Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 1 October 2024, if it is still the intention of her Department to make a green area available for use as a playing field by local schools; if so, to provide an update on the progress made within her Department in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39996/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to reassure the Deputy that it has always been the intention that the area in question will be available for use by all three schools.

Given the nature of the site, a flooding specialist was procured as part of the planning process for this campus project and a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA), Maintenance Plan and Flood Response Plan were provided.

The area will be subject to ponding of water and potential flooding at times given that the these lands are designed to retain overflow flood waters during periods of heavy rainfall.

Planning permission has now been granted for the entrance and access way by Cork County Council. The next steps will be the Departments review of associated costs and the programme of works.

It is the intention that the area will be managed by the post-primary school in terms of shared access for all three schools on the campus as a green area.