COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING
Thursday, February 04, 2016
MOTION NO. 72
MOTION: Councillor K. Mahon
"That Development Plan 2016-2022 provides for a new objective under Category C -Policy 9 - Primary and Post Primary Facilities, to identify the existence of educational facilities of differing ethos or management and distinguishes between "co-located" and "stand alone" institutions.Such an objective should be a guiding consideration in futur area plans and instruct interaction with the Dept of Education and Skills regarding future educational developments in the County"
Anti- Austerity Alliance
REPORT:
The Department of Education and Skills is responsible for the delivery of educational facilities and services, with South Dublin County Council working with the Department under a nationally agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to proactively identify and reserve sites for new primary and post-primary schools and facilitate the delivery of same in line with the Department’s Schools Building Programme. The management or classification of schools falls outside the remit of the Council and is therefore not a matter for the County Development Plan.
Recommendation
It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.
UPATED REPORT (05/02/20016)
The information communicated by the Elected Member at the meeting on February 4th 2016 is noted.
REPORT:
The information communicated by the Elected Member at the meeting on February 4th 2016 is noted.
The Department of Education and Skills is responsible for the delivery of educational facilities and services, with South Dublin County Council working with the Department under a nationally agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to proactively identify and reserve sites for new primary and post-primary schools and facilitate the delivery of same in line with the Department’s Schools Building Programme.
The management or classification of schools falls outside the remit of the Council and is therefore not a matter for the County Development Plan; however, the intention of this motion is noted. It is therefore recommended that additional text be inserted in Section 3.11.0 of the Draft Plan to include reference to school facilities serving the cultural and religious needs of the County, and support for the co-location of schools or ‘stand alone’ institutions where appropriate
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this motion is adopted with the following amendment, comprising insertion of text into Section 3.11.0 Educational Facilities to state:
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.
South Dublin County Council will continue to support and facilitate the provision of primary and post primary school facilities to serve all cultural and religious needs of the County, and support the co-location of schools or ‘stand alone’ institutions where appropriate.
[bold text refers to additional text as per Motion 72]