My Department is aware of the urgent need for a new school building for the school in question. A new 24 classroom school was listed to proceed to tender and construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. The timeframe to have accommodation ready for the school was September 2005. Tenders for the detailed design and construction for this new school have been received and are being evaluated.
The property management section of the Office of Public Works, which purchases sites for new schools on behalf of my Department, has identified a suitable site for the new school building. I understand that solicitors for the vendor have now responded to a number of queries which had been raised by the Chief State Solicitor's office and that a meeting to discuss all other outstanding matters has been held.
My Department is not aware of any similar delays in regard to the acquisition of other sites from the vendor in question. My Department is intent on securing the site for the school in question as soon as possible. When this has been done, the provision of a school building will proceed as a matter of urgency.
