At the recent South Dublin County Council meeting, a headed Item came before councillors detailing the decision of An Bord Pleanála (ABP) and the proposal to move on to procure a detailed design team to begin work. In terms of costing, the last costing done in 2017 was at €15million, €5 million of which to come from Failte Ireland.
Local Councillor Alan Edge commented “We are told these costings will be checked at the design stage, that the team will be on board by the end of this year with construction to begin next year to complete in Spring 2023. I had attempted to put down a suspensory motion calling for the suspension of work pending a review of capital spending in light of covid which was denied, wrongly in my view. I will raise this matter again at our September meeting.”
Edge continued ” I made clear that I had no objection either to improved car parking or to the turning over of Coillte land to recreational use and deciduous forest. The Visitor Centre is a separate proposition. I dispute that what I term an ‘interpretative restaurant’ is either necessary or desirable. However, I stressed that there should be common ground even with those who disagree with that point of view on the basis of the need, in light of an unprecedented economic crisis, to review capital spending on this project. Accepting that this has been budgeted for over a number of years and that money set aside for it cannot simply be deployed elsewhere in an instant, we are still trying to establish where the shortfalls will be arising from the pandemic. We know belts will have to be tightened and we as elected representatives have a duty to the people of South Dublin County to look again at this project before spending another cent of public money on it.”
The Firhouse-Bohernabreena Councillor concluded “I welcomed the Council’s commitment to consult with residents but queried to what extent this will be a meaningful consultation. When pressed, the Manager anticipated that these consultations would be happening throughout the process. Cllr Johanssen made the point that it has been several years since councillors took a vote and it’s right that new councillors have their voices heard and she cited the folding of the Happy Pear branch in Clondalkin pointing to the uncertainty around tourism in the county in light of the pandemic. Cllr Bailey viewed the change from commercial to CCF as a ‘game-changer’ and said that the increased focus on biodiversity was at odds with a plan to bring 300k tourists p.a. to the area. And Cllr O’Hara supported the project wished it every success on behalf of all of the Fine Gael councillors.”
The Save The Hellfire group have expressed their disappointment on the recent ABP decision are now considering the implications of the decision and are seeking legal advice. They are asking for contributions however how small to help fund their campaign which can be found at www.idonate.ie/4042_save-the-hellfire.html.
