Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 May 2023
252. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education if her Department owns land at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 15 ; if the land could be used as the permanent site for a school along with the site that the school is currently using; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23906/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, in April 2018 it was announced that 42 new schools were to be established over the period of 2019 to 2022. This announcement included a new 800 pupil post-primary school to serve Blanchardstown_WestD15 & BlanchardstownVge_D15 School Planning Areas.
In line with the policy on the use of State assets, which is also consistent with the objective of the National Development Plan for compact development in urban areas, potentially suitable State-owned properties in the School Planning Areas were considered.
The Department’s technical team assessed the suitability of the site referred to by the Deputy in 2020. The assessment concluded the site was unsuitable, as the delivery of a new post primary school on the site imposed serious constraints on both the existing school, Hansfield ETSS, and the proposed new school.
The site identification and assessment exercise for the school referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. Potential site options have been identified, including Minister-owned property.
The Deputy will appreciate that negotiations in respect of site acquisitions are, by their nature, sensitive and for that reason I am not in a position to provide further information at this time
