Jesuits warn on effects of proposed rezoning

The Jesuits have warned they could be forced to close schools and move other activities out of Dublin if a proposed change to the city's planning regulations is introduced.

The order says the proposal to prevent development other than social and affordable housing on land zoned for long-term institutional use has "very serious implications" for its work.

Dublin city councillors are expected to confirm the change next month when they finalise the next development plan for the city. Last September they voted overwhelmingly to amend the plan by removing housing as one of the possible types of development allowed on Z15 or "long-term institutional" land.

However, in two submissions to the council, the Jesuits say the change would have "very serious repercussions" for the future development of Gonzaga College and Milltown Park in Ranelagh because it would remove the financial security provided by the existing value of the lands.

"It would render the lands effectively valueless and incapable of being used as security for the raising of loans and mortgages, which are used by the Jesuit order to carry out their capital programme for the maintenance, development and provision of new buildings and facilities to support their educational, charitable, social and community works.

"The potential effect of this change could in the shorter term cause some of the community-based facilities to cease," the order warns.

Another possibility under consideration is the relocation of various activities outside Dublin.

"In the longer term, the change in zoning would threaten all the activities carried out by the Jesuit order, which could of necessity lead to such matters as the closure of schools and the closure of their various social and community buildings, particularly in the Dublin city area.

"The net effect would be that the lands presently occupied by Gonzaga and Milltown Institute

. . . would no longer provide the educational, social and community facilities within their areas. We would suggest that such a situation would be a significant and major loss to the Dublin city area."

Councillors voted last September to rezone Gonzaga from Z12, "to ensure the existing environmental amenities are protected in any future use of these lands", to Z15. The Z12 zoning allows residential development.

Gonzaga and Milltown Park occupy a 19-acre campus between Ranelagh and Milltown. The school has an enrolment of 420 pupils. The site is also home to a Jesuit community, with 32 members, and the Irish School of Ecumenics.