Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school building project (details supplied); the timeline for site procurement and commencement of building works; if the school will be in use by August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13570/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of permanent accommodation for the new post primary school to serve Greystones and Kilcoole requires the acquisition of a site by my Department. 

A potential site option has been identified and negotiations are ongoing with the landowner with a view to acquiring this site.

My Department is committed to delivering a site for the new post primary school for the Greystones and Kilcoole area of County Wicklow and work is ongoing to achieve this as soon as possible.  Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.  However, once there is sufficient certainty in respect of a site the project to deliver the permanent accommodation can advance into the architectural planning stage and onwards to tender and construction stages.

It is difficult to indicate a timeframe for any site acquisition as each process is unique and in some instances complex issues can arise which can cause delays. 

Until such time as the permanent site is acquired, it is planned that the school will open in suitable interim accommodation in time for the 2020/21 academic year.