Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
489. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education when construction will begin on a school (details supplied) in Clongriffin given that planning permission expires in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27263/23]
View answerMy Department is aware of Dublin City Council’s Local Area Plan for Clongriffin/Belmayne that includes a reservation of land for a school in the area of Clongriffin identified by the Deputy. My Department has also noted An Bord Pleanala’s decision in 2019 to grant a strategic housing development application to build over 1,000 residential units in this area. In its decision to grant this application, An Bord Pleanala identified the role of the Department of Education in assessing the demand for schools, took into consideration the significant population growth in the area that would likely occur from this development and applied a condition in line with the Local Area Plan of reserving a site for potential use as a school with that condition remaining in place for five years from the date the application was granted.
As the Deputy will understand, evidence of residential development works is a key factor for assessing the population growth of an area and the future school place requirement that may follow. The timing of such residential developments inform greatly my Department’s decisions to commence school building works.
In the case of the area identified by the Deputy, my Department has not been in a position to assess the school place requirements for the area arising from the proposed development as the construction of this residential development have yet to commence.
In terms of school place requirements arising from the completion of ongoing residential developments in the wider Clongriffin/Belmayne area, my Department has a number of school building projects in progress that are addressing those needs.
