Campaign goal is to secure community sports facility for Adamstown
By Maurice Garvey
THE campaign to secure a community sports hall in Adamstown has gathered pace – after the establishment of a working group and an action group.
Both groups have the same goal – to secure a sports hall which will serve Adamstown Community School and the wider community.
Adamstown CC opened in 2009 and has over 900 students, but does not have a facility for PE, general exams, assemblies or events.
Four stakeholders are involved in the development of the hall – the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (ETB), the Department of Education, South Dublin County Council and developer Castlethorn.
A sports hall was initially scheduled to be included when the school was built, and again in a review of the Adamstown SDZ by the council in 2014.
The Community Sports Hall Action Group was formed two weeks ago – co-ordinator Enda Creegan says they are hopeful an interm facility can be put in place by the Department of Education.
Mr Creegan said: “Discussions have been taken place between the patrons ETB and the developer. At the moment, parents are lobbying the Department of Education to put an interim sports hall in place.
“We have had a positive response from the Department, and from the council at a meeting a few weeks ago. The school is at capacity, but we are hopeful the Department will be able to assist and are due to meet them in the next couple of weeks.”
Previous discussions on “cost and feasibility” have taken place between the council and developer, whilst An Bord Pleanála has stated the need for a locally delivered sports hall.
In July, a working group was formed after Lucan councillors supported the campaign in the chamber of South Dublin County Council.
This group comprises councillors, and representatives from the council, the Adamstown Community Group and the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board.
“It has been positive that all local politicians, the department, and the council have been prepared to listen to our concerns and support this,” said Mr Creegan.
“The school has six PE teachers and they have coped very well, considering, but it is imperative that a school of that capacity has a hall. Currently, they do a lot of PE outdoors, but they couldn’t have their first graduation ceremony last year and they had to find another venue to host their Christmas show.”
On Monday, November 30, a public meeting will take place at Adamstown CC to discuss the status of the campaign. It will be attended by public representatives and major stakeholders for the sports hall.
