Schools Building Projects Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Questions (116)

David Stanton

Question:

116. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on progress with regard to a large number of school building projects in the east Cork area due to go to construction in 2014-5, as per his Department's five year school building programme announced on 12 March 2012, in particular two new primary schools in Midleton (details supplied), the amalgamation of the two primary schools in Carrigtwohill and a new second level school in Carrigtwohill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8920/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware, the area referred to has been identified by my Department as one of the areas where, due to demographic changes, it is projected that there will be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years.

In that context, all the five schools to which the Deputy refers are included in my Department's five year plan for the provision of new school buildings, subject to suitable sites being acquired. I can advise the Deputy that my Department, working in conjunction with Cork County Council, has identified permanent sites to facilitate planned building projects for the schools in question. However, whilst negotiations towards the acquisition of such sites are ongoing, I am not in a position due to the commercially sensitive nature of these negotiations to give further details at this time.