DUBLIN City Council is considering a proposal to build a €25 million ‘super depot’ on land it owns in Ballymun off St Margaret’s Road, but which is in an area controlled by Fingal County Council.
The massive depot would replace several smaller council depots across the city that support essential city operations, and a civic amenity site forms part of the proposal.
Outline designs and a feasibility study have already been carried out on the site for the depot that will have over 600 council staff associated with it. Not all staff will report directly to the depot and only an estimated 150 will be based there during the day.
The depot will consolidate the city’s operations for waste management, housing, public lighting, traffic, water, drainage and the maintenance of local roads.
Council officials say the consolidation into the ‘super depot’ will facilitate the release of lands in other areas “for more appropriate uses”.
The civic amenity site will be separate to the depot and will be able to be accessed by the public on foot and by car.
The council is in the process of preparing a Local Area Plan (LAP) for the Ballymun and initial drafts are expected to facilitate the new depot.
The lands form part of the area covered by the current Ballymun Masterplan and it is an objective of the Fingal County Development Plan to facilitate its implementation.
A planning application for the depot will be made to Fingal County Council after a tendering process is completed and a contract for the project awarded.
Unions have already been briefed on the plans to consolidate the council’s depots onto the Ballymun site.
Council officials say multiple meetings have held with staff in operational areas to discuss the project, get feedback and identify concerns.
The proposals were presented in a report to local councillors at a recent area committee meeting.
Cllr Noeleen Reilly (SF) said she has asked for a traffic impact assessment study to be carried out to identify any possible problems for nearby residents.
She added that there were a number of benefits from the plan, including better working conditions for staff, better coordination of the different services and shared resources.
“However, the report only focuses on the positives, it does not go into any detail on certain Job losses and lack of accessibility of ‘super depots’,” she said.
“Localised services are more adaptable, there is a speedier response time and of course local knowledge is a key factor.
“Dublin City Council need to tell us immediately what impact this is having on staff numbers.
“The Council has lost almost 1,700 staff since 2008 and you can really see the effect on the front line.
“Services have been impacted badly through no fault of current staff but there just aren’t enough of them.
“Much work already is contracted out so I would be very concerned about any further job losses.”