A code of practice for the provision of schools and the planning system was announced today.
The code - drawn up by the Departments of Education and Science, and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government - sets out the roles and actions to be taken when forecasting future demand for school places and planning for schools.
The document is built around three objectives:
- Schools provision should form part of sustainable urban development and sustainable communities;
- New schools should come from an integrated approach between the planning authorities and the Department of Education and Science;
- Planning bodies will work with the Department to ensure timely school delivery.
Welcoming the code, John Gormley, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, highlighted the co-operative nature of the document - which he said will help to ensure best practice approaches are followed.
Batt O’Keeffe, Minister for Education and Science, said: “It’s principally about ensuring that planning authorities engage at the earliest opportunity and co-ordinate with the Department of Education and Science in relation to schools requirements and their future provision before land is zoned or rezoned for substantial residential development.”
The guidelines were announced today by Mr Gormley Mr O’Keeffe, and Michael Finneran, Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas.
