Work to start on 81-unit older persons residential site
By Aideen O'Flaherty
WORK on the 81-unit older persons’ residential development in Sean Walsh Park, to be called The Weir, is due to commence on January 21, 2021, with completion expected by October 2022.
Cunningham Contracts (Building and Civil Engineering) Ire Ltd were selected as “the most economically advantageous tender and preferred main contractor” following a public procurement tendering process undertaken by Clúid Housing, according to South Dublin County Council.
An artist impression of the development in Sean Walsh Park
Throughout January 2021, Cunningham Contracts will be working on the project off site, organising the site setup and the procurement of materials and sub-contractors, and are scheduled to commence works on site at the end of the month.
The location of the development, at the Tallaght Stadium end of the park where the former council depot, petting farm, two community gardens and caretaker’s house were previously located, drew consternation from many in the community when the plans were first mooted in 2018.
In 2018, Sean Walsh Park was Tallaght’s only Green Flag park, and there were concerns that the standard of cleanliness would not be maintained if the council depot was removed.
In October 2020, Sean Walsh Park was awarded a Green Flag for the third time.
Others who objected to the plans at the time questioned the suitability of putting an older persons’ housing development in such close proximity to a stadium.
The council said they selected the Sean Walsh Park site for the proposed development of a housing scheme for older people as it is “in close proximity” to medical services in the Tallaght area.
A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council previously told The Echo that the proposed housing scheme had been planned with the aim of alleviating some of the pressure on the housing list, as it will allow older people to downsize and vacate houses that can be allocated to others on the housing list.
In relation to the approved housing body who will manage the development, Clúid Housing Association has a dedicated Older Persons’ Team and have approximately 500 homes for the elderly, across 18 schemes with ten different local authorities, around the country.
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