Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2017
242. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the processes and procedures that are undertaken by the principal officer in his Department's site acquisition and property management section in terms of identifying and acquiring sites for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24504/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra243. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the site acquisitions by his Department in each of the years 2006 to 2016 inclusive; the amount paid by his Department for each of those sites; the previous use and type of rezoning associated with the sites at the time of purchase; the current use of each of those sites, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24505/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra244. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the processes and procedures undertaken by the assistant secretary of the school planning and building unit with regard to the approval of a site acquisition decision made by the principal officer of his Department's acquisition and property management section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24499/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra245. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual allocation provided to his Department's site acquisition and property management section for site acquisition in each of the years 2006 to 2016 inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24506/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 242 to 245, inclusive, together.
Where additional demographic demands exist, in determining the requirement for a new school site an assessment of possible accommodation provision by means of extension of existing schools is carried out. In circumstances where the additional accommodation needs cannot be met by extension of existing schools so that a new school is needed, a site acquisition process is commenced.
In general, the site acquisition process commences with the identification of potential site options and the assessment of each site’s suitability. Every effort is made to identify site options in the ownership of a public sector body in the first instance, by means of consulting the State Property Register and engaging with the relevant officials in other State Bodies.
Officials in the relevant Local Authority are directly involved in the site acquisition process under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites which was agreed with the County and City Managers’ Association in 2012. Such engagement by the Local Authority assists with ensuring the suitability of selected sites and addressing any potential planning risks.
Where multiple site options for the provision of the required school accommodation are available, the acquisition of the option deemed most suitable, having regard to technical factors, relative costs, timelines for acquisition and other considerations is pursued in the first instance.
It has occurred on occasion that the only available or viable site for a school is not suitably zoned. In such instances, my Department’s policy is to work with the local authority with a view to facilitating arrangements to provide for school development on the site. Engagement with Local Authorities by my Department in respect of school development on such sites has yielded positive results.
Decisions with respect to site acquisitions are taken by the Principal Officer of the Site Acquisitions and Property Management section of my Department having considered the school accommodation requirements and available site options. Consultation with the Assistant Secretary of the Planning and Building Unit may take place with respect to high-value acquisitions in the context of the impact on the Department’s overall capital budget.
Tables showing the site acquisitions by my Department and the capital allocation for years from 2006 to 2016 are being compiled and this information will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
