Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
460. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been chosen for a proposed Gaelscoil (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the criteria that has been applied for the selection process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17046/13]
View answer492. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has given consideration to circumstances (details supplied) regarding a school in County Wicklow. [17661/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 492 together.
The Deputies will be aware that I signed a Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA) last year. This Memorandum of Understanding fosters increased levels of cooperation and formalises the local authorities' part in identifying and securing sites for educational use. In this context, my Department wrote to Wicklow County Council seeking their assistance in identifying land suitable for the delivery of school accommodation in the area referred to by the Deputies.
Following an assessment and consideration of options identified for the location of permanent school buildings, which took account of a range of relevant factors, including those set out in Technical Guidance documents published by my Department, the local authority, on behalf of my Department has engaged with a landowner in relation to the possibility of acquiring a suitable site.
Given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
