€750 million Capital Programme fund for county
OVER €750m has been allocated to works in South Dublin County Council’s Capital Programme 2022-24.
The vast majority of the money is reserved for housing and building programmes, where expenditure is close to €463m for the period 2022-2024.
Next on the list is roads (€111.9m), recreation and amenity (€82.5m), followed by development management (€58.6m).
In a report to members this week, South Dublin County Council Chief Executive Daniel McLoughlin said the social and economic value of the capital investment “is very significant” and “underpins our ambition for the county”.
He said the three-year rolling programme is “reflective of ongoing commitments, the progression of projects already approved and provisional commitments to new projects in planning, for which more detailed cost estimates will be necessary.”
Key projects in housing include mixed tenure developments at Kilcarbery, Killinarden, Clonburris (new phases in the SDZ to deliver 380 homes) and Rathcoole (100 social homes).
In Kilcarbery, construction commenced on site mid-2021 and the first homes are due for delivery in mid-2022.
This development will provide 310 social homes and 50 discounted affordable purchase homes and additional cost rental homes to be managed by Approved Housing Bodies.
In Killinarden, plans were submitted in October for up to 372 affordable purchase homes and 125 social homes – a partnership between the council and developers Arden.
Construction of 133 cost rental apartments in Belgard Square North is set to commence mid-2022.
In addition to mixed tenure development, €244,346,400 is made available for social housing in the three-year programme, including 360 social homes across the county, currently under construction or Part 8 approved.
Up to €16m is provided for delivery of new and upgraded Traveller homes under the council Traveller Accommodation Programme 2019-2024. Highlights include the re-development of existing sites in Owendoher Haven and Oldcastle Park.
A provision of €25,350m is provided for works under the centrally funded, national Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP), which will see works in cavity wall insulation, installation of energy-efficient heat pumps and condenser boilers, and replacement of “poor performing” windows and doors.
Ongoing safety works include the installation/replacement of smoke/heat monitors, carbon monoxide monitors and window restrictors.
Mr McLoughlin said there were delays related to Covid in the early days of lockdown but “good progress” has been made since full reopening of construction in May 2021.
Citing numerous projects that the council recently opened to the public, Mr McLoughlin said 2022 will see the commencement of “further significant elements” in the programme, including new housing projects at St Marks, Balgaddy, Nangor Road, Brady’s Field and Clonburris.
He said they will continue countywide teenspace, cycle and community projects, along with Dodder Valley Phase 4 and the Grand Canal extension.
“A substantial village renewal programme for Lucan will go to planning in January and will commence before the year end,” he said.
“Tallaght Central will see the most activity with construction commencing on the final phase of Tallaght Stadium, the Innovation Centre, the Mobility Hub, Sean Walsh Park astro pitch, Innovation Square, the renewal of Chamber Square and associated pedestrian walkways.”
In the roads, transportation and safety programme, the council say they will combine the agreed Cycle South Dublin programme with active travel projects and improvements to footpaths and streets, to “enable people of all abilities to choose to walk and cycle instead of driving.”
It is proposed to spend €85.3m on a range of active projects, with funding coming from the council, the NTA, the Dept of Transport and the Dept of Housing for initiatives such as the Dodder Valley Greenway, Tallaght public realm and plaza, Grand Canal to Lucan Urban Greenway, and Grange Road.
Up to €10m will go towards village improvements in Templeogue, Lucan and Clondalkin, district centre enhancements and LED upgrades to approximately 5,000 public lights across the county.
Meanwhile, the recreation and amenity programme will see funding for projects including the N81 landscape improvement scheme, astro-pitch programme, Corkagh Park Study Implementation, Killinarden Park regeneration, Kiltipper Park, URDF funded schemes, Templeogue Intergenerational centre, upgrade of parks, and Tallaght Heritage Centre.
Key projects in development management include the expansion of Grange Castle Business Park, tourism strategy, and 500k for the development of Lucan micro enterprise centre.
There is provision of €10.5m for construction of Tallaght Innovation Centre, €2m for the Grand Canal Greenway and €1m for Rathfarnham Castle courtyard.
A sum of €4m has been provided for the completion of the new stand at Tallaght Stadium in 2022.
Key projects in surface water and flood relief works include the River Poddle Flood Alleviation scheme, Whitechurch Stream Flood Alleviation scheme, Whitehall Flood Alleviation scheme, Camac Flood Alleviation scheme and Griffeen Flood Alleviation scheme.
