COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

QUESTION NO. 21

QUESTION: Councillor Fintan Warfield

"To ask the Chief Executive for an update on the discussions held between South Dublin County Council and the Department of Education and Skills in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site for a new, permanent school build for Gaelscoil Ná Giúise in Firhouse and Firhouse Educate Together NS?"

REPLY:

Two new primary schools for Firhouse opened in September 2013 and are being facilitated in temporary accommodation in the Firhouse Community Centre and the Tymon Bawn Community Centre. This temporary arrangement is not tenable for the future long-term viability of the schools. It remains a requirement of the Department of Education and Skills (DoES) that a site or sites be acquired for these 2 new primary schools to serve existing demand in the Firhouse area.

A preferred site had been identified for two temporary schools that could be further developed to accommodate two future permanent schools, on public land adjoining Firhouse community centre. The temporary schools proposal included the provision of a public car park to serve the adjoining Community Centre and nearby playing fields as well as the two temporary schools and a new public playground. This was advertised through the part 8 process last summer (ie 2013), but attracted considerable local opposition, primarily due to concerns about traffic and loss of public space. The Part 8 report has not been brought to the Council for determination. The longer term proposal was that the permanent schools would be built on the public space adjoining the temporary schools. The one existing grass pitch to be displaced by the permanent schools would be relocated onto an adjoining area of public space. The possibility of a portion of the return to the Council from the sale of the site to the Department being made available as matched funding for the development of an all-weather sports facility on an adjoining public site, in accordance with local objectives and to which the schools would have preferential school-time access, was also considered. It had been intended that the permanent schools would go through the normal planning process, which would enable any concerned party the option of appeal to An Bord Pleanala.

SDCC and the DoE&S are currently assessing all possible options in the area, both publicly and privately owned sites, to establish:

• that sites are located within the required educational catchment,
• the suitability of sites to meet both DoE&S and SDCC technical requirements,
• that sites are located in an area which will underpin the principles of sustainable development by enabling students to cycle and walk to school, therefore minimising the need for students to be driven to school, and
• that sites have the potential to be acquired in a timely fashion.

It is anticipated that a report will be brought to the Council before the end of the year.