ST MATTHEW’S NATIONAL SCHOOL JUDICIAL REVIEW

Thank you for supporting St Matthew's N.S.

Please read the latest update dated July 25th 2022.

St Matthew’s National School is a small school with a rich heritage, located off Cranfield Place in Dublin. It is the oldest school in the area and has educated generations of children from Irishtown, Sandymount and Ringsend. Today, the school provides an inclusive and safe learning environment for 230 pupils.

However the very future of the school is at risk following granting of permission for a vast and disproportionate development on the adjoining Maxol Filling Station Site on Beach Road. This development dwarfs the school and yard space and threatens to negatively impact the school and its learning environment forever.

 An observation lodged with An Bord Pleanála went unheeded, leaving the school with no choice but to take action so as to protect the school for future generations and safeguard staff and students. 

 The Board of Management of the school has successfully lodged a judicial review of the decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the development of 112 apartments to Maxol Property Ltd on the former Michael Grant Motors and former Maxol Filling Station Site on Beach Road, Sandymount but needs your help to support this legal challenge.

FUNDRAISING TARGET

National schools have very limited funds and resources and while, these legal proceedings are vital action to ensure the continued existence of the school, they are expensive. This fundraising drive is supported by the staff, parents, local residents and the community. There is a long way to go and a long legal road ahead, please donate and help protect the integrity of St Matthew’s NS. This could be your school or community next.

Help protect our school for future generations

The scale, density and height of this development right up to the boundary wall has shocked and concerned parents and staff. At its nearest points, the development will be between 0.5m and 2.013m from the boundary wall which will have a hugely detrimental impact on the school. St Matthew’s observation to An Bord Pleanála questioned the density, mass and height of the development, the impact of over 2 years of construction noise on the children’s learning environment and in particular the significant affect this will have on our students with special needs, serious medical needs, sensory processing disorders and profound sensitivities to noise and disturbance. 

 Longer term impacts, if the development were to be completed, include the safety of our children from increased traffic and, from a child protection point, our windows and play space being completely overlooked, along with the loss of light amenity to the school and its environment.

About St Matthews National School

St. Matthew’s is a co-educational primary school under Church of Ireland patronage. Built in 1832 on Irishtown Road, it is the oldest school in Sandymount and generations of children from Irishtown, Ringsend and Sandymount have passed through its doors. In 1959 the school moved to its current location on Cranfield Place. The school has seen continuous expansion over the past 12 years and today 230 pupils attend the eight-teacher school and it employs 21 people in total.