€110,000 fencing at McGee Park has led to reduction in stolen cars entering ground
By Aideen O'Flaherty
OVER €110,000 has been spent by South Dublin County Council to secure the Drumcairn Parade and Drumcairn Avenue perimeter of Butler McGee Park with fencing, while a further €100,000 has been earmarked for the completion of a fence at the Cookstown Road side of the park.
The council has previously stated that the fencing that has already been erected has led to “a significant reduction” in stolen cars gaining access to the park.
McGee Park
Four pitches in the park are allocated to St Mark’s GAA Club, and drainage work was carried out on one of the pitches last December at a cost of €40,000, after the chairman of St Mark’s described the pitches as being in a “diabolical” state as they regularly became waterlogged following rainfall.
The council revealed the figures in response to a question that was submitted by Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor at last week’s monthly meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee, where the councillor asked for confirmation of plans to improve facilities in the park for St Mark’s GAA Club.
In response, the local authority stated that the pitches in the park have “undergone significant works in recent months, including fencing around the park at both Drumcairn Parade and Drumcairn Avenue.
“A total of 800 metres of fencing has been erected at these locations at a total cost in excess of €110,000.
“Additional railing works around Butler McGee Park has been provided for in the 2019-2021 Three Year Capital Programme, this will enable the fence to be completed this year around the park at the Cookstown Road side at an estimated cost of €100,000.
“Drainage works were carried out in December 2018 on pitch number 79 which included main and lateral drainage, sand slits and re-seeding at a cost of €40,000.
“At the request of the club, the contractor is returning to complete additional top-dressing works, the completion of this work is dependent on favourable weather conditions.”
The council added that there are plans for new goalposts to be erected at pitch 78 in the coming weeks, with a cost of approximately €4,200, and that pitch and goalmouth repairs have also been carried out as required in recent years and this work will continue to be included as necessary in the annual pitch maintenance programme.
