John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process to develop a school (details supplied) given that agreement has been reached in principle with the landowner of a 9.3 acre site; if a parallel process can commence for the design of the new school and the final purchase of the site by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5272/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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293. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the development of the new school (details supplied) will be bundled with any other schools; the process that will be used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5274/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 293 together.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department has reached agreement in principle, subject to contract, for the acquisition of a site at Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow as a permanent location for the school in question.

The conveyancing stage of the acquisition process has commenced and Head of Terms have been agreed with the Vendor.

It is not possible at this early stage to provide a timeline for the delivery of the school development which will include the appointment of a Design Team.My Department will continue to engage directly with the school patron to keep it informed of progress.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the 9.3 acre site that has been identified for a school (details supplied) is to meet the needs of that school only; if it is intended for the site to be shared with a primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5273/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, a suitable site has been identified and the Department has reached an agreement in principle, subject to contract, for the acquisition of a site at Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow as a permanent location for North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School.

Taking into account the underlying demographic trends and the level of potential increase in school place requirements arising from the projected increased population for the Bray area as identified in the Wicklow County development Plan 2022-2028, the Department anticipates a future requirement for at least one new primary school.

The Fassaroe site will be masterplanned to make allowance for this future educational requirement in the area.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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294. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any sites have been identified for a new primary school in Bray, County Wicklow; if there have been discussions with Wicklow County Council on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5275/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The planned establishment of a new primary school in 2021 to serve the Bray/Woodbrook Shanganagh school planning area was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise. Further analysis has since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of a number of planned new schools, including the school to serve this school planning area, taking into account a number of factors, including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the school planning areas, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the areas.

Provision has been made in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan for a designated primary school site in the Woodbrook area. This site is ideally located to serve the planned new residential developments in Woodbrook and Shanganagh.

It had been projected, in 2018, that these residential lands would be developed in a shorter timeframe. However, two significant residential developments in this area have now commenced and will be built out in over the next number of years.

My Department is satisfied that the existing demand in the Bray/Woodbrook Shanganagh school planning area can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in this area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new school has been deferred.

The pace of delivery of additional residential development in this school planning area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements. My Department will continue to liaise with the Local Authority in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and local developers in respect to the projected completion of these residential developments.