Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 December 2015
156. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the Commons on the Hazelhatch Road in Celbridge, County Kildare, site was purchased; who purchased this site; who authorised its purchase; the amount paid; the zoning status when purchased, that is, agricultural, residential or strategic infrastructure; if the site has been re-zoned; and if the purchase was agreed subject to planning permission for the intended use. [43136/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraKildare VEC (now Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board) acquired the site for a primary and post-primary school on Hazelhatch Road, Celbridge in two transactions in 2009 and 2010.
The site was acquired in 2 parts (one comprising circa 3 acres and a second comprising an area of circa 7 acres) and funding was provided by my Department. The acquisition of the site was authorised by my Department.
On November 3, 2009, Kildare VEC received official notification of the decision of Kildare County Council to grant outline planning permission for the construction of a primary school on the smaller area of the site. The contract for this portion of the site was signed subsequently by Kildare VEC on November 17, 2009, and the sale closed on December 21, 2009. The final grant of outline planning permission had issued in the interim on December 8, 2009.
Outline planning permission for a post-primary school was granted by Kildare County Council in July 2010. The contract for the larger portion of the site, to accommodate the post-primary school, was executed subsequently in November 2010.
The site is located within an area which, under the 2010 Celbridge LAP, is afforded the zoning objective E – Community & Educational. This zoning objective provides for inter-alia 'community and educational facilities including health care, child care, fire station, courthouse, schools, meeting halls and other community facilities, ancillary neighbourhood uses and services.' Section 10.3 of the LAP identified the subject site for the provision a new primary and secondary school.
A planning application for permanent school buildings on this site was subsequently refused by Kildare County Council in December 2013 and this decision was upheld by An Bord Pleanála in May 2014.
