Council Briefs: George’s Dock still on the long finger, council working up new plans for Mountjoy Square, and more

Debate over George’s Dock rumbles on

The redevelopment of George’s Dock is not a priority project for this year, according to council executive manager Michelle Robinson.

Dublin city councillors have called on the council to redevelop the site, quickly. There hasn’t been an agreed plan since council managers’ proposal for a whitewater-rafting facility bellyflopped.

The council will start work on a feasibility study for the redevelopment of George’s Dock towards the end of this year, said Robinson at a meeting of the Central Area Committee on 11 March.

Fine Gael Councillor Ray McAdam asked if the council could start on the feasibility study sooner so officials could include the redevelopment in the 2026 capital programme.

Robinson said that, “There is a number of programmes and projects that are being prioritised by the sports department and by the areas as well over 2025.” Although she acknowledged that councillors wanted it to happen more quickly.

A council report says the council will spend €500,000 on repair and conservation works on George’s Dock this year. Robinson said those works are essential. “That needs to be done as a baseline.”

The council needs to consider how it will fund the redevelopment, whatever form it takes, the long-term operational costs, and whether proposals meet the needs of local people, says the report.

Councillors welcomed efforts by the Dublin City Lido Campaign, which provided a presentation to some councillors on 10 March.

“The presentation yesterday looked fabulous,” says Social Democrats Councillor Daniel Ennis. The site is “sitting idle and derelict for far too long”.

Councillors want the site used for something temporary in the meantime too. “It’s utterly depressing the way it is at the moment,” says McAdam, the Fine Gael councillor.

The council could turn the dock into a temporary park, said Ennis. “People are screaming out for better use of open space.”

Other ideas include filling it with water, turning it into a skatepark, or running markets there.

“We are very conscious that there is a need to activate it,” said Robinson, the council manager. But even the temporary uses could be expensive and would need to be costed.

Green Party Councillor Janet Horner, who chairs the Central Area Committee, asked when the councillors could expect another update on the progress for the redevelopment.

Robinson said the council managers will meet in the next month, and after that she’ll provide an update at the next area meeting.

Plans for plans for Mountjoy Square

Councillors met with the council’s parks department on Tuesday to kickstart a new consultation process on redeveloping Mountjoy Square.

In 2019, the council abandoned plans to redevelop Mountjoy Square that involved a large circular central lawn, and a vision of a restored path network, mirroring designs from 1837.

It had faced opposition, partly because it would have meant getting rid of a playing pitch that’s now in the square.

This time, they are definitely going ahead with some changes, says Green Party Councillor Janet Horner, who chairs the Central Area Committee. The council hopes to have new plans to put forward this summer, she said.

There is around €3 million in funding set aside for the project through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund for Mountjoy Square, Horner says.

The council will consult all the relevant stakeholder groups – like environmental groups, local residents and the Irish Georgian Society – before drawing up designs, she said.

“This is the very early stages of the consultation process,” says Horner. Everyone with an interest in the park will have an opportunity to have their say, she says.

The plan is to redevelop and enhance the park for the community and as a tourist attraction, according to a council website that explains projects funded by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.

“Restoration includes original path layout, central lawn, planting, railings, and refurb of the existing community building,” it says.

Social and cost-rental homes in Cabra

The housing charity Clúid Housing plans to build 145 social and cost-rental homes, with a creche and community space, at Bannow Road in Cabra.

The development – not far from the Broombridge Luas stop – will be built in light brick, to a maximum of six storeys, and set back from nearby houses, according to a presentation to councillors on Tuesday.

Dean Murphy, an architect with Clúid Housing, said that as things currently stand it looks like around 41 of the homes will be available for cost-rental, at 25 percent below market rents. The remaining 104 would be social housing.

Independent Councillor Cieran Perry said that was disappointing, as this is the only cost-rental development planned at the moment for the Cabra area.

Councillors welcomed the designs, including the access routes through the development, also known as permeability.

Perry said it’s good that the tall blocks are at the back of the development towards the Luas line, away from the existing neighbouring houses.

Some councilors said the number of car parking spaces planned was a problem, in an area that already has issues.

The homes come with 25 car parking spaces for residents, three visitor spaces and 316 bike parking spaces. It is within a 10 minute walk of the Luas and a 15-minute cycle to O’Connell Street.

“Parking and traffic on the Bannow Road is already at a critical stage,” says Sinn Féin Councillor Séamas McGrattan. “To only provide 25 parking spaces is going to cause major problems.”

Clúid Housing has a traffic management policy, said Murphy, and it will inform potential residents in advance that parking is limited.

Councillors asked who would have access to the community facility. Murphy said that it will be shared between local community groups and he envisaged it being open from 9am until 9pm.

Clúid might bring in an operator to run the community space, he said.