COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

"To ask the Chief Executive what alternative plans have been put in place or are in preparation to avail of the funds allocated for the development of Traveller specific accommodation at Newcastle?"

REPLY:

The Council adopted a Traveller Accommodation Programme for South Dublin in January 2014 for the period 2014 – 2018. Within the programme, new Traveller specific developments that are required to meet the accommodation needs of the Travelling community are identified. The Council proposes to use the allocated funding that is now available following the decision of the receiver for the developer of Newcastle Lyons not to sell units specifically for Traveller accommodation to advance the construction of the units identified in the Traveller Accommodation Programme.

However before any proposal can be undertaken the Council must obtain the approval of the Department of Environment and to this end discussions have been entered into with a view to advancing the following projects.

It is proposed to use the funding to construct accommodation to replace the halting site at St. Aidan’s in Brookfield, Tallaght with a Traveller specific group housing scheme and build infill Traveller specific units at Ballyowen Lane, Lucan. It is proposed that the balance, if any, of the funding will be put towards the upgrade of the Council’s temporary site at Oldcastle Park in Clondalkin.