Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2007
420 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science if it is still intended to establish a VEC national school in Dublin 15 by September 2008; the location of that school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21676/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is still intended that the proposed new model of national community school will be introduced on a pilot basis in September 2008. The Department is actively engaged in ongoing consultations with the relevant Education Partners to explore the detailed implementation measures that will need to be put in place prior to the opening of the new school. A specific location for the school has yet to be decided.
421 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science if she is in the process of acquiring a school site from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21677/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe site referred to by the Deputy is not currently under consideration by the Department. However the Department is actively sourcing a site to provide additional post primary provision in the Castleknock area.
422 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has ever used a compulsory purchase order to acquire land for educational use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21678/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra423 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the powers she has to acquire land for school buildings by means of a compulsory purchase order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21679/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 423 together.
The Department does not have the authority to use compulsory purchase orders in relation to matters arising from site acquisitions. The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally. In certain circumstances local authorities also acquire sites on behalf of my Department.
The use of compulsory purchase procedures can be quite protracted and it would not necessarily mean the faster acquisition of sites. Neither would compulsory purchase orders mean the acquisition of sites at a price below market value. Where no alternative course of action exists, my Department may ask that CPOs be used, but the potential for the acquisition time to be quite protracted will be considered.
424 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress she has made in acquiring the remaining one acre of the reserved site in Littlepace, Clonee Dublin 15, in view of the fact that Fingal County Council has agreed a price with the owner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21680/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe acquisition process for the additional land to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage. However, the Deputy will appreciate that, due to the commercial sensitivities of land acquisition, I am unable to comment on the detail in relation to specific land purchases.
