Apartments at Sean Walsh Park are given the green light

Gabija Gataveckaite

A PROPOSAL to construct 81 apartment units for elderly people at Sean Walsh Park in Tallaght has been given the green light. 

A total of 38 councillors voted last Monday week in a vote, with 25 in favour and 13 against. 

There was a petition set up by environmental group Tallaght Litter Mugs opposing the proposed development, which amassed over 2,000 signatures. 

The group has now said that it will consider reviewing the process and see if there is a case for a judicial review. 

“We’re bitterly disappointed,” said John Kiberd, a volunteer in the group. 

“We’re going to look for a judicial review, I don’t even know if it possible.”

However, Mr Kiberd aadmitted the group was not surprised by the outcome of the vote. 

“We went in with realistic expectations. We’re going to let the dust settle before we make any further decisions,” he said. 

“There’s nothing we can do, unless there’s a legal flaw. We’ll try and have a look and see how the process was conducted in accordance with procedure, but we don’t have the money to take on something like that if there is an issue somewhere. Realistically, the apartments will be built.”

Tallaght Litter Mugs opposed the development as they said it was inappropriate to build it close to Tallaght Stadium.

The group also claimed that the apartments will bring down the environmental standards of the park.

The group achieved a Green Flag for the park last October, a first for Tallaght.

The plans for the apartments were proposed by South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and Clúid Housing several months ago. Over 500 submissions were lodged against the proposal. 

A public meeting took place several weeks ago, with over 300 people in attendance. 

Colm Ward, Director of Housing, Social and Community Development, delivered a report compiled after the Part 8 public consultation process on the development of an 81-unit residential scheme on land at Sean Walsh Park.

According to the report 576 submissions were received in relation to the development of 63 two-bed and 18 three-bed apartments on the existing depot site.

In a statement to Southside People, Mr Ward said that the approval of the plan, “will deliver appropriate accommodation for older persons in proximity to appropriate services, facilities and amenities”.

The statement also added that the development will now, “provide much-needed social homes for housing applicants; present opportunities to free up under-occupied existing housing stock for larger families; and help to meet the council’s commitments under the Rebuilding Ireland programme.”

The development will see a total of 81 units, 63 one-bedroom apartment and 18 two-bedroom apartments constructed on the site.

Social Democrat Cllr Dermot Leary tweeted: “Thankfully the left-of-centre majority on the council will ensure that 81 housing units for older people will go ahead adjacent to Tallaght Stadium.”

The development is part of the Clúid Housing plan to build 2,500 new homes. By next year, it aims to own or manage 7,000 housing units.