I welcome the announcement by the Department of Education that an agreement has been reached on a site to accommodate the new Rochestown Educate together National School.

“It has been a priority for Cllr. Deirdre Forde and I to remain in ongoing contact with Minister for Education Richard Bruton over the last number of months in the hopes finding a suitable site for Rochestown ETNS which has been growing in numbers in recent years. 

“The school is currently split between two sites in temporary prefab accommodation which is no longer suitable for the growing needs of the community. I know that todays announcement will be very welcomed by the schools board of management, staff, parents and pupils who have worked tirelessly to get this project underway. 

“The site acquisition process will now progress to the conveyancing stage where the necessary due diligence will be undertaken by Chief State Solicitor’s Office on behalf of the Department.

“The achievement of agreement in principle is a significant milestone in the site acquisition process and the Department will endeavour to complete the conveyancing process as soon as possible”.