Irishtown consultative group to 'work out' Leisure Centre project concerns
A consultative group is being set up to “work out” any pervasive issues related to the Irishtown Leisure Centre Project.
Dublin City Council hopes to proceed with Part 8 for a €43 million project to develop a major sports hub through the redevelopment of Irishtown Sports Fitness Centre at Irish Town Stadium in September. Last week, Project Manager Don Daly briefed councillors at the South East Area Committee on what he said will be the biggest sports centre in the city and unlike anything else seen in Dublin.
The proposed development will demolish the existing building to make way for a 25m six-lane swimming pool, sauna and steam room facilities, and a separate training pool. Other facilities include a café, staff rooms, a viewing area, changing rooms, toilets and storage rooms.
Mr Daly said the Chief Executive report is still being finalised and that construction could start as early as Spring of next year. But local concern around the development has persisted and several councillors outlined residents' desire for an indoor pitch that could facilitate football, basketball and other sports during bad weather.
Fine Gael Cllr David Coffey said although the sun has been shining these past weeks “most of the time it’s miserable” and lots of matches in the South East Area are called off throughout the year due to weather. He questioned whether space occupied by a “huge two-storey café” seen in the plans would be occupied by more sports facilities.
These concerns were echoed by Independent Cllr Mannix Flynn who said Ringsend and Irishtown’s population is only going to increase and accused the council of thinking on too small of scale when it comes to this development. Referencing the projected costs of €670m for the Camden Yard development , he called on DCC to “think big” and provide an even bigger facility.
“I think this is very small enterprise compared to what we really need,” he said. Cllr Flynn said there should be more consideration to children, those with disabilities, and parking provision in the plan and predicted the facility will be “overrun” when it opens because it won’t be large enough for the amount of people who will want to utilise it.
"It reminds me of the Luas. People saying 'Jaysus why didn’t we do this, why didn't we link with that'. If you don’t think big we’ll be in situation where you open this facility and it’ll be jam packed."
The proposed structure is a two-storey building with a floor area of approx. 5,035sqm, including basement area of 963 sqm. A total of 108 bicycling parking spaces and 44 car parking spaces were previously set out in the plans. Sinn Féin Cllr Kourtney Kenny said a loss of parking spaces in the area will be felt during sporting events, as Irishtown is already "jam-packed" whenever there are matches on.
Mr Daly said there is provision in the passive design to add a sports hall “if required,” but they believe Irishtown is well serviced when it comes to all-weather sports pitches. He conceded a sports hall could be added at a “future date” and that these are the type of questions that will be hammered out with residents and sports associations within their consultative group. Regarding parking, the project report stated "active travel links should be prioritised instead" and "there is no need for 44 car parking spaces".
Fine Gael Cllr Danny Byrne asked for confirmation on what changes were actually made following the period of public consultation. “There is a belief out there that consultations by this council are done to tick the box and nothing changes after them. I’d love to know if anything has changed,” he said.
Mr Daly confirmed that several public realm works were changed as a result of the consultation feedback. He said the input of different local groups were taken onboard and cited the addition of a sensory room off the back of engagement with the Ringsend Neurodiversity Group.
Councillors David Coffey and Kourtney Kenny were nominated to sit on the consultative group.
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