James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ní fheicim an Teachta MacSharry. Tá brón orm for the confusion, and I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh. I am happy to be here today to discuss many of the aspects in this Bill. It is important legislation regarding planning and development in response to disruption caused by restrictions introduced because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It provides for an additional period for the preparation of development plans required by planning authorities and gives planning authorities the option to extend the duration of existing development plans pending the preparation and making of new development plans. Development plans form the blueprints for the social and economic development of counties and cities across Ireland. It is, therefore, vital where planning authorities have encountered disruptions that additional time can be allowed to them to ensure that their development plans can reach the highest possible standards.

I will use my time to discuss the requirements for the rezoning of land in east Cork for educational purposes. There is a strong demand for additional land for educational purposes in the east Cork area, which was the municipal area that I served when I was a member of Cork County Council. The east Cork local electoral area, LEA, has since 2006 experienced significant population growth that has been far beyond the national average. The 2016 population of 42,399 represents growth of 25.3% in the east Cork LEA since 2006, which is substantially higher than the State's average of 12.3%. This increase in population has put pressure on services in the area, mainly post-primary schools, where there is an ever-increasing demand for places. According to the latest Department of Education figures for primary schools for 2019-20, there has been an increase of 26.7% in enrolments since 2011-12, which again is far greater than the national average of 14.2%.

The electoral districts with the most significant population growth are in east Cork. There has been a notable concentration of increased population between Midleton, Cobh, Carrigtohill and Youghal. This significant population increase can be attributed to the construction of new housing developments over the last 20 years, and proximity and accessibility to Cork city. Therefore, it will continue to be necessary to increase the level of zoning in the east Cork area for educational purposes. Cork County Council, in conjunction with the Departments of Education and Housing, Local Government and Heritage, must give serious consideration to examining the issue of rezoning lands for educational purposes to meet the population growth dynamics in east Cork. I call on the Department of Education to work with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Cork County Council on this matter. I also acknowledge the work of the east Cork Educate Together secondary school group, which provided many of the statistics through its hard work and research on this issue. It would be wrong and remiss of me to not mention the group in that context.

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