COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, February 04, 2016

MOTION NO. 71

MOTION: Councillor A-M. Dermody

Chapter 3 Community Infrastructure

Further provision needs to be made in this Development Plan for more schools in the area (DUBLIN SOUTH WEST TO INCLUDE CITYWEST) in particular secondary school.

NOTE THIS MOTION WAS SUBMITTED EARLIER HOWEVER MY WORD "AREA" WAS REPLACED BY YOUR INSERTION OF FIRHOUSE WHICH IS INCORRECT. PLEASE NOTE THE SPECIFIC REFERENCE LEST THERE BE ANY CONFUSION.

CHAPTER 3 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Smaller sites be identified throughout Dublin South West, which might otherwise not be large enough to take a standard school but which could be designed to meet the needs of children and vulnerable adults with autism and other complex needs.

REPORT:

The error regarding the referencing of ‘Firhouse’ in lieu of ‘area’ under Section 3.11.0 of the Chief Executive Report on the Draft Plan Public Consultation (December 2015) has been noted and amended accordingly.

With regard to school site provision in Dublin Couth West, 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.

In addition, it is noted that the Fortunestown Local Area Plan was adopted in May 2012 by South Dublin County Council following an extensive public consultation programme. Council staff spoke to some 538 people at public information sessions and 90 submissions were received. The Local Area Plan relates to an extensive area of lands that are undeveloped and zoned for development in the Citywest and Saggart area (144 hectares – 356 acres). The statutory Local Area Plan incorporates a comprehensive series of strategies and objectives in relation to Accessibility and Movement; Green Infrastructure; Land use; and Built form. These strategies are based around maximising accessibility and use of the Red Luas Line and identifies 5 school sites (3 primary schools and 2 secondary schools), a Garda Station, a Library and the required community floorspace. These facilities are included as part of the LAP phasing requirements.

With regard to specialised education provision, it is noted that Policy C9 Objective 8 of the Draft Plan 2016-2022 relates specifically to the provision of special education and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) classes in schools across the County. In addition, it is noted that the Council will continue to work with the Department of Education and Skills to provide much needed accommodation, including those for Special Education and ASD classes. The provision of specific classrooms for children’s needs is a matter that needs to be determined by the Department of Education and Skills prior to the submission of proposals for development and is therefore not a matter for the County Development Plan.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.