2026-04-15

I wish to raise the Land Development Agency's phase two plans for Clongriffin. A lot of these issues will also affect the neighbouring area of Belmayne. On the phase two plan that the LDA has consulted with locals on, locals are telling me - and I agree with them - that this is not being handled correctly. There is a huge investment in housing in this area. It is unprecedented. We all agree that we need housing. However, at the same time we must put together the surrounding infrastructure in terms of parking, community facilities, transport, health facilities and proper policing facilities. This is not being done. One of the big concerns in relation to parking is that the LDA told me that as a result of its consultation with one of the statutory consultees, the National Transport Authority, that the NTA is dictating to the LDA that there would be 0.4 of a car parking space per unit. We have seen this type of policy before, where people are allocated housing on the basis that they do not have a car, but they do have a car and the car parking overspills into neighbouring communities. It pits neighbour against neighbour. It does not bode well for future development or future sustainable community and neighbourly relations. Regarding the NTA, this is the same NTA that is unable to provide a regular 15 bus service to Clongriffin. I could tell the Minister of State the countless representations I have made in relation to ghostbus services and, while I know it is not his portfolio, it is all highly relevant to the proposed development. This is also the same NTA that cannot build a bus shelter to keep people who want to use public transport on the Hole in The Wall road out of the rain. I passed it this morning and there were about 40 people standing at the bus stop cowering under umbrellas. There is a huge gap in this programme. There have been ongoing discussions between Dublin City Council and the LDA in respect of provision of community facilities. None has been provided to date by DCC or the LDA. We need to plan for successful communities. There is no agreement between DCC and the LDA in respect of those community facilities. I could stand here all day and talk about those needs but in four minutes, I do not have the time. Transport is a major issue. Residents are dealing with problems with transport every day of the week, between traffic congestion and no clear plan for any additional capacity alongside this development for buses and additional DARTs. I know we have the DART+ coastal plan, which was recently passed, but that is probably going to take ten years to start delivering. That means we are just doing a box-ticking exercise. With policing, Coolock Garda station, which is the local station, got three extra gardaí under the latest tranche, despite the fact the population in this area is burgeoning and growing on a daily basis with new residents moving in. Policing resources are stretched beyond capacity and none of the design and safety concerns I raised with the LDA in respect of crime prevention has been taken on board. I asked it if it consulted the crime prevention office and I was told it had but I do not see any evidence of that. Any points that have been made to the LDA it robustly bats off and does not acknowledge.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in the House today. As the Deputy knows, the Land Development Agency, LDA, acquired land beside Clongriffin train station from the market with existing permission in 2023. It subsequently sought and was granted approval for a revised planning application, broadly similar to the existing planning which took into account the new objectives and policies in Dublin City Council's development plan 2022-2028. The development on the site has an overall potential for more than 2,000 homes upon full completion. Construction of Phase 1 commenced in February 2025 and will provide for a total of 408 apartments, comprising 367 cost rental and 41 social housing homes to be delivered across two blocks. I note the Deputy said there is a deficit in community infrastructure but my notes say that in addition to the much-needed homes, a créche to cater for up to 99 children, together with community and arts space, along with landscaped public areas and a new public park, are also planned for delivery within this phase of the development. The Land Development Agency has advised officials in my Department that phase 1 of this project is on course for delivery of new homes from quarter 4 of this year, which is obviously a positive development. Subject to planning permission, which is the thrust of the Deputy’s Topical Issue this morning, phase 2 will see the delivery of over 700 new homes. My understanding is that will comprise of 630 affordable and 70 social units across a whole range of housing typologies, together with the provision of a second créche space and other cultural amenities. I understand that the commercial focus during this phase will be the strategic distribution of amenities, such as retail and other services across Main Street, Market Street and Station Square, and consolidating activities around Station Square to create a real town focal point, providing for both day and night-time uses. Furthermore, the Land Development Agency is also advancing engagements with Dublin City Council and other agencies on the provision of consolidated multi-purpose community space for the Clongriffin area, to be delivered in phase 3 of this scheme. As noted previously, the development of this site has an overall potential for more than 2,000 homes and its completion will assist in meeting our housing need in this part of north Dublin, the Deputy’s constituency, which I know he represents with distinction. I am assured the Land Development Agency will continue to prioritise the delivery of the much-needed social and affordable housing, along with the provision of the other amenities on this site. However, I note some of the Deputy’s comments regarding the engagement, which I will perhaps take up in my follow-on.

I thank the Minister of State for the response but it appears the LDA has given him its party piece in respect of this particular development. I know there has been engagement but the engagement has been more or less window dressing. The plan has not changed in any way as a result of the consultation with the local community. I attended a meeting before Easter with some of my Oireachtas colleagues and several councillors from the area, and there was palpable anger among all the public representatives in respect of the lack of flexibility shown by the LDA. It was its way or the highway as far as we were concerned. The LDA refused to listen to the issues and the problems. I subsequently engaged with Dublin City Council, which is doing its level best to provide community facilities and which may in fact be given charge of some of the community facilities that are going to be there. However, the Minister of State says there are going to be 2,000 homes there, and it is absolutely crucial we get the community infrastructure correct. One thing I will say for the LDA is it is providing créche facilities. That is absolutely welcome and is necessary, and I will not fault it on that. However, the local scouts group, for example, needs a hall-type of area but the facilities being provided are on the ground floor of the apartment block, so there are pillars in the middle. This renders it unsuitable for the scout group. There has been no flexibility shown by the LDA in respect of that. It is talking about a green landscaped area. To me, that is going to turn out to be like a mugger's alley. I am very fearful for the future of this area if the LDA and the Department of housing do not start sitting up and listening to the genuine concerns of the people of this area.

I thank the Deputy. Obviously, the successful delivery of projects of this scale are certainly dependent on a number of factors and that includes engagement with the community. Certainly, I know the Deputy would have written to his colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne, in this respect and I am informed that there has been consultation meetings which have included meetings with local councillors, drop-in clinics for members of the public, meetings held with the community association there, as well as engagement with Oireachtas Members and Dublin City Council. I take the Deputy's point as regards the meaningful nature of that and trying to shape the community and plans that are required and obviously meeting the needs of the community in the area. The Deputy mentioned the scout group. Having been involved in scouts all my life, I understand the needs but I also understand that scouting organisations, by their nature, are well able to adapt. In my days in scouting, we were in a very small area. That being said, I understand the need for community facilities. Créches are obviously important for a growing community like this one which has the potential for 2,000 homes. However, I will take back the Deputy's comment to the Minister who engages with the LDA on a regular basis. It is important when we are developing new communities of scale that we get it right and that we learn from issues of the past. Certainly, the Deputy, as an Oireachtas Government representative, Deputy Ó Muirí and others will continue to engage on this matter.