COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
QUESTION NO.8
QUESTION: Councillor N. Fennell
To ask the Chief Executive for a further indicative date for the delivery of the new library in Lucan, as set out in the Adamstown planning scheme - phase 6 and to outline any the reason/s for the delays. Previously it was stated that a date of late 2023 / early 2024 would see construction commence.
REPLY:
The Adamstown Civic building which will incorporate Adamstown library is currently at pre-planning stage, with a planning application anticipated in late 2025. The programme for delivery forecasts construction commencing in Q1 2027.
The Adamstown Library building is one of three abnormal strategic infrastructure projects in Adamstown being part funded by the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF). Whilst this State funding is positive for Adamstown as the funding of this certainty has facilitated the delivery of much needed housing, it has added significant governance, legal, risk management and procurement requirements and associated additional timeline pressures to the project. Specifically, the following items are required to enable a drawdown URDF funding.
1. Governance
A detailed governance strategy has been drafted and adopted along with the establishment of the Adamstown Governance Group (comprised of SDCC, the housing providers, landowners, the delivery SPV and Project Coordinator) to ensure the project is properly overseen and all project scopes, appointments and expenditure are properly reviewed, approved and recorded by the Special Purpose Vehicle - Clear Developments Infrastructure DAC - which is responsible for the delivery of the project.
2. Public Spending Code, Business Cases and Approvals
A fundamental URDF funding requirement is adherence with the Public Spending Code and Capital Works Management Framework. This has required the production, review and approval of the Strategic Assessment Report (SAR-URDF Application) and Preliminary Business Case (PBC). A Final detailed Business Case (FBC) - for Adamstown Library - will also be required post tender. These reports take significant resources and time, both in terms of their production, but then also their review and approval by both the Sponsoring Agency (SDCC) and Approving Authority (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage). The SAR commenced early 2020 was submitted May 2020 and received approval August 2021. The PBC was submitted in March 2022 and was approved in June 2022.
3. Legal
A key URDF funding requirement is to ensure a robust legal framework is in place between the parties which sets out the various responsibilities of the parties. This has been addressed in the execution of a Development Agreement between South Dublin County Council as the Sponsoring Agency, the delivery SPV Clear Developments Infrastructure DAC, the housing providers and landowners. This is a detailed and complex legal document and took considerable time to agree between the parties. It was executed 1st July 2024.
4. Procurement and project sequencing
In order to comply with the Public Spending Code and ensure value for money a Procurement Strategy was prepared and approved by the Adamstown Governance Group (AGG). Given the resources and time required to comply with the URDF requirements and ensure the unimpeded delivery of housing, the infrastructure projects were sequenced in the following priority:
(a) Adamstown Station Plaza (FBC approved August 2022, with the project completed and open to the public in August 2023.
(b) Central Boulevard Park (Planning granted December 2024 and now at detailed design stage).
(c) Adamstown Library building (Commenced Planning Stage August 2024).
The Adamstown civic building will be presented upon as a Headed Item as part of this ACM.