COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

QUESTION NO.17

QUESTION: Councillor N. Fennell

That the Chief Executive now detail the findings of the review (mentioned below) amid continued calls by the local community for a pool within the Adamstown SDZ. An Bord Pleanala approved a non-material amendment in 2024, altering a commitment for a leisure centre/swimming pool in the original Adamstown Planning Scheme - and it was since stated that SDCC considered the Adamstown population to be within the catchment area of the Lucan pool - nevertheless a review would be undertaken.

REPLY:

 Dear Cllr. Fennell,

 The question of swimming pool/leisure centre provision in Adamstown was considered in the course of the assessment of the non-material amendment to the Adamstown Planning Scheme (which was submitted to An Bord Pleanála/now An Coimisiún Pleanála in 2023 and subsequently approved by the Commission in 2024). As part of that process, SDCC had regard to the planned delivery of the Lucan swimming pool and leisure centre, including its proximity to Adamstown and the wider catchment area.

The proximity of the Lucan pool and leisure centre, which is currently being completed,  was taken into account in assessing the appropriateness and feasibility of providing two public swimming pool facilities in close proximity, having regard to population catchment, accessibility, the coordinated delivery of social infrastructure in the area, and the ongoing operational and management associated with the provision of two public swimming pool and leisure facilities.

For clarity, no subsequent review was undertaken by the SDCC in respect of swimming pool provision in Adamstown. The matters referred to above formed part of the considerations informing the non-material amendment process itself.

As previously advised (by email 26/01/2026 and at the SDZ update briefing 12/02/2026), an application for Adamstown civic building (SDZ26A/0003W) has been lodged (22/01/2026 and is currently within the 5-week public consultation period). Contained within the application for the civic building, is a copy of a community equivalent/community gain proposal in lieu of the swimming pool/leisure centre. The package proposed includes the transfer of a site of c0.6ha on a prominent location beside the existing community centre, existing schools, in close proximity to the train station etc which has the potential to deliver a community focused use in a well utilised area. In addition to this, the proposal includes the fit out of the enterprise centre to the requirements of the SDCC Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Department and also approximately 600sqm of library led public/community use, designed for public programmes, activities and events etc located on the middle floor between the library and enterprise centre within the proposed civic building.  

This community equivalent/community gain proposal in lieu of the swimming pool/leisure centre proposal will be reviewed, and due diligence is currently underway.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen Willoughby

Senior Planner