Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

624. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if either of the possible two sites for a school (details supplied) are a greenfield site or a transitional site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17357/21]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

625. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is difficulty in obtaining a site for a school (details supplied) as both sites currently being assessed are State owned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17358/21]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

626. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if both sites currently being appraised for a school (details supplied) are in the Blackrock and Booterstown area, as requested by patronage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17359/21]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

627. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a provisional roadmap with a timeline for each stage for obtaining a school site (details supplied) from its current site appraisal stage until the school is fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17360/21]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

630. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure her Department is in ongoing direct contact with the principal of a school (details supplied) in relation to site appraisal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17363/21]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

631. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the definition of progress on site acquisition for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17364/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 624 to 627, inclusive, 630 and 631 together.

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

My 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. My 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.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the site acquisition process can be lengthy and there can be complex issues which need to be addressed during negotiations such as technical assessments and conveyancing. In this regard, it is not possible to give a timeframe for delivery of the site. However, once my officials achieve agreement in principle on the final site, the site acquisition will proceed to the conveyancing stage. The Patron will also be advised of the location without delay, who will keep the relevant school authorities up to date.

At all times 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 at this time.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

628. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made to locate an interim site for a school (details supplied) as the current two sites being appraised will most likely not be ready for use by September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17361/21]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

629. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the location of a possible interim site for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17362/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 629 together.

In relation to the school to which the Deputy refers work is currently ongoing to source suitable interim accommodation for the school for September 2021. Pending agreement on accommodation arrangements it is not possible to comment further at this time, however, my Department remains in contact with the school's Patron Body.