Schools Relocation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2017

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

Ceisteanna (311, 359)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

311. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied) that was one of the three schools announced nationally in 2014 as part of the divestment process; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that there are two unoccupied former schools buildings in Tramore, neither of which have been in use since 2014 and that the school is in need of a permanent site but has not been made aware of progress made by his Department in securing a permanent site for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45780/17]

Mary Butler

Ceist:

359. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place for a school (details supplied) to accommodate increasing numbers of students; his plans to address the need for a larger permanent building for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46287/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos.311 and 359 together. As the Deputies may be aware, the school referred to opened in September 2014 under the patronage divesting process.  Under this process, a divested school could be opened where a school building became, or was due to become available as a result of an amalgamation or closure of an existing school. 

In this case, pending the school's permanent accommodation becoming available, the school has been operating in temporary accommodation.  The school building to be vacated for this school's permanent accommodation is still occupied by the amalgamated school for which an extension project is currently at architectural planning stage.

In the interim, my Department will continue to review the school's accommodation needs in line with enrolment trends.