COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, April 09, 2019
HEADED ITEM NO. 3
HEADED ITEM: Planning
Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School - Site selection
REPLY:
Representatives of the Planning Department and the Department of Education and Skills (DES) met on March 20th to discuss the current situation regarding future schools for the Firhouse / Ballycullen area. The context of this meeting was the issuing of the decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse outline planning permission for the construction of an educational campus comprising a primary school and post-primary school, and playing pitch at a site to the east of Ballycullen Road on 20th February 2019.
The Ballycullen-Oldcourt Local Area Plan 2014 (LAP) identifies sites within the Ballycullen/Firhouse area for schools. The Planning Department have advised the DES to revert to these sites to meet the future school needs for the general area. These sites are integrated into the LAP layout and the sites are required to be delivered in the phasing programme for the LAP. The extension of the LAP will provide a secure policy context for the DES to pursue the acquisition of the relevant lands. The extension of the LAP will provide policy clarity for the landowners and developers in the area.
Further to the meeting on March 20th, the DES has agreed to pursue acquiring sufficient lands for a Post Primary site on the western side of the LAP lands. SDCC will continue to provide advice from a planning perspective and assist the DES in acquiring and delivering the sites. Pending site acquisition, the DES has indicated that the provision of temporary accommodation for Firhouse Educate Together Post Primary may be progressed on the site on an interim basis while the permanent school is planned and constructed.