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 on a temporary basis.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made with regard to locating a permanent site for a school (details supplied); if Dublin City Council has been directed to actively engage with landowners with a view to securing such a site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41965/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has agreed to acquire a permanent site for the school in question. The acquisition is currently progressing through the conveyancing stage.

Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time but I can assure the Deputy that the school patron will be kept informed of progress.