Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2024
460. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement on the sale of a two-acre site adjacent to a school (details supplied); and if her Department assessed the feasibility of constructing a second-level school there. [44805/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the Department of Education is in discussions with a developer on a potential disposal of the lands to the rear of the St. Finian's National School for the development of a public park and housing. Some lands will be retained for the benefit of St. Finian's National School.
The sustainable development plan of a settlement area and the planned use of the available development land is set out in County and Local Area Development Plans.
The land to the South St. Finian's NS is zoned to provide for new residential communities in the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028. There is also a Specific Local Objective (SLO) on these lands to identify and set aside land for a Public Park.
The site in the Minister's ownership, adjacent to St. Finian’s National School, extends to 2.1 Hectares (5.2 acres).
My department has published guidelines to assist in the identification and the assessment for suitability of new sites for schools where the procurement of a new site is required. The relevant guidelines are TGD-025 for Primary School site identification and TGD-027 for Post-Primary site identification. All technical guidelines are available on the gov.ie website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/7e515-technical-guidance-documents/.
The recommended site area, outlined in these guidelines, for a 750 pupil post primary school is 3.81 Hectares and 4.57 Hectares for a 1,000 pupil post primary school.
There are no plans to develop a post primary school on this site.
