Zoned But Owned: Sallins Lands Proposed For Schools In Private Hands As Developer Eyes Housing Profits

Wednesday, 11 June 2025 11:47

By Martin Osborne

"Housing, housing, housing, and still no schools", says Local Cllr

Questions are being raised about Kildare County Council’s approach to school planning in Sallins, as it emerges that land zoned for education use is entirely in private ownership.

Despite Sallins seeing its population increase by about 500 people every year, no publicly owned site has been secured for the construction of a new primary or secondary school.

Cllr Bill Clear has questioned how the town is expected to meet growing education needs when the designated sites are not even in the council’s control.

Two sites - known as E1 and E2 in the Sallins Local Area Plan - have been zoned for ‘Community and Education’ use since 2016.

But both are privately owned.

One of the sites had already been put forward by developers for housing - but that application was refused.

Council officials said the zoning allows for schools to be permitted "in principle" and that the Department of Education is ultimately responsible for delivering new facilities.

The council said one of the sites has been specifically identified for the long-term expansion of the primary school.

The current primary school in Sallins is at maximum capacity.

“We’re zoning land for schools that we don’t own. There’s no joined-up thinking - it’s housing, housing, housing, and still no schools," Cllr Clear said.

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