COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 17, 2021

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell, Councillor P. Gogarty, Councillor L. O'Toole

Amend all references to one large district level multi-functional community centre per 9,000 population to read 'per 5,000 population'

REPORT:

The proposed motion seeks to amend all references to one large district level multi-functional community centre per 9,000 population to read 'per 5,000 population'

Note this motion is intrinsically linked to 71255 and 71257 which seeks to amend section 8.4.1 as follows:

From:

Community Centres – 1 large multifunctional centre of approximately 1,200sq m – 1,800 sqm per 9,000 population or smaller local community centres (350-650 sq m) as may be identified by the local authority to meet local need. Such local need may be determined by demographic, accessibility or other factors;

To:

Community Centres - 1 large multifunctional centre of approximately 1,200sq m - 1,800 sq m per 5,000 population or smaller local community centres (350-650 sq m) as may be identified by the local authority to meet local need

Motion ID 71255 seeks to reduce the threshold applied for the provision of community centres from 9,000 to 5,000. No justification is set out in the proposed motion for same. The current motion follows from this and seeks to amend all references to 9,000 to read 5,000 within the Plan.

An analysis was carried out in order to derive a suitable metric whereby a community facility would be required/should be provided. As there is no Irish standard for the provision of such facilities the analysis examined a number of existing Local Area Plans and the SDZ schemes within South Dublin alongside, the Dublin Docklands Social Infrastructure Audit, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, a number of UK standards from Cambridge, Oxford, and Causeway Coast and Borough Council. In addition, the Belfast City Council Standard was examined which applies a comparative analysis with Glasgow, Derry & Strabane, Dundee, Bristol and Islington.

Taking the above into consideration the Standard that one district level community centre between 8-10,000 persons was derived as the appropriate general metric to be applied, subject to local needs and accessibility. Applying the mid-range of 1 large multifunctional centre of approximately 1,200sq m – 1,800 sqm per 9,000 population is therefore considered to be appropriate.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.