Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
481. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will address a series of matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4745/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, agreement in principle had been reached to acquire a site for the permanent location of the school in question. Contracts for sale have now been signed, conditional on the landowner providing required infrastructure upgrades to serve the site.
The project to provide the permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy is in early architectural planning which involves site surveys, school design stages and the preparation of statutory applications.
As with all school building projects, pre-planning meetings are required with the Local Authority in advance of preparing a Planning Application. At the pre-planning meeting for the interim accommodation currently on the site, the Local Authority made it clear that the planning application for the permanent accommodation must be cognisant of the overall development plans by the landowner for their wider land holding. Discussions have been ongoing between my Department and the landowner in relation to the overall plan for the area.
The planning application for the next phase of interim accommodation was submitted to the Local Authority on 15th December, 2022 with an expected decision due date of 17 February, 2022. It is not proposed nor is it included in the planning application already submitted to provide amenity facilities as outlined by the Deputy given the complexities of this site.
A decision by the Local Authority on the planning application for the further interim accommodation for 2022/23 must be secured before planning can be submitted for the schools permanent accommodation. However, work on preparing for the planning application for the permanent accommodation will be progressed in parallel with the Local Authority's processing of the interim application. It is anticipated that the application for Planning Permission for the permanent building will be lodged in Quarter two of 2022.
Due to the interim accommodation currently on site, a phasing strategy is being compiled and it is intended that the SEN unit and PE hall will be delivered in phase one.
My Department engages on a regular basis with the Patron Body and the Principal of the school.
