298 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the long delay in providing a school building site at a location (details supplied) in County Cork, she will consider requesting the Office of Public Works to use a compulsory purchase order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41846/06]

I am advised by the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW), who act on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, that a suitable site has been identified for the provision of a new school referred to by the Deputy. The site comprises of three parcels of land. The up-to-date position on the acquisition of these lands is as follows:

Plot 1 — At conveyancing

Plot 2 — Awaiting contracts

Plot 3 — Agreement on price reached, subject to contract.

Contracts awaited — the OPW understand that the receipt from the vendor of contracts may be delayed depending on other planning matters being resolved in the first instance. I am further advised by the OPW that there is no provision for its Office to acquire lands compulsorily. On completion of the acquisition of the site, the project can then be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.