Support growing for arts and youth centre in Donabate

Corina Johnston, area representative for Labour in Donabate and Portrane has welcomed the support for a “much-needed” arts and youth facility in the area.

Johnston and local Labour TD Duncan Smith held a public meeting during the week, and heard from members of the local community that a facility was required to match the fast-growing youth population in the area

Johnston said “at the meeting, we outlined that the local area plan provides for 4000 homes with the population to exceed 20,000 in the next 10 years with no indoor community facility for the growing cultural, arts, heritage and youth groups.”

“These groups have no permanent home to support their growing numbers and activities with no stage, inadequate parking facilities, no facility for permanent exhibitions or storage of equipment.“

“A number of Crosscare youth workers addressed the meeting and confirmed that permanent youth workers are already assigned to Donabate, however they have no permanent home to provide the vital youth services needed in Donabate.”

Citing Census figures from 2022, 31% of the Donabate population is under the age of 19, and 41% are under the age of 30.

“Given the huge youth population with an increase in anti social behaviour it is imperative that a permanent youth facility is included in such a facility,” she said.

The turnout was encouraging according to Johnston, saying “it was great to see so many people especially our young people enthusiastically address the meeting in support of this multi-functional facility.”

“The local area plan provides for a community facility on lands at Ballymastone and the provision of a community/cultural/exhibition and performing Arts centre for Donabate- Portrane and encourages the development of multi-functional community buildings which are not used exclusively by any one group.”

She said “however, it now appears that the people of the Donabate Peninsula will get the housing units but not the purpose-built cultural and community facility. The meeting soundly rejected this proposition with an initial committee with over 20 people signing up to commence a campaign for our community facility.”

The next course of action is securing a a site in the Ballymastone/ Corballis area according to Johnston.

“With this objective in mind, a motion will be submitted to the next council meeting (hopefully a cross-party one) on this issue, and a local authority site needs to be identified before all the suitable land either secures planning permission or is built upon.”