COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

MOTION NO.1

MOTION: Councillor C. Brady

Cathaoirleach's Business

That this Committee calls on the Chief Executive, given that the process to take in charge The Paddocks is progressing, to accelerate the delivery of a permanent permeable link between The Paddocks and Hillcrest, and to outline what is involved in delivering the link — for example, initiating a consultancy process with residents to agree on the provision of such a link and preparing to apply for funding from the National Transport Authority — and to provide an indicative timeframe for the project from commencement to completion.

REPORT:

The Paddocks Estate is currently being progressed through the final stages of the Taking in Charge process.  The granted planning does not have a permeable link between the Paddocks estate and Hillcrest.  Generally,  South Dublin County Council have followed the principle that all housing developments that SDCC wish to take into our charge must be in compliance with the plans and particulars set out in the granted planning permission.  Therefore, SDCC has endeavoured to advise the developer to ensure that the development complies with the granted planning conditions. SDCC have advised that the unofficial opening between the Paddocks and Hillcrest be closed with a metal railing.  The developer has attempted to close the opening several times in an effort to comply with this SDCC instruction.

Should the taking in Charge process be passed by full Council in roughly 6 weeks time, the Council would then be in a position to conduct a public consultation on having an official pedestrian link opened between the Paddocks and Hillcrest.

Whatever the majority of the local residents want in relation to a link or no link can be accommodated in such a democratic process. If a permeability link was agreed by the residents of both estates, then funding could be sourced from existing SDCC budgets to complete a proper footpath link at the agreed location.   It must be noted that in order to progress this link all the necessary lands must be either taken in charge or SDCC must have express permission from all the landowners to make the necessary footpath link.