Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2018
163. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans in respect of the recently announced new primary school for Dunshaughlin, County Meath; if a preferred site has been selected; and when the tendering process is likely to commence. [17344/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country.
Following on from the announcement, the locations for all of the schools, including the new primary school to serve Dunshaughlin, will be determined during the site acquisition process. As part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department will be examining potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant areas. Decisions will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to appropriate sites for all the schools announced and will be confirmed at a later date.
