Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2008

Tuesday, 29 April 2008

Ceisteanna (380)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

380 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science if a site or sites have been acquired or are in the process of being acquired in the Kellystown area of Dublin 15 for primary and secondary schools; if agreement on the acquisition of such sites has been concluded, the price agreed; if such agreements have not been concluded, the discussions that have taken place with property owners in the Kellystown area with a view to securing such agreement; the price parameters or guidelines that have been discussed; if reports that preparation of such sites in advance of commencing construction are accurate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16541/08]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

As the Deputy may be aware, the Department is progressing the acquisition of a number of sites under the Fingal School Model Agreement.

The Fingal School Model is an agreement reached with Fingal County Council and is a partnership approach to fast-track the delivery of schools and community facilities throughout the Fingal Area. The intention is that the agreed approach will match the rapid pace of housing development in the area with the delivery of schools while at the same time providing important facilities for community use.

A site has been identified in Kellystown for the delivery of phase one of the primary provision to be made for the area and the Department intends, subject to finalisation of legalities surrounding site acquisition, to relocate an existing school in temporary accommodation to the new school 16 classroom school building in Kellystown for September 2008 to meet the demand for school places.

The Department intends to acquire further land for the provision of a post primary school in due course.

A number of sites being acquired under the Fingal School Model are at varying stages of acquisition including the site at Kellystown and, as the Deputy will appreciate, due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisition, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.