Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2018
199. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind the decision to provide the first of three new primary schools in Donabate on a site (details supplied) which is in contravention of the Donabate local area plan; the cost benefit analysis on the site which is privately owned compared to another site which is publicly owned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47757/18]
View answerAs you are aware, the Minister recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by the Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country. A new primary school to serve Donabate was part of that announcement.
A site identification and acquisition process is currently underway in respect of this new school, with the assistance of Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites. No decision has yet been made regarding its location.
The designated school site at Corballis is one of those under consideration as this Department's engagement with Fingal County Council has identified this development as likely to materialise significantly in advance of the proposed development at Ballymastone, within which the Spires East site is located. As you may be aware, significant infrastructural works at Corballis are being funded under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund which are intended to facilitate the development of approximately 1200 residential units by 2021. The requirement for school places that is anticipated to emerge from this development at Corballis contributed significantly to the decision to open the new school in Donabate.
With regard to the Ballymastone development, the Department is in engagement with Fingal County Council regarding school site provision within those lands in order to meet the expected school place requirements that will be generated by that future development.
In the interim, work on the acquisition of a site to accommodate the new school will continue and its location will be announced as soon as it is possible to do so.
