Observation on the Moyross RIAI Design Review Public Consultation
Submitted by: Board of Management, Corpus Christi Primary School, Moyross
The Board of Management of Corpus Christi Primary School welcomes the opportunity to make an observation on the recently published RIAI Design Review in relation to future plans for Moyross. As the only school located in Moyross, we believe it is essential that any strategic plans for Moyross are developed through meaningful engagement with those who live, work and learn in the area. While the Board recognises the importance of long-term planning and investment in Moyross, we wish to formally raise the following concerns, about this current process.
1. Lack of Consultation with the Community and Key Stakeholders
The Board of Management is deeply concerned at the lack of consultation with the Moyross community and key local stakeholders in the preparation of this RIAI Design Review. Schools, community organisations, residents and local service providers are central to the social fabric of Moyross, yet there is no evidence that their views, experiences or insights were sought or incorporated into this report.
Meaningful consultation is critical to ensuring that proposed developments are appropriate, sustainable and reflective of local needs. The absence of such engagement risks undermining community trust and repeating approaches that have proven unsuccessful in the past.
2. Proposal to Relocate the School Without Consultation
The Board of Management wishes to express its strong disappointment and concern regarding the proposal referenced within the report to relocate our school, particularly as this proposal has been developed without any consultation with the school community or the Board of Management.
Decisions of this magnitude, which directly affect children, families, staff and the wider community, in our opinion, should not be advanced and publicised without prior engagement with those most directly impacted. The school is a cornerstone of the Moyross community, and any discussion regarding its future location must be undertaken transparently, collaboratively and with full stakeholder involvement.
3. Proposed Population Increase Without Adequate Social Infrastructure
The Board is also concerned about the proposed significant increase in population within Moyross, as outlined in the Design Review, without corresponding clarity on the provision of essential social infrastructure.
In particular, we question how the retention of only one primary school within the area will be sufficient to meet the needs of a substantially expanded population. Schools, childcare facilities, health services, recreational spaces, sports facilities and community supports must be planned and delivered in tandem with housing growth.
Considering Moyross’ history we should concentrate on building community, which is different from creating vast complexes without thought for community services.
The Board strongly believes that proceeding with large-scale residential development without first ensuring that adequate social infrastructure is in place risks repeating the mistakes of the past, where communities were developed without the necessary supports to sustain them.
4. Previous Report with Stakeholder Consultation Not Published – Regeneration Status Update Report
The Board of Management is perplexed that a similar report process took place approximately two years ago, during which extensive consultation with community stakeholders and local organisations was carried out in relation to design and delivery options.
To the Board’s knowledge, the findings or outcomes of that process have never been published, shared or made available to the community. It is concerning that a new report has now been published without consultation, while the results of a previous, more inclusive process remain unseen. Transparency around past work and how it has informed current proposals is essential.
5. Absence of Feedback from the University Avenue Consultation Process
Finally, the Board wishes to highlight that feedback from the University Avenue consultation process has also never been received or published. Community members and stakeholders who participated in good faith in that process are entitled to see how their input was considered and what outcomes emerged. The absence of feedback further contributes to a sense of disengagement and raises concerns about how consultation processes are being used and valued.
Conclusion
The Board of Management urges Limerick City and County Council and all relevant stakeholders to reflect on the concerns outlined above. Future planning for Moyross must be underpinned by genuine, transparent and ongoing engagement with the community and its institutions.
We respectfully request that meaningful consultation with local residents, school community and other local stakeholders be undertaken before any further decisions are progressed, and that outstanding reports and feedback from previous consultation processes be published and shared.
The Board of Management remains willing to engage constructively in any future dialogue to ensure that development in Moyross supports children, families and the long-term wellbeing of the community. Once again we would like to reiterate the importance of ensuring that the voice of the community is central to any further iterations of this process.