Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
323. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education the number of vacant and derelict properties and sites that are owned by her Department; her plans to bring each of these properties and sites into use; where no plans are in place, the reasons why; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55042/23]
View answerBy way of information for the Deputy the number of properties owned by my Department is very small. A large majority of schools are patron-owned with only approximately 9% of schools in Ministerial ownership nationwide.
Currently there are seven properties/sites for which there are no immediate building projects planned or in train.
One of the sites was purchased to facilitate a sports hall.
Four sites were purchased to locate schools on but were not needed for that immediate purpose or, in one case, the school could be facilitated on an existing school site. One of the four sites was also used for temporary accommodation up until very recently by a school before it was relocated.
Another site was transferred to the Department under the Redress scheme. On a final site the grounds are currently being used by a nearby school for recreational purposes.
A number of the sites outlined above were also offered for social housing or to assist with the Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis but were not deemed suitable by the receiving Departments.
All of the properties/sites are kept under regular review for any future school accommodation or general education needs by my Department.
