Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
349. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education the communication between her Department and a school (details supplied) regarding a new school build over the past two years; the date of each communication; if it originated from her Department or the school; if the communication was via email, phone, post or another format; and if a summary of the communications will be provided. [41736/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department wrote to the school in June 2019 in response to its proposal to construct a new school on an alternative site in the ownership of the patron. There has been frequent telephone engagement between Department officials and school principal since then relating to the school's accommodation needs. The most recent contact was by telephone on 4th December last.
As I indicated to the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question 59 on 1st December, my Department will be making further contact with the school authority to determine if any new information is available relating to the the alternative site that has not already been provided to the Department. The matter can be considered further in this context.
I wish to also advise the Deputy that my Department approved funding to provide significant additional interim accommodation for the school which includes 4 general classrooms, 2 Special Education Teaching rooms, 2 Special Education Needs classrooms, 1 Science Lab with Preparation Area and circulation space. I understand from my Department's recent telephone conversation with the principal that this accommodation is now in place.
In addition, my Department has recently received a further application for additional interim accommodation from the school for the 2021/22 school year and this is currently being considered. A decision on the application will issue to the school authority when this process has been completed.
