Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to confirm to confirm the  school referred to by the Deputy was established as a four-classroom school, under the terms of the divestment process.

My Department has agreed that the permanent accommodation solution will provide for eight classrooms and Departmental officials are working to put this solution in place as soon as possible.  However, in the interim, and in line with agreed terms, the school has been instructed to take cognisance of their existing accommodation capacity when managing its enrolments.

My Department is currently engaging in a site identification process regarding the schools permanent solution. The site identification and indeed acquisition is a process that may entail a significant period of time.  However, I can assure the Deputy that this is a priority for the Department of Education. 

The main focus of my Department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level, and for provision to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. The immediate priority of the Department is providing the required new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place, including the thousands of children who are newly arrived to this country. My Department has successfully supported and facilitated the enrolment of over 18,291 children from Ukraine in our primary and post primary schools.

In the interim, the school was approved to proceed with rental of accommodation at a premises at Newport Road which provided 2 additional Mainstream Classrooms, in July 2022. In addition, my Department has recently approved funding for a Special Education Tuition Room plus a toilet and a staff room.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has approved the provision of a new school building for Castlebar Educate Together NS. This project requires the provision of a new site. The site acquisition process is being progressed in line with standard acquisition protocols. My Department has engaged the services of a Site Acquisition Manager (consultant) in order to shortlist potential sites.

Following an extensive site identification and assessment exercise, a number of site options have been identified and investigated by the Department. A number of potential site options have been shortlisted for further consideration. This includes technical and economical appraisals of these potential site options.

The Deputy will appreciate that commercial sensitivities attach to site acquisitions such as this and I am not currently in a position to disclose further information.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has approved the provision of a new school building for Castlebar Educate Together NS. This project requires the provision of a new site. The site acquisition process is being progressed in line with standard acquisition protocols. My Department has engaged the services of a Site Acquisition Manager (consultant) in order to shortlist potential sites.

Following an extensive site identification and assessment exercise, a number of site options have been identified and investigated by the Department. A number of potential site options have been shortlisted for further consideration. This includes technical and economical appraisals of these potential site options.

The Deputy will appreciate that commercial sensitivities attach to site acquisitions such as this and I am not currently in a position to disclose further information.