Lucan schools get green light to build post-primary extensions

By Maurice Garvey

PROPOSALS by two Lucan schools to build an extension have been granted permission from South Dublin County Council.

St Joseph’s College, post-primary school and Scoil Mhuire Girls National School, on Lucan Road, submitted the application in March.

Proposals include the demolition of existing single- and two-storey post-primary school buildings to the east of the main school buildings, and construction of a part two-, part three-storey post-primary school extension (3346 sq m in total).

The extension features a new post-primary school pedestrian entrance off the Lucan Road, with a reconfiguration of the existing vehicular and pedestrian access off Lucan Heights to form the main entrance and secondary pedestrian entrance.

Plans also contain the reconfiguration of the existing primary school pedestrian entrance in its current location off the Lucan Road, and the re-designation of the existing post-primary school vehicular entrance as the primary school vehicular entrance.

Additional information was sought by council plannners on a number of areas, including a road safety audit, traffic and transport report, drainage, trees and landscaping.

A joint objection was lodged by residents from Lucan Heights, citing concerns over plans for the change of use of the entrance to be used as the only vehicular entrance to the school.

They believe this will lead to “further chaos” on the hill at peak traffic times when parents drop and collect kids from school.

Residents also cited the vulnerability of the hill road during winter time, which “becomes a skating rink and is highly dangerous.”

The council granted planning permission on October 10.