COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, February 04, 2016

MOTION NO. 180

MOTION: Councillor R. McMahon

To support the rebuilding or restoring a working historic mill on the River Dodder, including the restoration of a water course to feed the mill and would envisage that it would be a tourist amenity and educational centre – to include an interpretative centre for the River Dodder valley, a café and ancillary services to support such a venture.

REPORT:

Previous Motion

A similar motion was submitted to the June 2015 Development Plan Meeting (Motion 167 – Item 45134) seeking the refurbishment or restoration a working historic mill on the River Dodder for use as a tourist amenity and educational centre – to include an interpretative centre for the River Dodder valley, a café and ancillary services to support such a venture. The motion was adopted with amendment and the following objective was inserted into the Draft Plan:

‘HCL 10 Objective 10: To promote and support the development of a tourist amenity and educational/interpretive centre, such as a demonstration mill, within the Dodder Valley.’

It is accepted that the above objective was agreed at the June 2015 with the replacement of the word ‘demonstration’ with the word ‘working’ and that the agreed objective should be corrected accordingly.

Restorative works have taken place around Firhouse Weir following the preparation of a Conservation Plan. Funding for Conservation works to Firhouse Weir, a Protected Structure, came from the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme 2014 funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Further restorative works are beyond the strategic land use function of the County Development Plan and cannot be actioned or achieved through the Plan and should therefore be directed to the County Tourism or Heritage Strategy.

Recommendation

Amend HCL 10 Objective 10 to replace the word ‘demonstration’ with the word ‘working’.