COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, February 04, 2016

MOTION NO. 68

MOTION: Councillor J. Lahart

That the symbols indicating Primary School provision in the Draft Development Plan on the Firhouse Open Space (bordered by Kilinniney Road, and Ballycullen Drive) be removed from the Development Plan 2016-2022

REPORT:

As noted under Section 3.11.0 of the Draft Plan 2016-2022, 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 to support the Department’s Schools Building Programme. The Department of Education and Skills reviews demographic data on an ongoing basis, with requirements for additional schools accommodation identified through same. It is noted that the list of schools detailed in Section 3.14.0 of the Draft Plan was provided by the Department of Education and Skills, arising from their latest projections on the need for school places and provision of new schools in the County. The Department of Education and Skills will commence a new phase of school building during the period 2016-2022.

Where the DES has identified a demand for school accommodation in a catchment area, SDCC will identify a number of potential sites and an evaluation process will be carried out in order to select the best possible available site, with final site selection determined after due process. In addition it is noted that all planning applications for new or extended school facilities in the County will be assessed on a case by case basis and on their merits with regard to issues including identified school sites, compliance with relevant policies, objectives and standards contained within the Plan, compatibility of proposed land use with the zoning objective of subject site and capacity of existing school facilities.

It is therefore recommended that the Draft County Development Plan not be amended in this regard.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.