COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Friday, June 19, 2026

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

Amendment No. 9 Knockmeenagh Framework Site (p421) That this Council amends CS7 SLO7 contained within Amendment No. 9 by inserting the following additional requirement: - Provision of an All Weather Football pitch

REASON : Under the SDCC Pitch Strategy it was envisaged that a full size all weather football pitch would be located in the Clondalkin area. This has however not been found to be possible due to lack of public land available. The Knockmeenagh Framework site contains one such possible location.

CE Report: 

The motion is seeking an additional requirement to be included in the CS7 SLO7 on the Knockmeenagh Framework lands for an all-weather football pitch. 

Amendment no. 9 of Variation No. 2 provides for rezoning from EE to REGEN of lands identified as Knockmeenagh Framework Site (8.69Hs), Clondalkin. The rezoning is supported by a proposed Specific Local Objective (CS7 SLO7) for the lands as follows, with recommendations from the CE Report shown in bold.

Context and Process 

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.  

Following the full review process Variation No. 2 identifies lands which significantly increase the capacity of the county to deliver the baseline target of 11,699 units to 2028 through providing an additional 156.5 hectares with an equivalent potential for 7,324 dwellings. In total this provides capacity for 16,937 units which incorporates c. 45% additional provision over the baseline requirement. 

Given the approach taken to the Variation, it is considered that South Dublin has clearly identified sufficient and suitable zoned land including these lands at Knockmeenagh 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.

All Weather Pitches in SDCC 

South Dublin County Sport Pitch Strategy (SPS) 2019-2035 provides the Council with clear evidence base and set of recommendations for future outdoor sports facility development across the County. The SPS recommends the provision of at least 5 No. pitches across the county to allow for an even distribution and facilitate use county-wide. As of January 2026, there was 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 required locations are in the west and east of the county and within the new Strategic Development Zone area at Clonburris. Pitches are in the process of being delivered in the Clonburris SDZ and at Greenhills in the east of the County. Consideration is currently being given to the potential location for an all-weather pitch in the west of the County within the Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas Local Electoral Area, the location will be dependent on site availability, site suitability and other feasibility assessments. The subject lands are in private ownership and it would be difficult to rely on the delivery of a pitch at this location to meet the programme. Any consideration of a pitch on this site would be additional to the current programme and subject to agreement with the landowner and a budget allocation. 

Conclusion 

While noting the extent of land required to facilitate an all-weather pitch and the limitations this might put on the capacity of the site to accommodate development the Chief Executive is open to the consideration of the Knockmeenagh Framework site as a potential location for an all-weather pitch to be considered as part of the requirement to deliver on the parameters of the Knockmeenagh Framework site in the Clondalkin Local Planning Framework.

CE Recommendation 

To amend CS7 SLO7 as follows (changes in response to motion shown in bold): 

 ‘A phasing and delivery plan for the REGEN zoned lands between the N7 and Knockmeenagh Lane shall be prepared by the planning authority or in consultation with, and approved by, the planning authority in advance of a planning application for development on the subject lands. It shall be integrated with adjoining land uses, deliver on the parameters of the Knockmeenagh Framework site in the Clondalkin Local Planning Framework, including an evidence based investigation of the potential for delivery of an all weather pitch on the lands in addition to the Artificial Grass Pitch Programme, and include a transport and movement plan, in liaison with TII, NTA and landowners and agreement with TII and the NTA.