New timeframe plans for playground
By Laura Lyne
Plans for the development of the playground at the Tallaght end of Tymon Park have been given a new timeframe following requests from local residents and councillors.
South Dublin County Council confirmed that the tendering process will begin this November in response to a question from Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor at this month’s meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee.
However, Cllr O’Connor confirmed his “dismay” at the response from the council and requested an “explanation” about the continued delays for the tendering process.
The Echo understands that the council assured Cllr O’Connor that it is currently detailing the funding for the playground that will inform the tender process.
Yvonne O’Malley, a Tymon North resident who helped to create The Vanished Playground, a community campaign for its return, also recently received confirmation from the council that the playground will go to tender later this year.
Speaking to The Echo, Yvonne said: “We’ve been told that it is definitely going to go ahead after being told time and time again that it is going out for tender.
“The tendering process was supposed to take place in April, with work meant to start in July and it’s been put off again.
“Hopefully this will get going now, there are people always asking about its progress, but I’m afraid if it’s delayed any more that people will start giving up on it.
“If this doesn’t go ahead again this time, we’re going to have to look at resurrecting the campaign to get the playground completed.”
Labour councillor Mick Duff, who has been campaigning for the new playground since 2009, called the process of getting the playground developed a “saga”.
Cllr Duff told The Echo: “This has been going on for so long that it has become a saga. So many promises were made and the council became bogged down by playspaces and it was said that it lost focus.
“The money was in December’s budget, it’s there and there’s no reason why it hasn’t gone outto tender.
“I’ve raised this since 2009 and it’s a major issue, a huge issue in the area. It’s gone past the stage of promise and we’re now demanding that it’s delivered with an absolute timeframe. At this point it’s gone past all reasonable expectations and been put on the long finger.”
The Echo contacted South Dublin County Council asking for the reason for a delay in the tendering process, but a response was not received in time for print.
The Vanished Play-ground campaign can be found on Facebook.
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