Plan would force developers to give land to schools

CORK County Council is to examine proposals aimed at forcing developers to provide land free of charge for schools and graveyards.

The move received almost unanimous support yesterday, after several councillors said unprecedented population growth in many villages and towns was placing schools in a crisis situation.

Cllr Noel Collins (Ind) said he wanted specific legislation adopted which would require developers to set aside land for such purposes, as many schools didn’t have adequate land for expansion. He said many children were being taught in “hen house” prefabs because no consideration was being given to rapidly expanding populations, which were being brought about by major housing developments.

He was supported by Cllr Aileen Pyne (FG), a former teacher, who said she was aware of much overcrowding in schools in her area of Fermoy.

“My heart goes out to local communities. The Department of Education is not looking at projected growth in areas, it just looks at last year’s numbers.”

Cllr John Mulvihill (Lab) said a number of schools in East Cork were “under pressure”. He predicted the situation would get worse.

“You now nearly have to register a child for school when it’s born, otherwise it won’t get a place,” he said.

His party colleague, Sean Sherlock, said there was an onus on developers who were making huge sums of money to ensure that proper infrastructure was in place to provide for the occupants of their houses.

“There must be greater provision made for social and educational needs of communities,” he said.

Fine Gael’s Cllr Tom Sheahan pointed out that recently 100 children in Laytown, Co Meath couldn’t get places at their local school because of over-development, and he urged that every effort be made to ensure such scenes aren’t witnessed in Cork.

Cllr Andrias Moynihan (FF) said developments were “boxing in” schools and it was time land was set aside to plan for their expansion.

His party colleague Dan Fleming added that something similar was happening with village graveyards. He wanted developers to set aside land for cemeteries.

According to Cllr Michael Hegarty (FG) the council should insist that developers be forced to provide adequate drop-off and pick-up zones outside schools in order to prevent traffic chaos.

County manager Maurice Moloney said the motion should be examined even closer at one of the county council’s development committee meetings.