Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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610. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has considered sites to accommodate a school (details supplied) for the 2021-22 school year; if her Department is working with the local authority to secure a site for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17124/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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611. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has considered sites to accommodate a school (details supplied) for the 2021-22 school year; if her Department is working with the local authority to secure a site for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17125/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 611 together.

My Department remains committed to providing permanent accommodation to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers.

I can confirm that officials in my Department have been actively engaging with officials from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council via emails, phone calls and through online meeting platforms to establish all relevant information in respect of two site options so that a determination as to the optimum configuration of school sites can be made at the earliest possible date. As a result, the acquisition of this site is progressing well. However, if the Deputy wishes to forward details of the sites mentioned above, my officials can consider these too.

As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department strives to obtain best value for the Exchequer and given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further as to the location or description of proposed sites currently being considered, at this time.