Agenda item

Draft Old School House Masterplan, Clonsilla

Meeting of Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart/Castleknock/Ongar Area Committee (Services B - Strategic & General Matters), Thursday, 6th November, 2025 3.30 pm (Item CMB/338/25)

Mr. Donall O Ceallaigh, Senior Executive Planner, Planning & Strategic Infrastructure Department provided a presentation on the Draft Old School House Masterplan, Clonsilla. Following the presentation queries were raised by the members which were responded to by Mr. Donall O Ceallaigh.

The Chair advised that eight Motions with respect to this matter had been submitted for consideration. The Chair suggested that Motions 1-7 be discussed together as they were similar in nature and this was AGREED.

Motion 1

Motion in the names of Councillor John Walsh, Councillor Siobhan Shovlin, Councillor Mary McCamley, Councillor Helen Redwood, Councillor Angela Donnelly, Councillor Eimear Carbone Mangan, Councillor Ellen Troy, Councillor Tom Kitt, Councillor John Burtchaell, Councillor Gerard Sheehan.

Amendments to the CE Report, Master plan for Old School House, Clonsilla (Recommendations 3 to 9)

Motion to Amend CE Recommendation 3, Section 3.2, Built Heritage, p.22 as follows:

Delete ‘or residential’ so the revised section reads as follows:

‘Potentially realising and promoting its restoration for a new community/cultural use if appropriate.’

The Motion was proposed by Councillor J. Walsh and seconded by Councillor E. Carbone – Mangan.

Following discussion the Motion was AGREED.

Motion 2

Amendments to the CE Report, Master plan for Old School House, Clonsilla (Recommendations 3 to 9)

Motion to Amend CE Recommendation 4, Section 4.1 Vision Statement, page 18:

Delete ‘residential’ so the revised section reads as follows:

The principal aim of the Masterplan is to ensure the orderly and sustainable development of the lands that will create a new residential environment and promote the restoration and appropriate use of the Old School House building for uses including community/cultural or childcare.

The Motion was proposed by Councillor J. Walsh and seconded by Councillor E. Carbone – Mangan.

Following discussion the Motion was AGREED.

Motion 3

Amendments to the CE Report, Master plan for Old School House, Clonsilla (Recommendations 3 to 9)

Amend CE Recommendation 5.1:

Chief Executive’s Recommendation (5) – Section 5.1 Built Heritage, page 22:

The Old School House (Protected Structure) will be restored and brought back into

active use for community/cultural or residential use as part of the sustainable

development of the lands.

‘or residential’ so that the section reads as follows:

The Old School House (Protected Structure) will be restored and brought back into active use for community/cultural use as part of the sustainable development of the lands.

The Motion was proposed by Councillor J. Walsh and seconded by Councillor E. Carbone – Mangan.

Following discussion the Motion was AGREED.

Motion 4

Amendments to the CE Report, Master plan for Old School House, Clonsilla (Recommendations 3 to 9)

Motion to Amend CE Recommendation (6) as follows - Table 5.1 Built Heritage:

Delete ‘or residential’ so that the section reads as follows:

‘Promote the restoration/reuse of former school building for community/cultural use. Development proposals will not impact the integrity of any Protected Structure.’

The Motion was proposed by Councillor J. Walsh and seconded by Councillor E. Carbone – Mangan.

Following discussion the Motion was AGREED.

Motion 5

Amendments to the CE Report, Master plan for Old School House, Clonsilla (Recommendations 3 to 9)

Motion to Amend Chief Executive’s Recommendation (7)

Fig 5-3, p.24, Proposed Land Uses.

Delete ‘or Housing’ so the revised text reads as follows:

‘Sensitive Restoration of OSH to Community/Cultural Facility’

The Motion was proposed by Councillor J. Walsh and seconded by Councillor E. Carbone – Mangan.

Following discussion the Motion was AGREED.

Motion 6

Amendments to the CE Report, Master plan for Old School House, Clonsilla (Recommendations 3 to 9)

Motion to Amend CE Recommendation (8) Section 5.4, p.30, as follows:

Delete ‘for residential use or’ so section reads as follows:

Given the location of proposed residential buildings along with amenity space in the area of the Old School House building, it is deemed appropriate to develop the Old School House building for a community/cultural use to serve the Clonsilla area.

Delete ‘or for housing as appropriate’ so following sentence reads as follows:

The restoration of the Old School House as a community/cultural facility will treat the built heritage in a similar way, forming a heritage inspired backdrop to new residential buildings.

Delete ‘as a single residence or as several residential units’ so following sentence reads:

‘The degraded nature of the building fabric, particularly the need to reconstruct much of the interior, may in principle allow for its redevelopment as a cultural/community facility.’

The Motion was proposed by Councillor J. Walsh and seconded by Councillor E. Carbone – Mangan.

Following discussion the Motion was AGREED.

Motion 7

Amendments to the CE Report, Master plan for Old School House, Clonsilla (Recommendations 3 to 9)

Motion to Amend CE Recommendation (9) Section 8.2, p.43 Implementation

Delete ‘or residential’ so section reads as follows:

‘Protect the integrity of the Old School House structure during the construction stage while providing for promoting its restoration for a suitable community/cultural use.’

Delete ‘and residential use’ after (Objective DMSO239, p.43) so sentence reads:

‘The Masterplan promotes the restoration of the Old School House…’

The Motion was proposed by Councillor J. Walsh and seconded by Councillor E. Carbone – Mangan.

Following discussion the Motion was AGREED.

Motion 8

Amendments to the CE Report, Master plan for Old School House, Clonsilla

Motion to amend Master Plan, Section 8.2, p.43:

Add following additional text to second bullet point in 8.2, p.43:

‘…through a comprehensive ecological assessment incorporating specialist surveys in relation to badgers, bats, flora and fauna in advance of development.’

So this point reads:

‘Ensure the protection of the natural environment and its biodiversity (and where possible its enhancement), through a comprehensive ecological assessment incorporating specialist surveys in relation to badgers, bats, flora and fauna in advance of development.’

The Motion was proposed by Councillor J. Walsh and seconded by Councillor E. Carbone – Mangan.

Following discussion the Motion was AGREED.

Ms. Roisin Burke, Senior Planner, Planning & Strategic Infrastructure Department advised the meeting that the Draft CE Report would be amended to reflect the changes brought about by the eight Motions agreed, and the report following these changes would be presented to full Council on Monday 10^th November 2025 for approval.