Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason enrolment caps were put in place at a school (details supplied). [48435/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The project to deliver the permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers requires the acquisition of a suitable site and engagement with a landowner in respect of an identified site option is currently underway.

A planning application was submitted to the Local Authority for the school to be located on third party lands at Colpe, in interim accommodation pending purchase of the permanent site. Final Grant of planning was issued on 16 September 2019.

In the meantime the school opened in September 2019 in interim accommodation in a building in Laytown, which is owned by the Department of Education and will remain there until they relocate to the site at Colpe.

Having reviewed the planning permission granted, my Department is satisfied the school could accommodate up to 72 pupils in first year intake from September 2020.

The temporary accommodation has been tendered. There are significant elements of new road access requirements which are currently under discussion with the landowner. It is anticipated that the installation of the temporary accommodation together with the ground works and road access will commence early in the New Year.