Phase I of the extension project for Scoil Uí Mhuiri was completed in the mid 1990s in such a way as to facilitate the later addition of a second phase, if this became necessary as a result of demographic changes. County Louth Vocational Education Committee applied to my Department for funding towards the purchase of a site for phase II of the extension to the school in November 1995. The site purchase was completed by the VEC in 1999. My Department funded the VEC to make this purchase. The architectural planning process for phase II of the extension commenced prior to the completion of the site purchase, but only limited progress could be made with this as long as there continued to be uncertainty as to availability of the site.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a stage 3 (developed sketch scheme) has now been submitted to my Department and is being examined at present. The next stage of the architectural planning process will include obtaining planning permission for the phase II extension. Assuming that planning permission is obtained I do not anticipate any significant delay in completing the architectural planning process. At this early stage it is not possible to estimate the cost of the project. It is too early to predict when it will be possible to seek tenders for the construction of the extension, but every effort will be made to do this as soon as possible.
At present my Department is liaising with the VEC regarding the provision of temporary accommodation for use by the school until the new permanent accommodation can be provided.
