[Press Release: June 10th, 2003]

Greens support application for multi-denominational school for Wicklow Town

The Green Party has expressed its support for the planning aplication by the Wicklow Educate Together Group for a multi-denominational national school in Wicklow Town. The decision on this planning application will be made by Wicklow County Council by the end of June.

"I think the multi-denominational school being proposed would be a wonderful addition to the primary school provision in Wicklow" say Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca. "We have the multi-denominational Bray School Project here in Bray and it offers parents real choice in terms of where they want to send their children for their primary schooling".

Several problems have arisen in relation to the planning application by Wicklow Educate Together particularly in relation to traffic, and representatives from the Group have recently met with planning officials to see if these difficulties can be overcome. The Group has 70 enrolments for September 2003 and the Department of Education requires confirmation of planning permission by 26 th June this year.

"The planning permission that has been applied for is temporary" says de Burca. "The site off the Ashtown lane that is being applied for is not suitable in the long-term and the group are anxious to construct a permanent school building in a suitably zoned area. In Wicklow Town there is currently no such suitably zoned or serviced land and the site which the planning application has currently been made is closed to a zoned area in Area Action 4 of the Wicklow Town Development plan. Unfortunately this Area is not to be developed in the first phase of development in the Town Development Plan. The only other suitable zoned areas are within Action Area 3 which has apparently been earmarked for the Vocational Education Committee. This is a very unfortunate situation as there is a strong demand for school buildings in Wicklow Town" she says.

The Green Party is calling on Wicklow County Council to show some flexibility and should try to facilitate the Wicklow Educate Together Group in its efforts to secure planning permission before the Department of the Environment withdraws the funding that could be made available".

For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org.