Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he plans to take to ensure the new schools in Swords will open on time in 2019; the action he is taking to ensure that a site is identified for the new primary school to serve Swords south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49337/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, 42 new schools are planned to open over the four years based on nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department.  Included are two new 8 classroom primary schools to serve Swords North and Swords South, both to open in 2019.

An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) for these schools will be opened soon. The OPPS has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents which will allow them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education in the new schools.

With respect to the schools' accommodation my Department has secured planning permission for a post primary school and a primary school on a site at Mooretown in north Swords.  It is intended that this will provide accommodation for Swords Community College and the new primary school announced to serve Swords North.  A tender competition is currently underway to appoint a building contractor to provide permanent accommodation on that site.

It is also intended to provide interim accommodation for the new Swords North primary school on the Mooretown site for September 2019.  The new primary school to serve Swords South will also open in suitable interim accommodation in September 2019 and potential options in that regard are currently being considered.

Work is also underway to identify and acquire a suitable permanent site for the new primary school to serve Swords South and Department officials have been engaging with officials in Fingal County Council in that regard.  All potential site options are being identified with a view to determining the optimum location to facilitate the delivery of the school building project.