Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
450. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if there are plans in place for the development of a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46237/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a building project to provide a new school building for the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme and a site is required for this purpose.
Donegal County Council are undertaking a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on behalf of the Minister for Education of a site for the proposed Buncrana School Campus. This CPO was confirmed by An Bord Pleanála without modification on 6th July 2021. As part of the requirements of the CPO process, a Notice of Confirmation of An Bord Pleanála’s decision was published by the Council in the local papers, dated 23rd August 2021. Under the CPO process, an eight-week period is provided from the date of publication of this notice within which a judicial review of the decision of the ABP may be lodged. The provision of the Buncrana School Campus is a priority for my Department. It is the intention of my Department to proceed with this acquisition as soon as permissible and in full compliance with the legal requirements and notice periods as necessitated by the CPO process.
In tandem with the site acquisition, my Department is initiating the preparation of the project brief and is liaising with the school patron in this regard.
