Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton has been urged to consider purchasing the old Cliffoney Primary Care Centre to help alleviate difficulties with parking, at the adjacent national school.

In correspondence to the Minister, Cllr Thomas Walsh said, “An opportunity now exists to make the school community safer and the school environment.”

Outlining the difficulties faced by the school, Cllr Walsh said, “The school is located along a very busy stretch of national road, the N15. There are 96 students enrolled here at the school and indeed it is a school that continues to grow in terms of student population.

“This school suffers from a lack of parking, outdoor space and safe set-down given its proximity to the national road. Over many years now and consistently, public representatives are contacted from parents and members of the community about an accident or a near miss around the school environment during pick-up times/drop off times.”

The matter was previously raised last November at a meeting of the Regional Health Forum by Cllr Marie Casserly when she asked if temporary permission could be given to the school’s teachers to use the car park at the facility.

In reply the meeting was told, “The property was listed as surplus on the Office of Public Works Property Mapping Register Viewer on November 14, 2024. The building was made available for acquisition by other State bodies, including the Local Authority, but no State entity expressed interest.”

The meeting also heard, “The HSE subsequently progressed toward disposal of the property on the open market in line with Circular 17/16 (Policy for Property Acquisition and Disposal of Surplus Property) and the HSE Property Protocol. During this process, title-related issues arose, resulting in the suspension of the sale.”

With these matters now addressed the property has been placed on the market with Cllr Walsh urging the Department to take action and purchase the property saying, “An opportunity now exists to make the school community safer and the school environment.

“An adjacent property has been put on the market, the former Cliffoney Health Centre which stands on a 0.52 Acre Site. The property is due to be auctioned on Friday, September 25.

“I urge you and your officials to not let this opportunity go. These chances at getting space around school environments are few and far between.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.