Concerns over population targets for Tallaght

THE Draft South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028’s population projection “isn’t clear” and could create “a real risk of failing to have quality services and homes in place” for the growing population of Tallaght, according to Tallaght Community Council (TCC).

The voluntary community group made a number of submissions on the latest phase of the Draft County Development Plan, with a particular emphasis on predicted population growth.

The national plan for the country, called Ireland 2040, projects a 23 per cent population increase, while the Tallaght Town Centre Local Area Plan outlines a 445 per cent population increase.

In the Draft County Development Plan, an 18 per cent increase is predicted, which TCC takes issue with.

“This is a huge disparity in a fundamental driver for change and development in Tallaght,” said TCC’s Tara de Buitlear.

“TCC has concerns re: the population targets outlined for Tallaght.

The local plans at council level simply don’t match the national targets set out in Ireland 2040 for our area.

“TCC believe these differences need to be clearly aligned.

And when the population growth target isn’t clear, there is a real risk of failing to have quality services and homes in place for this growing population.”

Other parts of the draft plan which were queried by TCC include the removal of ‘employment’ in an objective for the development of Tallaght, and the rezoning of a site on the Kiltipper Road from rural to residential use.

“The Kiltipper Road is a very narrow road, with no footpaths in many places, making pedestrian movement extremely difficult,” said Ms de Buitlear.

“Public transport is limited to a low-frequency bus that accesses Kiltipper Way. “The Kiltipper Road has already seen significant new residential building beside the all-weather pitch, which will bring more daily traffic onto the rural road once occupied.

“Therefore, rezoning more land for residential, that will use this narrow road in the near term is not wise and will not contribute to sustainable movement.”

TCC added that it rejects the proposed housing objective for 30 per cent of new developments to have three-bedroom units as it “seriously dilutes the intent to deliver a truly diverse mix of unit sizes – family homes are needed in apartment blocks”.

Reflecting on TCC’s role within the process of the development of the County Development Plan, voluntary chairperson Liz Kennedy said they aim to provide a “community view”.

“Good planning is one cornerstone of every vibrant community,” she explained.

“TCC are active in voicing a community view for Tallaght in developing policy to shape our future in Tallaght.

“We have learned to our cost in recent years, if you are not up to speed on the finer detail of all local area plans, the community can be placed at a disadvantage when it comes to large planning applications.

“We try, as best we can as volunteers, to flag up any weaknesses in local plans from a community point of view.”

The chief executive of South Dublin County Council has prepared a report on the submissions received in the latest phase of the development of the County Development Plan.

Councillors will then consider the Chief Executive’s Report and will make the final plan at one or more Special Council Meetings, the last to be held no later than July 1, 2022.

The Development Plan will come into effect six weeks after the last meeting.