My Department has acknowledged the need for a replacement building to meet the future needs of the school referred to by the Deputy. It has also been established that the present site is unsuitable for further development. Therefore, prior to any progress being made on a building project for the school, a suitable site must be identified.
The board of management had previously indicated to my Department that it would be making proposals regarding an alternative site for the school. However, these proposals did not materialise. The property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, will be asked to explore the possibility of acquiring an alternative site for the school in the context of the band rating applicable to the schools project under the prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects.
In the meantime, approval has been given to the school for the rental of temporary accommodation to meet its immediate accommodation needs. This is a short-term rental agreement which will only remain in place until such time as the permanent accommodation needs of the school are met.