Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
196. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Skills the planned opening date for the new secondary school for the Blanchardstown village and Blanchardstown west school planning areas (details supplied); if a permanent site for the school has been identified; if the school will open on its permanent site; if not, if a temporary location has been identified for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4298/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, The Government announced plans in April 2018 for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Blanchardstown_West_D15 and BlanchardstownVge_D15 school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement followed nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country.
The patronage process for this new school is complete and patronage was awarded to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) in December 2019.
In line with the policy on the use of State assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16) my Department is seeking to maximize the use of sites already in its ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable.
Identified site options are currently being considered by my Department. Unfortunately, due to certain sensitivities I am not in a position to indicate their location at this time, however, the proposed location for the school will be made known as soon as it is possible to do so.
The school will open in suitable interim accommodation for the start of the next academic year 2020/2021. A planning application was lodged with Fingal County Council on 1 April 2020 for interim start-up accommodation for the school on Department owned lands at the back of Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School, Barnhill, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 and a decision is awaited.
