College debate challenge for Docklands - Irish Architectural News

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College debate challenge for Docklands

Archiseek / Ireland / News / 1999 / August 20 1999: College debate challenge for Docklands

The sceptical view taken by the Department of Education of the National College of Ireland's Docklands expansion plans has not dampened the enthusiasm of its promoters. Improving access to education for local people of all ages is one of the key objectives of the Dublin Docklands master plan. Yet the major facility designed to provide opportunities for life-long learning in the area has been greeted with deep scepticism by the Department of Education.

The original concept for such a "Saol Scoil" was put forward by the Riverrun consortium, headed by architect Seán Ó Laoire, in its 1997 draft master plan for the 1,300-acre docklands area, a part of Dublin long characterised by low educational attainment and high unemployment.

Last October, a significant step was taken towards achieving this objective when the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) gave its endorsement to a bold plan by Prof Joyce O'Connor, president of the National College of Ireland (NCI), to relocate from Ranelagh and greatly expand on a Docklands campus.

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