Citywest schools still look set to go ahead
By Laura Lyne
TWO new primary school buildings for the Citywest area are due to be constructed, after the Department of Education and Skills applied for planning permission to develop the schools at a site at Cooldown Commons.
Construction is currently underway on a housing development in the Cooldown Commons area of Citywest, with a further application for housing currently undergoing the planning process and awaiting a submission of additional information.
Two new schools have been earmarked for the wider Tallaght area as part of the Department of Education’s five-year plan that was announced in 2012.
The school buildings will both be two-storey and will be comprised of 16 classrooms and two special needs units.
Also included within the plans are a playing pitch, ball courts, project gardens and cycle storage for both schools.
Provision for 63 car-parking spaces and drop-off and pick-up facilities for both schools is also included within the plans.
Third-party submissions are currently accepted on the application until August 17, with a decision on the application due by September 7.
In response to a query by the Echo the Department of Education said: “Yes, these are the two new schools for Tallaght that were listed to go to construction in 2015/2016 as part of the 5 year plan.
“The schools are Citywest & Saggart Community National School and Citywest Educate Together National School.
“Respectively, the Patronage of these schools is Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) and Educate Together.
“The Department is currently in the process of securing a site for the building project to provide permanent accommodation for the schools.
“Both schools are operational in temporary accommodation at the present time. Unfortunately, due to the complex nature of the conveyancing process, the Department is not currently in a position to indicate a likely timeline for completion.
“In tandem with the site acquisition process however, the design work for the schools was advanced and the application for planning permission was submitted.”
