COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor C. Jones

"To ask the Manager will present a report to this committee on the planning rationale for the location of the new primary school for Lucan with reference to demographics? And that the manager will state whether or not my previous motions, passed by this committee, were considered at all when deciding a location?"

REPLY:

The Department of Education and Skills has identified that there is a need to accommodate an additional 45,000 primary school pupils and almost 25,000 post primary schools pupils nationally by 2017/2018. The level of increased demand will require that many of the permanent solutions will be needed within three years.  On June 1st 2012 a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Education and Skills and the County and City Managers’ Association for the Acquisition of Sites for School Planning came into effect. South Dublin County Council has been working closely with the Department of Education and Skills to acquire sites to deliver urgently required primary schools in the county, including at Lucan.

Under the terms of the MoU, the Council acts when a requirement for a site is identified by the Department in a particular area. It is a matter for the Department of Education and Skills to determine the extent to which existing schools may be extended and/or refurbished to accommodate need in a particular area. The DES introduced a Geographical Information System (GIS) in the Planning & Building Unit in 2008 and this GIS technology is being used by the Department to assist in planning school requirements in the future. The GIS contains information on all schools in the country, primary and post-primary level, geo-coded to their location. The information is then linked to the relevant demographic information for those areas - typically the demographic information is from the Central Statistic's Office Census data, the General Register of Births, the Department of Social Protection, An Post’s Geo-directory and information supplied by Local Authorities through Development Plans. This information is being used to help identify the locations across the country where there will be significant changes of demographics in the coming years and to help plan for the need for additional school places in these areas. This GIS information has indicated that the requirement for additional primary provision over the coming years is likely to be greatest in a total of over 40 locations across the country based on significant changes to the demographics of those areas, including Lucan.

Taking account of existing schools SDCC identified sites for permanent schools based on the following criteria:

·         Being located where there is a demand for school places;

·         Meeting the technical requirements of the DES;

·         Meeting sustainable development and proper planning criteria; and

·         Meeting the technical requirements of the Council, including traffic / water and drainage / etc.

Following consultation with the DES in May / June 2012 a refined shortlist of possible sites in each location was drawn up and site valuations were finalised in July / August 2012. SDCC is pursuing the acquisition of these sites, in an expedient manner reflecting the urgent requirement for permanent schools at the required locations, including Lucan.  Consideration of potential site options in the Lucan area had regard to the proximity of existing schools and their catchment areas.  The Valuers, working on behalf of SDCC, are currently in negotiations with landowners of the preferred permanent site in Lucan with the aim that permanent schools will be opened by September 2015/2016.