COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

MOTION NO.14

MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons

That this Area Committee requests that the Director of Land use and planning look at the ownership of the land that faces Clonburris school and faces Michael collins and the Nangor road with a view to looking at its suitability for an extension for Clonburris National School has a dire need for Autism specific additional rooms but have no room to expand. Also to ask that the Director details the next steps in regards to could the school apply for a section of this site? Clonburris National School has over 500 children currently and there is a chronic need for autism specific classrooms. This committe supports Clonburris National School in there mission to provide these much needed additional classes.

REPORT:

The concerns of the motion are acknowledged and additional facilities and services in schools are supported. Responsibility for delivery of education facilities and services lies with the Department of Education and Skills (DoES). The Council has worked closely with the DoES 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 acquisition of lands and the extension of a school is firstly addressed by the Board of Management and the Department of Education and Skills. The Planning Section and the Department have had recent meetings and the Department have not discussed or sought land for the extension of this school.  The lands referred to in the motion is public open space, owned and maintained by the Council. The Department of Education/ the Board of Management may approach the Economic Development section and request consideration of a purchase of an element of the open space. The issues raised by the Councillor can be raised at the next meeting with the Department, however, it is a matter for the Board of Management to raise any identified needs for the school with the Department in the first instance.