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The council chamber at county hall saw dramatic scenes at crunch
time when the call for a proposer for the adoption of the plan was
met with over a minute's silence from councillors.
Pressed by the Cathaoirleach, Mary Elliot (FG) Cllr Don Lydon
(FF), took time out from opening his backlog of mail to attend to
the business at hand and set the ball rolling.
During another tense silence as members eyed each other up, no
seconder came forward and the task was left to Elliot herself to
use her vote as chair.
Before that councillors had expressed their reservations with the
plan - key issues being the provision of social infrastructure,
schools, leisure and park facilities as well as public transport
and an adequate road network to deal with a potential population
increase of 16,000 for the 3,500 planned houses.
Cllr Aidan Culhane (Lab), said there still existed a "grave lack
of trust between residents, developers and de council" over the
implications for the area as outined in the action plan.
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"After numerous meetings I don't believe we have made
significant progress," Cllr Culbane said. "Critical questions
remain about the plan's sustainability. If we put this plan through
this evening we are putting out a clear signal that we are not
listening to the public."
Cllr Jim Murphy (FF) disagreed and cited progress in the form of
assurances from assistant manager John Hodgins regarding the
appointment of a project manager to oversee the implementation of
the plan and guarantees on the provision of fallback grounds if the
"readymade football pitches" from Landsdowne - Old Wesley do not
materialise.
Cllr Maria Corrigan, (FF) who succeeded in gaining unanimous
support for an amendment on the plan that would put a cap on the
pace of development at 500 houses far the first three years -
thereafter applications to be delayed pending the completion of LUAS and the South Eastern Motorway - said immediate
guarantees would have to be given for the provision of schools and
leisure facilities as social infrastructure in the area is already
stretched to capacity.
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Cllr Olivia Mitchell (FG) welcomed the cap of 500 houses per
year and drew attenion to what she described as the very real fears
of local residents in light of the delays in the implementation of
a public transport system.
"I have lost all confidence of LUAS being delivered on schedule," she said. "Area
action plans are being implemented all over Dublin and the clear
message must go out that Noel Dempsey is failing in his promise to
deliver transport side by side with housing."
The plan was carried with eight votes for to three
against. Those who voted against were Aidan Culbane
(lab), Fiona O'Maliey (PD) and Olivia Mitchell
(FG). Those in favour Maria Corrigan (EF), Jim Murphy
(FF), Don Lydon (FF), Trevor Mathews (FF), Pat Hand (FG) Mary
Elliot, Tony Kelly (FF) and Tony Fox (FF).
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