More efforts need to be made to deliver “basic” healthcare facilities in Lucan, according to local councillor Derren Ó Brádaigh.
Ó Brádaigh was speaking at the final meeting of the latest phase in the creation of the County Development Plan 2022-2028.
“Myself and my colleague councillor William Carey, tabled a motion calling for more concentrated efforts to deliver upon the very basic of healthcare facilities needed within the rapidly emerging communities of Lucan west,” he said.
“These include large developments such as Shackleton, Hallwell, Paddocks and Adamstown.
“We have over 3,000 families in a half a dozen new developments without a local GP, dental practice, physiotherapist, or specialist treatment facility of any description.
“In fact, there isn’t even a single pharmacy in the immediate vicinity.”
Ó Brádaigh said that even though the County Development Plan deals with larger amenity needs, he says the urgency of matter means it should be addressed as soon as possible.
“Whilst I fully recognise that the County Development plan and the SDZ planning scheme provide criteria and set out certain policy objectives in their language to provision for larger delivery, such as a future primary care centre, we are nevertheless void of any actual basic services in the here-and-now.
“For this reason, I felt compelled to submit a motion and rebutted the charge that the motion was somehow superfluous,” he said.
“I was delighted that it passed with the support of an overwhelming majority of councillors from across all parties and none, and it is my view now that this will help hone efforts and instil some urgency where previously missing.”
He says that sustainable policies being introduced by the council need to work hand-in-hand with local development.
“As councillors, we are increasingly working to develop and promote the need for ideological change and a more sustainable way of living,” he says.
“We have policies that support and guide us toward compact growth – 10-minute town concept living and reducing our own individual carbon footprint.
“In order to do this, people require basic services near to them.
“I would also argue that in the absence of these essential services locating into newer growing communities, this is having an adverse effect by placing undue pressure on already overstrained existing services in places like Lucan Village itself.
“It is having the potential indirect consequence of inhibiting the ability to deliver upon other future projects and improvement works.
“Whilst it may not be within the absolute gift of the council, there is a responsibility to ensure that every measure is examined to bring about the arrival of the physical service and facilities, into planned new and sustainable communities”.