COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

MOTION NO. 8

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

"That this Area Committee:

NOTES conditions no. 2 & 3 attached to Bord Pleanála decision PL 06S.128044 (SDCC reg.ref. S01A/0539 - development of the Hermitage Clinic) which requires the transfer of ownership of lands along the River Liffey to the Council and the dedication to the council of a “public rights-of-way for future public access and maintenance” to these lands;

FURTHER NOTES the previously recorded concerns of the Park Department that “it is not possible to access the land itself due to the configuration of the road system provided by the hospital and the standard of road and pedestrian access constructed”; and the more recent concerns (March 2013) that “there is no physical access possible for plant and other equipment necessary to undertake any work on the land”;

RECOGNISES however that both the Development and Planning Departments nonetheless issued compliance on these planning conditions in 2005 and that the Planning Department previously advised this Committee that “enforcement is not considered necessary” with respect to this matter;

EXPRESSES its concern regarding the fragmented and disjointed approach across various departments of this Council in relation to the resolution of the issues involved;

RECOMMENDS:

• that the Parks Department, with the active support of the Development and Planning Departments; prepare and implement a detailed cross-departmental action plan to secure a resolution of any and all outstanding barriers to the development and maintenance of these public lands and the provision of public access; and
• that detailed reports be presented to this Committee, under headed items, at the June meeting (in relation to the prepared action plan) and again before the end of the year (on progress in implementing the action plan)."

REPORT:

There is no fragmented or disjointed approach by the Council to the issue of the access to the public land along the River Liffey and to the rear of the Hermitage Hospital.  The Right of Way to the lands through the Hospital lands has been secured.  However, the means of accessing the lands has yet to be resolved between the Council and the Hospital Board and this process is continuing.

The development of these lands, as public parkland with access to the banks of the River Liffey, is an objective of the County Council. However, the resourcing of this project has to be considered in the context of competing demands for the limited resources available to the Council. 

The Elected Members will be updated on progress on the matter.