Site Acquisitions.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 December 2005

Wednesday, 14 December 2005

Ceisteanna (284)

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

310 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that her Department has no plans to purchase the reserved site for a post-primary school in Stepaside, it is expected that in this, as in other cases, the land owners should bear the cost of holding land for a need that has not been determined, especially in view of the fact that the Stepaside local area plan, adopted in June 2000, notes that it would be unreasonable to expect the owners to have their land sterilised for a considerable period of time. [39426/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

While my Department has no immediate plans to acquire the site to which the Deputy refers, it is anticipated that the Stepaside local area plan could generate a population of between 16,000 and 20,000 by 2012. With a projected population growth of this level, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it is prudent to have a site reserved for educational purposes. Having said that, my Department would be anxious to ensure that reservations are not held on sites which may not ultimately be required. It will be reviewing the situation in Stepaside in this regard.

Question No. 311 answered with QuestionNo. 304.