Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
75. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the number of the 42 new schools planned for 2019 to 2022 under the online patronage preference system that have permanent sites and buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4812/22]
View answerIn April 2018 the planned establishment of 42 new schools (26 primary & 16 post primary), over the 4 years from 2019 to 2020. This announcement followed a nationwide demographic
exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country. Since this announcement officials in my Department have carried out extensive site identification and assessment exercises for each of the 42 new schools with a focus on maximising lands already in State ownership.
As requested by the Deputy, the following is the current status of permanent sites for 42 new schools:
14 schools have new sites acquired (7 primary & 7 post primary);
5 agreements in principle for new sites have benn reached (3 primary & 2 post primary);
2 agreements in principle with Local Authority executive, subject to approval by Elected Members (2 primary);
10 schools are being accommodated on lands or buildings in the control of the Minister (8 primary & 2 post primary);
11 school sites are at various stages of assessment and negotiation (6 primary & 5 post primary);
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working to progress site acquisitions as quickly as possible.
