Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of a new school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43771/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on the Department's school building programme and a site has been acquired for this purpose.

My Department is engaging with the school's patron in the context of the planning work associated with the project. In this regard, the school patron will be furnishing certain information to the Department and once this is received, further progress can be made.

The Department has published technical guidance documents on the identification and suitability assessment of sites for schools which sets out the criteria to be used in assessing potential school sites. These guidance documents recommend that as part of the evaluation of site suitability a number of factors are taken into account including zoning, existing services, site orientation, topography, transport and access. The Department makes use of its own in-house professional and technical staff in relation to the technical assessment of sites, to ensure the suitability of a given site for the development of a school building.