Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
79. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure that the development of new schools supports the national planning framework objectives of compact growth and reducing urban sprawl; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52871/23]
View answerThe designation of school sites to serve existing, expanding and new communities is the function of local authorities, in consultation with my Department, through the statutory development plan process.
My Department’s Statutory Plans Co-ordinating Unit actively engages with the statutory planning process to ensure that sufficient land is zoned to provide appropriate sites for new school buildings or the extension of existing ones. It is within the Local Authority’s remit to ensure that land is appropriately zoned for educational purposes.
Local authorities in their statutory plans, are required to be consistent with the National Planning Framework’s objectives in respect of compact growth. Statutory plans must include details of where future growth is to be distributed within the relevant area over the lifetime of the plan, together with details of population and household projections and the quantum of lands to be zoned for residential and mixed uses. These details must be consistent with the regeneration and redevelopment targets identified for existing built-up locations by the National Planning Framework for the relevant area.
My Department engages actively with the statutory planning process and is proactive in its expression of support for compact growth initiatives as they are outlined in the relevant statutory plans. Furthermore, where future population projections for an area indicate the likely future need for a new school or the extension of an existing one to serve that area, my Department requests that a suitable and appropriate site be zoned in the statutory plan to cater for a future need.
Simultaneously, in order to plan for school provision in existing built-up locations, my Department also engages in an ongoing analysis of demographic data and residential development to identify where the pressure for school places in these areas across the country will arise. Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
Sites that are zoned for school provision need to be appropriately located in order to maximise sustainable travel modes.
The local authorities take my Department's requirements along with other social, community and economic requirements, including housing need, into consideration when forming a development plan.
My Department has published guidelines to assist in the identification and assessment for suitability of new sites for schools, where the procurement of a new site is required.
These guidance documents, which are available on gov.ie, recommend that as part of the evaluation of site suitability, a number of factors are taken into account including zoning, location, existing services, site orientation, topography, transport and access.
The school site selection process is supported by a Site Acquisition Management consultancy team. This team provides a report to officials in my Department, identifying potential school sites. The suitability of these sites is ranked based on a number of criteria including:
• Zoning and Development Plan provisions,
• Accessibility and sustainable transport modes,
• Proximity to the population to be served, and
• Proximity to services.
My Department also engages with local authorities to seek their views when evaluating identified shortlisted sites. This then informs which sites should undergo further technical appraisal.
When a school site is acquired and a building project is progressed, the school design is submitted for planning permission to the local authority. The local authority evaluates the environmental impact of the school development and links to sustainable transport as part of the planning process.
