COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Thursday, June 23, 2016

MOTION NO. 23

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

"That this Area Committee:

WELCOMES the focus of the South Dublin Tourism Strategy in proposing a Liffey Valley Blueway and NOTES the progress underway, as outlined in response to my motion at the June Council meeting, including the joint work underway by the tourism functions in Fingal and South Dublin;

CALLS for an increased focus on provision of public access to the River Liffey Valley and the incremental development of a River Liffey Valley Greenway (including along indicative routes provided for in the newly adopted Development Plan) and therefore particularly calls for the following:

1.Building on the recent meeting between officials of this Council and the Luttrelstown Group, the PREPARATION of detailed proposals for a permissive greenway along the River Liffey from Lucan Village to a point west of Hermitage Golf Course with a further greenway linking back to Lucan Road/N4 from this point – to be fully fenced off from adjoining working agricultural land – with Luttrelstown Group to be indemnified by SDCC;

2. PREPARATION of detailed proposals to develop and provide public access to SDCC-owned public open space north of Hermitage Clinic adjoining the Wren’s Nest Weir with a view to providing further incremental greenway linkages across the River and eastbound to connect with Waterstown Park;

3. EXAMINATION of the possibility of acquiring the parcel of open space, within the Lucan House/Italian Embassy grounds, but east of the Griffeen River, for provision of riverside parkland accessed-directly from Lucan Village Main Street while preserving the security of the main Lucan House/Italian Embassy grounds;

And further CALLS for provision to be made, as appropriate, in the next Rolling Capital Programme for funding for these projects, including seeking funding from Fáilte Ireland given that the development of a River Liffey Valley Greenway would strongly support their ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ promotional campaign for Dublin."

REPORT:

"As communicated to the Elected Members following the recent workshop in relation to the Liffey Valley Monitoring and Advisory Committe (SAAO), the Council is, in partnership with Fingal County Council, commissioning a feasibility report and plan for the development of a Liffey Blueway, with associated recommendations for recreation facility development in Council owned Parks along the Liffey.

As part of the consultation phase of the project, the consultant will be required to engage with local landowners, among the many other stakeholders, and, as outlined in the motion, opportunities to secure safe and sustainable public access adjacent to the Liffey will be explored as part of feasibility.  The findings in this regard will be included in the Consultation Phase Report recommendations.

The Failte Ireland capital fund launched on June 8th 2016 requires that a feasibility report exist before a funding application is considered. It is however anticipated that this fund will be multi-annual to 2020.

In terms of cross-River or overall Greenway access development, the Members may be aware that the Liffey Greenway is included in the NTA Greater Dublin Area Strategy with crossing points identified along the River in our County. Through the Council's Land Use, Planning and Transportation Deptartment National Transport Authority (NTA) funded projects have been the primary source of funding to secure Greenway and cycle facilities for our County and remains the most likely opportunity for such initiatives, where modal shift to sustainable travel modes is achievable."