5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Site identified for new primary school to serve north Wicklow
The planned establishment of a new facility in 2021 to serve the Bray/Woodbrook Shanganagh area was first announced in 2018, following a countrywide demographic exercise.
Further reviews on the pace of delivery of additional residential development in the area were carried out, with the planned establishment of the school subsequently being deferred indefinitely.
New documents from the Department of Education show a new primary school entity has been identified and the acquisition is in the final stages of conveyancing.
Major new residential developments in the area have substantially altered the demand for school places in the wider north Wicklow and south Dublin region.
Construction of 597 social and affordable residential units have been ongoing at Shanganagh. 306 cost rental homes have also been built at Shanganagh Castle, as well as 200 social apartments, 51 affordable houses and 40 affordable apartments.
A new DART station at Woodbrook has also recently opened, serving the ever-growing population demands in the area.
Provision has been made in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan for a designated primary school site in the Woodbrook area. This site is located to serve the new residential developments in Woodbrook and Shanganagh.
It had been projected, in 2018, that these residential lands would be developed in a shorter timeframe, but the plans were stalled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
The department is liaising with Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in respect of their county development plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements in the area.
The data will be kept under review and will inform the timing of any future school requirements.
