Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it allows me to provide an update on the current position regarding the planned developments at Roslyn Park in Dublin 4 and at the former Harold's Cross greyhound stadium in Dublin 6. The Minister apologises for being unable to attend the debate. I will address most of the issues raised by the Senator, but if he requires any additional information, I will ask the Minister to contact him directly. Significant demographic growth in the Dublin south city centre area in recent years has led to the need for additional school accommodation in the area and the necessity of acquiring permanent sites for that purpose. Concerted efforts to acquire such sites in the area have been ongoing by the Department since 2012, in the context of expected requirements at both primary and post-primary level.

A number of site options were assessed in the south Dublin city area. When Roslyn Park came onto the market, the Department recognised the valuable opportunity to acquire a site in the area that could help to address school provision requirements. The Department successfully completed the acquisition and it is intended to provide permanent accommodation for Shellybanks Educate Together national school and Dublin South City Educate Together secondary school on the Roslyn Park site. Plans for the site's development are currently being progressed. In the first instance, it is intended that the provision of temporary accommodation on the Roslyn Park site will allow Shellybanks Educate Together national school to move from its current temporary location in the RDS to Roslyn Park in September 2018. This will be closely followed by the development of a new permanent 16-classroom primary school on the Roslyn Park site from September 2019. It is intended that this level of accommodation will then facilitate the move to Roslyn Park of the new Dublin South City Educate Together secondary school from September 2019. Planning and design work is under way to ensure the permanent accommodation for the secondary school will be provided on the Roslyn Park site as soon as possible thereafter. Arrangements are being made in Dublin 4 for interim accommodation for the Dublin South City Educate Together secondary school for its first intake of pupils for September 2018. The Department is working closely with the patron body, Educate Together, on these arrangements.

In the context of meeting demographic needs, in addition to the above, the Harold's Cross greyhound stadium site was identified as a suitable location for the provision of further school accommodation in the south Dublin city area. A feasibility study of the site concluded that the property is suitable for the provision of a significant level of additional new school accommodation. Agreement with the Irish Greyhound Board on the proposed acquisition was reached, subject to a change of zoning on the property. That change was recently effected at a meeting of Dublin City Council. The acquisition of this site by the Department is currently at an advanced stage.

With regard to the specific school provision on the Harold's Cross site, the Department is currently engaged in a review of demographics which will determine the extent of additional school provision required nationwide. Until this final review of demographics has been completed, it would be premature to announce the exact configuration of permanent school provision at the site. The intention is to have that review completed by the end of the year, although it might be subject to some minor drift. Once a new school requirement has been established from the demographic exercise, a separate process will be conducted to establish which patron will run the new school. It will be open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of a new school under the patronage process. Parental preferences for each patron, together with the extent of diversity currently available in the area, are key to the outcome of this process. I assure the Senator that the Department is working to ensure sufficient and diverse school provision in the south Dublin city area in line with its emerging requirements.

I do not have the planning permission timelines to which the Senator referred, but I will get that information for him. The design stage is being worked out in conjunction with the patron and I will get the details of that to the Senator at a later stage. I do not share his concerns regarding the provision of on-site temporary accommodation. Such arrangements have worked out well elsewhere and the Department of Education and Skills has acquired a lot of experience in managing temporary schools on sites of new schools. It is a common way of managing the process which has helped us in recent years, under the Fine Gael-Labour Party Government and the current Government, to react to development pressures and provide accommodation where needed as quickly as possible. I am not aware of any ill effects of this approach.