COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

MOTION NO. 16

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

Motion also proposed by Cllrs C. Brophy & B. Lawlor.

Insert a distinct new policy objective in section 1.3.20 as follows: “It is the policy of the Council that planning applications for substantial new residential development should be accompanied by an assessment of existing school capacity in the area and where necessary the provision of new school facilities in tandem with the development. All planning applications comprising new residential development over 100 dwellings shall be accompanied by a report identifying the demand for school places likely to be generated and the capacity of existing schools in the vicinity to cater for such demand and where such demand is not proved to the satisfaction of the planning authority, the planning authority may refuse such application or impose compliance conditions on the planning permission grant requiring  the phased completion of the dwellings linked with the provision of additional school places.”

REPORT:

The Department of Education and Science is the responsible body for the forecasting of level of demand for schools and for the funding and provision of schools to meet this demand. The Council will endeavour to co-operate and co-ordinate with the Department of Education and Science on this matter in accordance with the Provision of Schools and the Planning System, A Code of Practice for Planning Authorities’ (2008).

Section 4.4 of the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Area Guidelines (2008) sets out that;

“Within the development management process, it is recommended that planning applications for 200+ dwelling units should be accompanied by a report identifying the demand for school places likely to be generated by the proposal and the capacity of the existing schools in the vicinity to cater for such a demand. In very large-scale residential developments (say, 800+ units), planning authorities must consider whether there is a need to link the phased completion of dwellings with the provision of new school facilities.”

 Section 1.3.19 School and College Sites of the Draft Development Plan sets out that the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Area Guidelines (2008) and the Provision of Schools in the Planning System, A Code of Practice for Planning Authorities (2008) highlight the importance of the assessment of the need for schools arising out of new developments and the provision of schools in tandem with such development.  This section also sets provides that the Council may require the phased provision of such facilities, in accordance with the provisions of a Local Area Plan or planning scheme or study.

 Manager’s Recommendation:

 It is recommended that this Motion is not adopted.