Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
151. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 17 July 2025, the progress made to date by her Department to ensure that a green area is made available for the use as a playing pitch by local schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70409/25]
View answerThe campus referred to by the Deputy was completed in Q4 2023 and delivered a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and two 24 classroom primary schools and accommodation, including 14 classrooms across the three projects, for children with special education needs. The campus project also delivered 3 GP areas, a PE Hall in the post-primary school and 13 ballcourts in total.
The lands to the south of the site have been designated as a flood retention area as required under the campus flood mitigation design. The area will be subject to ponding of water and potential flooding given that these lands are designed to retain overflow flood waters during periods of heavy rainfall.
A planning application was submitted to the local authority by the contractor to provide an access road and entrance to this area. A Notification of Decision to Grant Planning Permission was received from Cork County Council on 20th February 2025. The scope of works and associated costs are to be submitted to my department for review. Upon receipt, review and approval of scope and costs, and on completion of the works, the area will be made available and is to be managed by the post-primary school in terms of shared access for all three schools on the campus as a green area.
