Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2021
260. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if the three school campuses in Buncrana, County Donegal would be suitable for an accelerated build programme in view of the long delay in securing a suitable site and the very urgent need to relocate pupils from schools (details supplied) in County Donegal. [58149/21]
View answerDonegal 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.
I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the provision of new permanent accommodation for the three schools concerned on the Buncrana campus is a priority for my Department. It is my Department's intention to proceed with this site 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 currently working on the project brief with a view to progressing the project into the architectural planning process as soon as possible. My Department is also continuing to engage with Donegal ETB who will have an ongoing role in progressing the campus development.
