COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE
Monday, April 24, 2017
MOTION NO. 3
MOTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
"That this Tallaght Area Committee calls on the Chief Executive to present a response to the "One Pager Balanced Tourism Strategy, for the County Town," submitted recently by Tallaght Community Council, for discussion at this Tallaght Area Committee meeting noting that these issues are of interest and concern to all Tallaght Councillors and will he make a statement."
REPORT:
The contribution by Tallaght Community Council in relation to a tourism strategy for Tallaght is welcome and in many ways complements and echoes the Council's Tourism Strategy 2015-2020 and other plans already in place in the County.
Tallaght as County town is central to the development of tourism in South Dublin County and with strong transport links and a number of hotels, it provides a natural starting point from which to access the Dublin Mountains. The County's tourism branding as Dublin's Great Outdoors (www.dublinsgreatoutdoors.ie) emphasises the importance of the Dublin Mountains - the proposed Dublin Mountains Gateway Project being a key part of the implementation of the tourism strategy. With the Dublin Mountains Way commencing in Tallaght, there will undoubtedly be associated visitor numbers, economic benefits and opportunities for the Tallaght area that will be maximised as the brand grows and as the development happens .
This linkage was showcased by using Tallaght Stadium to host the start and finish for the recent Gaelforce East event. This event was strongly supported by the Council and it is intended to develop it into a stronger event in the coming years with additional economic benefits for Tallaght as well as pursuing further opportunities to increase the connectivity between Tallaght & the Dublin Mountains.
There has been significant capital investment in Tallaght including the development of Tallaght Stadium (with an additional stand due to commence construction this year), the Civic Theatre, Rua Red Arts Centre, the County Library creating a positive profile for the town centre and the County. These facilities are now a key part of a co-ordinated approach to improve the tourism opportunities locally through events, festivals and entertainment options.
Implementation of phase 1 of Village Wayfinding signs was completed in Tallaght and a works plan was identified for a Tallaght Heritage Trail. Fáilte Ireland is presently developing specifications to procure design and installation of visitor wayfinding and directional signage to attractions and villages around County Dublin. South Dublin County Council are represented on the Visitor Orientation Strategy Group guiding this process. As this is a regional project for all of Dublin, its outcomes and recommendations are awaited before continuing with delivery of the South Dublin Village Wayfinding programme and signage for heritage trails and other attractions in Tallaght and other towns/villages in the County.
Over €1m of ERDF funding for the South Dublin leg of Dodder Greenway has been secured (to supplement National Transport Authority future funding) and public consultation on preliminary design and EIA is scheduled for May. An application for funding in 2015 to the NTA for the “Bolbrook” link to Balrothery Weir was not successful but can be revisited after Dodder Greenway priority project has progressed An additional €45,000 has been secured in the Dublin Mountains Partnership Capital Programme for 2017 upgrade to the Dublin Mountains Way in Sean Walsh Park. Further works and funding options for upgrades to the Dublin Mountains will continue to be examined. In addition, there is work on going by various Departments of the Council on the conservation issues raised that will benefit Tallaght.
The Environmental Services Department have outlined their proposed approach to pursuing green flag status for parks in the County in a separate report on today’s Area Committee agenda.
As some of the additional proposals contained in the Motion impact on the direction of the Council’s Tourism Strategy as well as the Council’s Capital Programme it is proposed to bring the overall proposal to the next meeting of the Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Strategic Policy Committee on 10th May for in depth analysis and discussion.