COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, February 04, 2016

MOTION NO. 56

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

School Developments

To update section ‘3.11.0 Educational Facilities‘ to reflect the projects in our County planned as part of the Government’s School Building Programme 2016 – 2021; and to further include a new objective under C9: "To facilitate the development of all new schools and extensions planned as part of the Government’s School Building Programme 2016 – 2021”.

 

Co-sponsored by Cllr. Brophy, Casserly, Dermody, Donovan, Egan, Higgins

REPORT:

As noted under Section 3.11.0 of the Executive Report on the Draft Plan Public Consultation (December 2015), the submission from the Department of Education and Skills requests the inclusion of additional text in the narrative of Section 3.11.0 of the Draft Plan 2016-2022 regarding Educational Facilities. The additional text, which relates to issues including the role of the Department of Education and Skills in the identification and acquisition of school sites in the County, was considered and the Chief Executive Report recommended that Section 3.11.0 of the Draft Plan be amended as follows:

‘3.11.0 Educational Facilities

Educational facilities have an important role to play in developing sustainable and balanced communities in the County. The Department of Education and Skills is responsible for the delivery of educational facilities and services.

South Dublin County Council has worked with the Department of Education and Skills since 2012, under a nationally agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to proactively identify and acquire sites for new primary and post-primary schools and support the Department’s Schools Building Programme. The Department of Education and Skills will continue to work closely with South Dublin County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of school sites.

The Department of Education and Skills will commence a new phase of school building during the period 2016-2022. The Department has identified a need for additional post primary schools in South Dublin County up to 2026. Schools in Lucan (Kishoge Community College), Tallaght (Kingswood) and Rathcoole (Holy Family Community School) are under construction or at design stage. Demand for further provision is also identified in the Lucan; Saggart/Citywest; Newcastle/Rathcoole; Knocklyon/Firhouse/Ballycullen areas. The Department identifies a possible requirement for further provision in the Lucan and Dublin 24 areas particularly, although other areas may also require some level of additional provision.

With regard to primary school requirements, the Department of Education and Skills reviews demographic data on an ongoing basis, with any requirements for additional accommodation at primary level up to 2026 in the Development Plan area, either via new schools or expansion of existing schools, identified through that process. It is likely that additional provision will be required at primary level within the Development Plan area, over the lifetime of this Plan.

The Provision of Schools and the Planning System, a Code of Practice for Planning Authorities, published jointly by the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government, sets out the best practice approach to facilitate the timely and cost effective roll out of school facilities’. [emphasis added to identify additional text]

The additional motion proposed regarding new schools and extensions is also accepted.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted.