Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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671. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the accommodation plan for a school (details supplied) for the 2024-2025 school year; when An Bord Pleanála will make a final decision on the permanent school building in Blackrock; the annual rental cost for the school building in the present location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12965/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The permanent building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.

The project when complete will provide a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school building and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site for the school.

An application for Planning Permission for the school was submitted to the Local Authority in June 2021. The initial grant of planning was received from the Local Authority in May 2022 but was subsequently the subject of third party appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The decision on the appeal was due from An Bord Pleanála in November 2022, this was subsequently delayed to January 2023 and has since been further delayed with no new decision date provided.

My Department will not be releasing the rental costs associated for this schools accommodation as they are commercially sensitive.

My Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the school and will continue to keep the school, through its Patron Body updated in relation to same.