Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to raise this important matter. There is an issue in Asbourne, County Meath, in respect of a 23 acre site which the Department of Education and Skills has bought to use as a temporary campus for Coláiste De Lacy which is the new much needed second level school. The site is in two parts on two sides of a road. One part is residential with approval for housing under planning permission, the second part is zoned for green space, a linear park and river walk beside the Broadmeadow River. Meath County Council has been in contact with the Department of Education and Skills seeking to open up that site for the community on the land which the Department owns, which is zoned for a linear park. As I understand it that section zoned for a linear park is not required by the Department for educational purposes.

In its capital development plan, Meath County Council has already allocated and approved €1.1 million to develop a linear park for Asbourne which is one of the fastest growing towns in Ireland. There is a dire need for this type of facility in the town. The park has been planned for at least 12 years. Many houses have been built as part of other zoning objectives but this particular park has not got off the ground. The Department of Education and Skills may say it will take a few years to sell the land and move the school on. I understand this particular site is not needed for the school. It may take a few years for somebody to apply for planning permission for housing construction and in the meantime Asbourne has no public park.

I urge the Department of Education and Skills and the Minister to liaise with Meath County Council with a view to arriving at an arrangement that benefits everybody, ensuring that the temporary campus for Coláiste De Lacy is secure - I understand it is - but also that the Department plays its part to ensure the zoning objectives in terms of what is required for the community in Asbourne are achieved. Some 77% of the population of Asbourne are under 44 years of age. There is a huge number of young families in the town who need a park and space to play. The Department of Education and Skills is sitting on land that is not necessary for school purposes but which can be developed immediately by Meath County Council if made available to it. If this was a private developer we would be urging him to open up this land. I appeal to the Department of Education and Skills to work on this issue with Meath County Council. I am grateful to my colleague, Councillor Seán Smith, in Ashbourne who has been working on this issue for some time and who has asked me to raise it here. It is a crucial issue and there must be a way for the Department to engage with the local authority with a view to having the land released and, ultimately, to have the park opened for the people of Ashbourne.