James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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622. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of a school site in Celbridge which has been identified as a preferred new location for three schools (details supplied); the delays currently being experienced; the timeline for progression of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37780/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The construction of new school buildings for the schools referred to by the Deputy are included on my Department's school building programme. It is intended that the new schools will be located on a site being acquired at Donaghcumper, Celbridge as part of a campus development.

The campus development will be progressed by National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) that is supporting my Department by delivering an element of my Department’s school building programme, the Devolved Schools Building Programme 2, on its behalf.

My Department has an agreement in principle for the acquisition of a site to accommodate the three school campus at Donaghcumper, Celbridge. The acquisition process is at an advanced stage. My Department is currently engaging with representatives for the land owners to finalise the details of the Heads of Terms.

The site acquisition process is at a stage that the design of the school campus, in preparation for the lodging a planning application, can proceed. To that end, the NDFA are currently finalising arrangements for the required procurement process to appoint a design team. The NDFA have been in contact with the schools in regards to this information and will continue to update the schools as this project progresses.

My Department is committed to advancing the campus development as quickly as possible and will keep the schools advised of progress in this regard.