Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2017
263. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4639/17]
View answerIn April 2016 applications were invited for the patronage of nine new post-primary schools to be established, six in 2017 and a further three in 2018. The new post-primary school for the Swords area of Dublin opening in 2017 was included in this process.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the patronage process has been completed and as I announced on 3rd November 2016 the Patron of this new post-primary school is Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board. The assessment report and the recommendations of the New Schools Establishment Group are available on my Department's website.
As the Deputy may be aware, the building project for this new post-primary school to serve the Swords school planning area is included on my Departments Six Year Construction Programme 2016-2021. My Department has worked closely with Fingal County Council in respect of this and conveyancing is currently underway in respect of a site for the permanent school accommodation. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details regarding the permanent location at this time. I can, however, assure the Deputy that the site acquisition process for this school is being advanced by my Department as a priority.
The school will open as scheduled in September 2017 in suitable interim accommodation pending delivery of the permanent school building.
