COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Friday, June 19, 2026

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor W. Carey

Amendment 3 - Finnstown

Motion: This Council agrees to add a new point 3g in CS7 SLO3 to read: 'the need for a regional water drainage solution to the waterlogging of lands between Finnstown Castle, Finnstown Fairways and Somerton Green'

Rationale: To address ongoing waterlogging issues that occur at the intersection of these three locations.

Proposed by, Cllr Carey, Dunne, Whelan & Mannion

CE Response: 

This amendment is in relation to the rezoning of lands at Finnstown Castle that are currently zoned Objective OS to RES under Variation No. 2 of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028. The rezoning went out to public consultation with an accompanying specific local objective (SLO) as follows, with additional text recommended in the CE Report in bold: 

CS7 SLO3 - Development on RES zoned lands at Finnstown Castle shall comply with the following:  

  1. Development may notcommenceuntil DART+ South West or an equivalent rail service has commenced construction or operation, as may be relevant. 
  2. An infrastructure masterplan shall be submitted to the planning authority as part of a planning application for residential development, addressing the water and wastewater network upgrades as necessary to serve the subject lands while demonstrating that the needs of zoned lands in the surrounding area, includingClonburrisSDZ, are not compromised. To be agreed with Uisce Éireann in advance of submission of a planning application.  
  3. Throughappropriate studiesor otherwise and having regard to the cumulative development potential around and including the subject lands, planning applications for residential development on the subject lands shall be informed by and address, inter alia:  

a.Retention and enhancement of the hedgerow and tree line on the north-western boundary of the site as recorded on 1st Edition OS maps, 

b.A Social Infrastructure Audit and provision within development proposals to address any needsidentified, 

c.A Transport and Traffic Assessment detailing the impact of the proposed development and measures to alleviate its impact, 

d.A Design Statement outlining how the proposal responds to the setting and special interest of the Protected Structure and its curtilage, 

e.A Public Open Space Audit to inform proposals for public open space and recreational facilities, 

f.Provision for direct active travel connections from the subject lands into Adamstown SDZ; and  

g.Demonstrate that adequate educational capacity for residential growth adjacent to Adamstown are catered for, in consultation with the Department of Education and Youth.

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.  

The Settlement Capacity Audit (SCA) presented to Councillors in October 2025, indicated that by the end of 2028 the current zoned land in the county could deliver 9,613 dwellings based on a business-as-usual model. The NPF Revised baseline housing target for the county to 2028 is 11,699 dwellings, resulting in an identified shortfall of lands to deliver 2,086 units. 

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. 

Local Water and Drainage Issues – Surrounding Lands 

The Chief Executive understands that there are ongoing issues in relation to surface water on lands to the east of the proposed Variation, bounding with Somerton Green and Finnstown Fairways. 

It is considered reasonable that as part of any development that any waterlogging and drainage issues are investigated, and appropriate mitigation measures applied where required. In this regard it is considered appropriate that development on these lands would: 

Conclusion  

There are local waterlogging issues with the potential to be mitigated as part of the development of these lands. Therefore, it is considered appropriate to include an additional amendment to the SLO to ensure that these issues can be addressed to the extend possible as part of development and site layout and not further exacerbated.  

CE Recommendation 

To add an additional point to CS7 SLO3 as point 3 h. as follows: 

3 h. Integrate surface water outfall from the adjacent lands at Somerton Green and Finnstown Fairways, if feasible, into the surface water management for any proposed development.