Kilmacud Crokes Pairc De Burca Planning Application Update / Overall Development Plan Status

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We would like to take this opportunity to inform members that our planning application for Pairc De Burca development has been approved by An Bord Pleanala. We will now proceed to develop proposals for consideration by members in an EGM.

As regards facilities, members should be aware that Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Council stepped in immediately prior to an earlier planned EGM to take control of the Benildus all weather facility we had been using and hoped to acquire. Our current focus is on ensuring that we continue to have access to the facility at a price we can afford.

We also understand that the Council has approached a local school with a view to building an all-weather facility on a pitch we have had extensive access to for decades. That school's support for our club by making facilities available outside school hours has been critical to the sporting activity of the young people of the area. We are attempting to establish the facts as regards this matter. We cannot allow the Council to reduce our access to this facility.

We do what we can as a club to provide for ourselves without drawing on the resources of the Council except where absolutely necessary. With the Council investing money we can't match in local playing facilities we have used for decades,we expect nothing less than the continuing availability to the club of those facilities at prices we can afford. We do not want to have to tell young people we have no facilities for them as a result of the actions of our Council.

We also understand that at the October Council meeting, the council has  unilaterally decided to enter negotiations with the Club as regards the Councils intentions with respect to the pool. It will be good to have clarity as to what the Council intends and to understand how they see their plans impacting on Club members use of their own property.

The Club, in the absence of clear information from the Council, has no official knowledge of the various matters referred to above.


We believe however that, because there is so much overlap between the plans of the Council (which we are not fully advised of) and our own needs and plans that we and the Council should enter comprehensive discussions incorporating all matters of mutual interest including pitches and the pool for a period of six months. We are confident that with positivity, openness and transparency the club and the council could identify ways forward which could serve the young people of the area and all citizens well into the future. We will make this request of the Council.

It is the intention of the Club Executive Development Committee to determine the current state of play regarding the Council's plans in the overall and to engage with elected representatives including local councilors to brief them on our challenges and to understand their perspective on the critical need for support for the work of our volunteer club in providing facilities, coaching and sporting activity for young people in our community. 

When we have clarity on how the Council intends to support us (starting with full transparency as regards their intentions in terms of taking control of facilities in local schools and how they plan to ensure continuing access for the club at prices we can afford) the executive will call an EGM to brief members and to take necessary decisions as regards Pairc de Burca and any matters related to the pool and facilities generally.

Kevin Foley

Chairman

Kilmacud Crokes GAA Club