Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of transfer of lands from the HSE to the Department of Education for a school (details supplied); if further efforts will be made to proceed with this transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26179/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The major project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.

The project is currently at Stage 2b (planning) of the architectural planning design process. The NDFA’s Design Team is presently working to conclude the pre-tender stage in conjunction with the Department. When Stage 2b has been finalised and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course.

I wish to confirm that the acquisition of land referred to by the Deputy is not critical to the provision of this current major project at the school and there are no plans to proceed with the transfer of this site. My Department has been in contact with the school patron in this regard.

My Department is required to manage the allocated capital funding across all schools in the country. The Department’s approach is to maximise the usage of existing capacity in schools and, in tandem with this, to manage the progression of the existing pipeline of projects within available budgets and in line with the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.