Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 18 October 2022, the status of the planning application for the permanent site for the school; and the date on which the application will be ready and submitted. [59625/22]

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a permanent site planning application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59794/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 117 together.

The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.

The school and its patron body were advised by my Department in August 2021 that it would not be possible to proceed at that time with the proposed planning application for the school as South Dublin County Council had advised my Department of its intention to undertake a masterplan of the Rathcoole area, including the proposed school site. Following conclusion of the master-planning exercise and consultation with the Council, my Department’s Project Manager progressed the preparation of the planning application for the school on the existing Department-owned site.

A further pre-planning meeting with the Council was held on 30th June 2022 at which the local authority proposed a new road layout around the north, east and southern boundaries of the site, which will comprise approximately 25% of the Department-owned site and will have a significant impact on the current design and site layout. As a result, it has become necessary to undertake redesign work in relation to the school design and site layout which will impact on the programme for delivery of the new school. My Department’s Project Manager is progressing with the necessary redesign work in this regard.

My Department will continue to liaise with the school and its patron body in relation to the school’s accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation.