COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

MOTION NO. 40

MOTION: Councillor C. Jones

(This motion is intended to improve living conditions for residents in the vicinity of schools and may be appropriate to A Living Place. It may also be relevant to include it in A Connected Place, Transport.) That it is the Council’s policy to address parking issues in the vicinity of primary schools in the County. That while addressing poor parking provision, the Council will examine the immediate surrounding area with a view to utilising undeveloped land to address issues of congestion. That in the case that this undeveloped land is to be developed provision will be sought, at the planning stage, to alleviate the surrounding parking congestion issues.

REPORT:

In accordance with the Manager’s previous recommendation at the meeting of September 2009, the Draft Development Plan contains policies which adhere to the ‘Provision of Schools and the Planning System, A Code of Practise for Planning Authorities’, issued by the Department of Education and Science and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in July 2008, with particular reference to siting and other urban design and sustainable development considerations.

Policy SCR13: Sustainable Transport and Travel Plans for Schools states "It is a policy of the Council to target schools for priority action on sustainable transport and travel plans, with scope for significant improvements to be made in conjunction with principles, teachers, parents/guardians, boards of management and pupils."

This policy reflects a strategic objective of the draft Development Plan "to promote a sustainable urban form based on the concept of a compact city characterised by ease of access to public transport, schools and community uses, parks, shops and the work place, without recourse to the private car". In this regard it is considered that the provision of additional car parking facilities at schools is likely to sustain and increase existing car dependency levels whereas the thrust of the development plan strategy is to seek to promote the greater use of alternative modes of transport such as walking and cycling, and public transport.

Manager’s Recommendation:

 It is recommended that this Motion is not adopted.