An Bórd Pleanála blames delay in ruling on Cork City school on 'significant backlog of cases'
An Bórd Pleanála had hoped to make a decision by last December but it missed that target blaming a “continuing significant backlog of cases at board level”.
An Bórd Pleanála says it regrets the delay in ruling on plans for new 600-pupil secondary school on the southside of Cork City.
It was responding to a request from Labour local election candidate Peter Horgan for an update on the planning appeals process in relation to the proposed new school in Douglas.
The Department of Education applied to Cork City Council in May 2022 for planning permission for a 600-pupil secondary school at a 4.08-hectare site off the Carrigaline Road, at Ardarrig, Douglas.
The development, which includes a two-classroom special educational needs unit, has a floor area of 8,600 square metres over three storeys, including a PE hall and a general purpose hall, along with all ancillary teacher and pupil facilities.
The plans included new vehicular, cycle and pedestrian access from the west side of the school, via Carrigaline Road, with cycle and pedestrian access proposed to the north, again via the Carrigaline Road.
A new pedestrian and cycle access, with occasional fire tender and delivery access, was also sought through The Dales housing estate in Maryborough Woods.
The council granted planning in April 2023 with 37 conditions, including one preventing the vehicular access through The Dales.
But the council decision was appealed to An Bórd Pleanála by local residents concerned about that access route, with a first party appeal also lodged by the department in relation to some of the conditions, including the condition against that access route.
An Bórd Pleanála had hoped to make a decision by last December but it missed that target blaming a “continuing significant backlog of cases at board level”.
It said this backlog had arisen because of reduced capacity at board level in the first half of 2023 due to a turnover of personnel but that board capacity had since been restored. In correspondence this week, the board said the delay is regretted.
Mr Horgan said it is unacceptable for local residents and the school community to have to wait for so long a final decision.
“Residents and the local community are in limbo," he said.
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