COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
MOTION NO. 8
MOTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin
That this Area Committee agrees to discuss the use of the new all-weather football pitch in Knockmitten which was officially opened on June 23rd.
REPORT:
At the time of the opening at Knockmitten on June 23rd, the project had not yet achieved substantial completion, as defined in the contract and industry practice. Substantial Completion signifies the stage at which the work is sufficiently complete in accordance with the approved plans and specifications, such that the facility may be safely and lawfully used for its intended purpose. This certification must be formally issued by the project’s design and construction professionals before occupancy or full operational use can occur.
Without the Certificate of Substantial Completion, certain critical systems—such as safety, mechanical, electrical, or accessibility components—may not yet have been fully tested, commissioned, or accepted. Commencing use of the facility prior to obtaining this certification would have exposed both SDCC (the owner) and the public to potential safety risks, regulatory noncompliance, and liability concerns.
The opening was therefore conducted primarily for demonstration and familiarization purposes, allowing stakeholders to preview the facility’s features and identify any final adjustments or deficiencies prior to official turnover.
There were some outstanding items at Knockmitten artificial grass pitch following the opening in June. These included:
- Installation and securing of kicker boards surrounding the bottom of the fence of the facility
- Installation of access path to the maintenance gate
- Replacement of gate hinges at the basketball Muga
- Installation of permanent signage
These items have been addressed over the past few months, and we now have substantial completion achieved. Bookings for the artificial grass pitch at Knockmitten Park are managed through the Sportskey system. Public Realm have had discussions with Knockmitten United FC and have agreed terms and times of usage with the club. Similar to other SDCC artificial grass pitches, local clubs can apply for an allocation on the pitch, these time spots can be allocated to the club for the agreed amount of time, and all remaining spots will be available to book on a first come first served basis by all registered users.