13-room family hub plans rejected by ‘mutual consent’
By Maurice Garvey
A PROPOSAL by an operator to run a 13-room family hub in Cappaghmore has been rejected.
The decision was confirmed this week in an email sent out by South Dublin County Council to local representatives.
The 13-room family hub plans have been rejected at this property in Cappaghmore
They said it was agreed by ‘mutual consent’, following discussions between the council and the owner of the former nursing home in Cappaghmore, not to proceed with the proposal submitted by Eria Cúram.
Major reservations had been expressed by residents in the Clondalkin estate and local representatives, that Eria Cúram had no proven track record in running a family hub service.
Eria Cúram’s Directors are Ballyfermot brother and sister Luke Keeler, an Irish professional boxer and Cheryl Kavanagh, a guidance counsellor in St Dominic’s College, Ballyfermot.
Since it was announced back in early February that a 13-room hub for families was to be located at the former Cappaghmore Nursing Home, locals put in a huge amount of work, writing to the Housing Minister, organising meetings with the council, and carrying out their own extensive research on planning, housing, law and council framework policy.
Many were perplexed as to why another housing support facility was to be established in the close knit 180 house estate – already home to a 32-bed nursing home and three St John of God homes.
The former nursing home is on a site containing two houses and was sold last year on the private market.
Construction work had been taking place at the facility, but this stopped in recent weeks.
A Cappaghmore resident was relieved to hear the news this week.
“I can’t speak on behalf of all residents but ideally the building would be returned to two homes as it originally would have been or perhaps a small number of smaller units,” said the resident.
“We are relieved that South Dublin County Council did not proceed in such an unsuitable building. We are hugely dissatisfied and disillusioned with the entire process.
“It has been a very stressful experience for us and a real concern that public monies would be spent in such a flaithulach fashion with no tendering process.”
Cllr Trevor Gilligan (FF) said: “I have clearly stated my opposition to the proposal to South Dublin County Council from the start and I feel the council has made the right decision here in not pursuing the proposal.”
The Echo contacted South Dublin County Council for comment and if other parties are showing an interest in the site.
In their email to local reps, the council said they are “committed to providing homeless services in the Clondalkin area and will work with the area committee members in that regard”.
