Disappointment over football pitch let-down

LOCAL Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West, Mark Ward, has expressed his disappointment that a football pitch that was due to be delivered as part of a social housing development in North Clondalkin has not happened.

Deputy Ward claims he had received assurances from South Dublin County Council that the football pitch would be delivered in October. The pitch was due to be built beside St Peter Apostle School in Neilstown and Deputy Ward said he has received several letters from pupils asking for their school pitch.

 Deputy Ward said: “Letts Field in Clondalkin is a brand-new social housing development in Neilstown.

“During the Part 8 consultation process the residents and the neighbouring school, St Peter Apostle, made submissions asking for the football pitch to be retained.

“The council agreed to this and the construction of the 37 new social housing homes have been completed and are occupied.

“However, the surrounding landscape works which includes the junior playing field area is still not completed,” Deputy Ward added.

The pupils of St Peter Apostle feel very let down by the process.

“I had a motion down when I was on the council in October and I was given assurances at this meeting that the work on this pitch was imminent.

“No work has been carried out yet and this is very disappointing.

“I have received a number of letters from the pupils of St Peter Apostle to have the sports pitch completed. They are a school who hold sports and fitness in high regard.

“As Mayor of South Dublin, I launched the marathon kids programme in the school. They are also the only school in North Clondalkin to take part in GAA sports. Not having this pitch is seriously hampering their activities.

“I met with the pupils who are eager to get back playing sports on the pitch St Peter Apostle were victorious in Croke Park last year.

“I am calling on South Dublin County Council to immediately begin the works needed and restore the confidence of the community in the local authority.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the council said: “A football pitch was due to be delivered as part of the social housing development at Lett's Field and the contractor engaged a landscape sub-contractor to carry out this work.

“Unfortunately, the work was not carried out on schedule and the sub-contractor is being replaced with works now being re-scheduled to coincide with the growing season with a view to having the pitch in place by spring of this year.”