Plans to build Traveller accommodation in south Dublin move forward

Plans to build Traveller accommodation in one of Dublin’s most affluent areas have moved into implementation phase, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has said.

On Monday night, it voted in favour of a proposal for the draft Traveller accommodation plan.

The proposal has highlighted 11 sites across south Dublin, including in Dún Laoghaire, Rathfarnham and Stillorgan, for the building of 38 group housing units and 10 halting bay sites.

There were 147 submissions made to the proposals before the closing date in December, with strong local opposition voiced in particular against the Mount Anville Road site in Mount Merrion.

A spokeswoman for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said implementation would now begin of the draft Traveller accommodation programme 2014-2018 but “it is not possible at this stage to determine if all proposals will be delivered by 2018”.

She said finishing the programme by 2018 depended on many issues, which included planning and funding approval, planning and design, plus site ownership.

“Full estimated costs and funding requirements are not yet determined,” she added.

Mount Anville site
The spokeswoman confirmed the former council depot, next to the Mount Anville Road site, would be sold either in full or partly in the future.

Fine Gael councillor Barry Saul had called for a valuation before plans for five group housing units went any further but the council spokeswoman said there were no plans to do a valuation at this stage.

Mr Saul had argued the decision that proposal should include the site, which is currently empty and unused, would “massively” reduce its value.

Catherine Morley, director of Southside Traveller Action Group, said the organisation was very pleased with the passing of the programme.

A Department of Environment spokesman said the council would have to apply for funding to advance these schemes.

The sites on the draft Traveller accommodation plan are at Cloragh in Rathfarnham; Enniskerry Road in Sandyford; Glenamuck Road in Kilternan; Lehaunstown near Cherrywood; Pottery Road in Dún Laoghaire; Rathmichael Road near Cherrywood; Stillorgan Grove in Stillorgan; the west pier at Dún Laoghaire harbour; and a site at UCD.