Schools Building Projects Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2015

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Questions (523)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

523. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the confirmation from her Department that the proposed three-school campus at Buncrana in County Donegal, incorporating new schools for schools (details supplied) in County Donegal, is not scheduled to proceed to construction until between 2019 and 2021; if she is aware the boards of management and parents' committees of these schools are dismayed that their reasonable agreement to pursue a joint three-school campus many years ago has met with delay after delay; and if she is aware of the urgency of this matter considering that the buildings housing all three schools are very much unfit for purpose. [41788/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In the case of the schools referred to by the Deputy I can advise that my Department is working closely with the relevant County Council in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for the schools in question and we continue to liaise with them in advancing this process.

The positioning of school projects on the new programme in terms of year to commence construction is informed by the current stage of progress of each project in each of the constituent years in the new programme. All projects will continue to be progressed with a view to proceeding to tender and construction stages at the earliest possible opportunity. My Department will be in communication with all those schools on the programme in relation to the next steps to be taken, at the appropriate time, as the projects progress through the various stages of the architectural planning process.