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.3

QUESTION: Councillor H. Farrell

Can we receive an update on the works carried out on the pitch at Griffeen Park? Can details of cost and a project update on the pitch be given along with details of any future plans for all-weather pitches in the area?

REPLY:

Improvement works to pitch no.13 at Griffeen Park has been completed and the pitch is now establishing. Minor finishing works are required such as landscape finishes to the areas around the boundary of the pitch, and this will be carried out when weather conditions improve later in the Spring. Project cost is €223,811.00 exclusive of VAT and this work is supported by a Sports Capital Grant. 

In relation to the question regarding the provision of all-weather pitches; South Dublin County Council commissioned a Sport Pitch Strategy (SPS) in 2020 to provide the Council with a clear evidence base and set of recommendations for future outdoor sports facility development across the district. A SPS is a strategic assessment that provides an up-to-date analysis of supply and demand for playing pitches (grass and artificial) in the local authority. The strategy and the evidence upon which it is based is delivered using insight from specific Governing Bodies of Sport, national guidance and local stakeholder input.  The strategy focused on the following sports: Soccer, GAA, Rugby Union, Hockey, Cricket and Athletics. The SPS is an important document in the future locations of additional floodlit artificial grass pitches as it provides evidence based upon local team usage and future team generation rates that would be the predominant users of the facility. The SPS demonstrates that the requirement for grass sports pitches generally is growing and in order to meet that requirement; there is a need to provide Artificial Grass Pitches in both this LEA and elsewhere in the county (amongst other complementary actions identified within the SPS as well). The provision of Artificial Grass Pitches across the county are a strategic provision. Artificial Grass Pitches are as a vital recreational asset to the local community in terms of a training and match-play facility for clubs, teams and others. The delivery of the SPS is reviewed on a regular basis and implementation is reported and discussed at the relevant SPC.

Artificial grass pitches can support far more matches and training sessions compared to regular grass pitches and the sports pitch strategy recommends the provision of at least 5 No. pitches across the county to allow for an even distribution and facilitate use county-wide. At present; there is a council approved and funded Artificial Grass Pitch Programme agreed and underway. 2 No. artificial grass pitches have been delivered (at Airlie Park and Sean Walsh Park) as part of this programme of delivery. The other 3 no. required locations are in the west and east of the county and within the new Strategic Development Zone area at Clonburris. The GAA sized 3G Pitch and Soccer Sized 3G pitch associated with the Clonburris SDZ have received planning permission and are currently at detailed design stage.

With an increased budget made available for the establishment of further Artificial Grass Pitches, additional sites from across the county are being evaluated, including within the Lucan/Palmerstown/North Clondalkin area. At present there is a Part 8 underway for the Artificial Grass pitch in the east of the county. Once complete, the team will proceed to evaluating potential sites across the rest of the County. Consideration will include lands within the Lucan/Palmerstown/North Clondalkin area. Site selection location will be determined by a number of factors including: site availability, site suitability and other feasibility assessments in line with the Sports Pitch Strategy.