COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Friday, June 19, 2026

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole with Councillor F. Timmons

Amendment No. 4, Pg 164 - Tubber Lane North (Western Orbital Route) That this Council amends the Chief Executive's proposed amendment to CS7 SLO5 contained within Amendment No. 4 Tubber Lane North by inserting the following additional requirement:

"No development other than infrastructure necessary to facilitate strategic transport infrastructure shall commence until a funded delivery programme for the Western Orbital Route (N7-N4 Link) has been established."

REASONS: The Western Orbital Route has long been identified as strategic transport infrastructure required to support growth within the wider Lucan, Adamstown and Clonburris corridor. The attached timeline visual demonstrates the historic mismatch between housing delivery and infrastructure delivery within the area. This amendment seeks to strengthen the planning framework to ensure future growth is accompanied by the strategic transport infrastructure necessary to support sustainable communities and proper planning and sustainable development.

CE Response:

The motion seeks to include an additional point into CS7 SLO5 to state: 

" No development other than infrastructure necessary to facilitate strategic transport infrastructure shall commence until a funded delivery programme for the Western Orbital Route (N7-N4 Link) has been established." 

It is indicated in the reason that this addition to the SLO is ‘to strengthen the planning framework to ensure future growth is accompanied by the strategic transport infrastructure necessary to support sustainable communities and proper planning and sustainable development.’ 

Western Orbital Route 

Table 7.5 in the County Development Plan as adopted sets out the Six Year Road Programme.  It includes what is called the ‘Western Dublin Orbital Route’. The description of this route is set out in the table as: 

‘New road from the N7 to the N4 Leixlip Interchange with an extension to the N81’.   

The table also includes a Function of the road, which is described as: 

New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be primarily to provide resilience to the M50, recognising that this may also provide additional resilience to peripheral roads within the county, in particular between the N7 and N4. Further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA’s GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the alluvial woodlands at Rathcoole, the scenic Liffey Valley parklands, and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine’s Park and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered. 

In addition, the County Development Plan includes Objective SM6 SLO 1—to comprehensively assess transport needs across the wider western area, including Rathcoole, Saggart, Newcastle and their hinterlands.  

It is recognised that congestion is also an issue for the Lucan area.  In this regard, the Council is engaging consultants to identify the transport needs and solutions for the western area of the County which will include Lucan. It is envisaged that the Transport Assessment and Transport Plan will be developed using an Area-Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) methodology, in accordance with TII and NTA guidance, and that one or more Local Transport Plans will be prepared. The process is expected to include public consultation and will assess existing and future travel demand across all transport modes, review existing and planned transport infrastructure and services, identify the need for additional transport interventions, assess options including phasing and cost implications, and identify an integrated package of transport solutions.  

In parallel, the transport study will include the identification of interim measures to address existing traffic and mobility challenges in the short to medium term. This ensures that development can proceed in a managed and responsive manner while longer-term strategic solutions are being defined and progressed. The Council is taking a proactive, structured, and transparent approach, including public consultation and environmental assessment. This is a more appropriate and sustainable framework than tying all development to a single infrastructure trigger in advance of the study’s conclusions. 

Introducing the amendment proposed by the motion would result in an overly restrictive approach to development of the lands, especially in the context of potential interim solutions to traffic congestion and to the context of this site which is well served by public transport.  

In this context, the amendment is inappropriate and risks the delivery of housing. The proposed SLO in the Variation and the existing policy framework in the CDP alongside the progression of identifying transport solutions for the western area of the county will ensure that transport infrastructure requirements will be appropriately assessed and phased to align with development.  

Conclusion  

The NPF Implementation Guidelines requires Councils to identify the lands needed for delivery of the new targets within the Development Plan period. They also included the need for Councils to consider capacity for up to 50% above the baseline housing growth requirements to provide options for delivery. 

Given the approach taken to the Variation, it is considered that South Dublin has clearly identified sufficient and suitable zoned land, including the Tubber Lane Lands, to meet the housing shortfall for 2028 with built-in additional capacity consistent with the achievement of the shared goals in the NPF, RSES and County Development Plan in relation to compact growth, accessibility, sustainable mobility and climate action. 

The Tubber Lane North lands are well located in relation to public transport and have options on the road network to access the N4 along the Celbridge Link Road. In addition, the SLO requires phasing of development with water services, Dart+SW or an equivalent rail service, delivery of Tobermaclugg Park alongside a Masterplan addressing traffic and transport, environmental sensitivities, social infrastructure, and public open space. As such, Tubber Lane North is well located to deliver on the requirement to meet the new housing targets and provide for national policy on compact growth.    

It is considered that this motion, providing a SLO linking to the funding of a Western Orbital road will undermine the timely delivery of housing on this site. Consideration of funding for the Western Orbital is premature pending the west of county Transport Plan. 

CE Recommendation 

To reject the motion amending the SLO