School faces planning hurdle

Planning objections by a private third-level college and a group of residents could thwart a Dublin multi-denominational school's efforts to find a permanent home. Griffith College, which occupies a major portion of the old Griffith Barracks site on the South Circular Road, is appealing planning permission granted to Crumlin Multi-Denominational School to build a school on an adjacent site owned by the OPW.

"We are extremely upset and distressed about the objections to our planning permission," says Deirdre Tobin, secretary and representative of the school's parents - who are its "patron". . "We have nowhere to go. We've tried so hard to keep going. If we don't get the planning permission it's the end of the line for us."

Diarmuid Hegarty, president of Griffith College said last week: "Our basic problem is not with multi-denominational education or with the school itself . . . We are concerned about the noise level of the school and the fact that the buildings will be prefabricated and totally out of context with this listed-building area. We have spent upwards of £4 million on the acquisition and refurbishment of Griffith College."

The school spent its first year in a small, disused factory in Kilmainham; two years ago it found refuge in Goldenbridge House, Inchicore - but last July the school had to move again because the site was being redeveloped. It is currently operating from space in School Street National School, but only until Christmas.

The site in Griffith Barracks is currently being used as a car park, for which no planning permission has been given; the OPW is investigating this, E&L has confirmed.

The South West Inner City Network, which represents over 40 local community and voluntary groups, has welcomed the establishment of a multi-denominational school in the area. "People in the area are desperate for this type of school," local resident Gerard Crowsson said. "Crumlin Multi-Denominational School has had years of difficulties," an INTO spokeswoman said. "The children deserve to be looked after and need a permanent home."