As the Deputy is aware, officials in my Department have been working with the relevant local authority for some time to identify and acquire land for the delivery of school accommodation for the school referred to by him.
I can confirm that a meeting between my officials and representatives of the school's Board of Management took place in June and that there has been subsequent communication between the school and my Department. The Board of Management has expressed its views regarding its preferences as to the permanent location of the school and has submitted details of a possible site. This site was considered by my officials and officials of the local planning authority and discussions were held with a representative of the owner of the site. However, development of the site for a school building would be premature at this stage.
I can confirm, however, that agreement in principle has been reached with a landowner in relation to a suitable site elsewhere in the area. This site is intended as a campus to cater for both the school in question and another school in the area so that both schools can leave their current temporary locations and move to a permanent site.
The project to deliver the new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the 5 year School Building Programme and once the site has been secured, work on its delivery can progress.
