COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, November 24, 2014

MOTION NO.10

MOTION: Councillor C. King

"That this Committee calls on the Chief Executive Officer to consider the further expansion of the Tallaght Leisure Centre site into a sports Hub for the Tallaght area with a view to including a BMX track on the adjoining lands separate to the pitches. The largest local club DCBMX which has almost 100 riders many of which have rode for Ireland at numerous events around the world and who hold many titles have indicated their wish to locate such a track at this location. This club is Nationally affiliated with and officially recognised by Cycling Ireland & Leinster Cycling and the majority of their hugely successful riders are from the Tallaght area"

REPORT: 

Tallaght Leisure Centre (TLC) opened in 2006 and at present attracts over 200,000 customers per annum. With a view to the ongoing and further development of the location, a scoping exercise was conducted to identify sustainable additional sporting activities which could enhance the range of amenities on site. From this a masterplan was developed for the adjacent lands and formulated into a Part 8 consultation document which was considered and approved by the elected members of the Council at their November 2011 meeting .

The Masterplan provides for the development of a neighbourhood recreational hub providing a wide range of both active and passive recreational facilities in the Park. It is planned that these facilities can be secured on a phased basis, over the coming years, as resources become available. Emphasis has been given to the development of the widest possible range of outdoor sports and recreational facilities including an Athletic Track, Skatepark, Childrens Playground etc. to complement the indoor facilities, currently available in Tallaght Leisure Centre and those already operating in the Park. Works are very near completion on the provision of the 4 All Weather pitches envisaged as the first phase of development. These new facilities will bring additional footfall /traffic onto the site. In the light of the agreed Masterplan and given the volume of activity at present generated by TLC it is not considered feasible to accommodate the needs of DCBMX at this location. 

Notwithstanding the foregoing the Council is committed to facilitating the development of minority sports in the County and in this regard has commenced discussions with BMX Ireland on the provision of a suitable site within the county. While no final decisions have been made it is noted that the delivery of a facility would be wholly dependent on the provision of funding for the facility which is estimated to cost no less than €150,000 at present day prices. The most likely source of funding would be from the National Sports Capital grants.

Members should also note that a major BMX facility has recently been completed and opened in Lucan area on a site located in St Catherines Park (Fingal County Council).