Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021
362. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the expenditure by her Department, excluding salaries for teachers and other staff but including site development works, school buildings, annual cost of lease, consultants and so on, for a school (details supplied); the provision in the current financial year for funding to purchase a site for the permanent school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7927/21]
View answerIn relation to the school to which the Deputy refers, the costs to date for the provision of interim accommodation at the location referred to is €2.12m (€0.36m rental of land and prefabs and €1.76m capital costs).
The acquisition of a permanent site to accommodate the school is included in the Departments capital budget.
A number of potential permanent site options have been identified and officials from my Department are currently appraising same in conjunction with officials from Meath County Council. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
The acquisition of a new permanent site for the school is a priority for the Department and the patron body will be informed of the location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.
