COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL
Friday, June 19, 2026
MOTION NO.
MOTION: Councillor W. Carey
Proposed Amendments to Variation No. 4 - Tuber lane North - Page 164 Motion: This council agrees to insert a new point 3j in CS7 SLO4 (Amendment No.4) to read:
'Development will only proceed in unison with an agreed new bus route connection being established and operational between Adamstown/Lucan and Tallaght.'
Reason: • Both Lucan & Tallaght are major urban neighbouring population centres, that continue to see extensive planned development with significant further development proposed. • To improve transport connectivity ie. to the Luas Cheeverstown, Luas Tallaght-City Ctr. • To provide connectivity to Tallaght Hospital, IT Tallaght, Stadium, Square and other vital services. • Proposed by, Cllr Loftus, Carey, Dunne, Whelan & Mannion
CE Response
This motion seeks to insert a new point 3j into the SLO of Amendment 4 Tubber Lane North of the proposed Variation to read:
‘Development will only proceed in unison with an agreed new bus route connection being established and operational between Adamstown/Lucan and Tallaght '
The reasons put forward for the motion include the need to improve transport connectivity between Lucan and Tallaght and related Luas lines and social infrastructure in Tallaght.
It is noted that the motion refers to CS7 SLO4 which relates to Adamstown West Amendment but given the page number reference and two references to Amendment 4 Tubber Lane North, it is understood that this motion is referencing the Tubber Lane North Amendment and therefore the insertion would be into CS7 SLO5.
Public Transport
The proposed amendment set out in the motion is seeking to link housing development at Tubber Lane to the provision of a bus link from Tallaght to Lucan/Adamstown, directly. The reasons for this are to improve transport connectivity to Tallaght Hospital, IT Tallaght, Stadium, Square and other vital services.
Existing Bus Services and Public Transport Options
At present Adamstown is well serviced by bus routes which generally have their origin on station road. The Tubber Lane North lands are accessible to existing high frequency services on Shackleton Drive (C2 and X30), and linkages can be enhanced through future development, and the delivery of Tobermaclugg Park. The lands are also approximately 900m to existing high frequency bus routes along the Celbridge Road (C4 and X27) to the north. These routes provide services to Dublin City.
It is acknowledged that as it stands there are no direct services from Lucan/Adamstown to Tallaght. Indirect routes exist which can be taken in proximity to Adamstown, for instance at Finnstown local centre in addition to various other locations throughout Lucan. From Finnstown, the TFI plan-a-journey indicates it is typically a 56 minute journey by way of the L53 with a change at Liffey Valley to the W2. Alternatively, the C1 and C2 which originate in Adamstown provide a slightly more direct route with a change to the W4 running along the R136, and existing from Kingswood adjacent to the Cheeverstown Luas before terminating at the Square.
Continued Engagement with NTA
It is important to continue to support the enhancement of public transport provision in line with population growth. In this regard, ongoing engagement with the National Transport Authority (NTA) will be key to facilitating any future service improvements.
Within this broader context, the Planning Authority will continue to engage with the NTA to deliver on priority routes, recognising the advantages that better connectivity between the two growth areas of Tallaght and Lucan would provide.
However, to link housing development at Tubber Lane North to the delivery and operation of a bus route between Lucan / Adamstown and Tallaght is considered to be overly onerous and likely to prevent timely delivery of housing in a location which has a good bus service and access to the existing rail and active travel links in the immediate vicinity. Nonetheless, it is considered appropriate to include a new point in the SLO, point 5, to support the delivery of a direct bus route from Lucan / Adamstown to Tallaght.
SLO
It is considered that this motion, providing a SLO restricting development of housing on the lands until 'with an agreed new bus route connection being established and operational between Adamstown/Lucan and Tallaght' will undermine the timely delivery of housing on this site. The NTA is leading the phased roll out of the Bus Connects programme and that is the priority for funding and delivery. The advancement of alternative bus routes is a lower priority.
Furthermore, the motion SLO as worded is difficult to assess compliance with. The Chief Executive would not recommend a phasing style SLO linked to a variable such as a bus route which are open to change. The assessment of compliance will provide uncertainty and impact on the timely delivery of housing at this appropriate location.
The absence of the proposed bus service does not in itself preclude the delivery of a high standard of residential amenity and sustainable transport access for future residents of these lands.
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.
Tubber Lane North is well located to deliver on the requirement to help meet the new housing targets and provide for national policy on compact growth. Linking development to the operation of a new bus route to Tallaght is considered to be overly onerous and could jeopardise the timely delivery of much needed housing.
It is noted that the OPR has recommended progression of the Variation amendments 1-16.
CE Recommendation
To reject the motion amending the SLO