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Community Council slams Kellystown rezoning
by Martin Ryan

Strong criticism has been levelled by the Dublin 15 Community Council at proposals to re-zone land at Kellystown for housing. The re-zoning would involve a commitment to provide sites for two schools – one primary and one second-level – in that area and is being supported by many local politicians. But Charlie Kurtz chairperson of the Community Council says that this is not the solution to the schools’ crisis in the area and sees it as indicative of more short-term thinking by the authorities.

Speaking to Community Voice, Mr. Kurtz pointed out a number of areas already suitable for housing in the area if this is what is required and said that while what is being proposed at Kellystown will see schools provided for an already existing need, the overall deficit in the area will remain.

“The Taoiseach spoke recently about serving communities and why not reflect that at local level? What is suggested at Kellystown is not about serving a local community. It is pursuing a specific agenda with no regard for any long-term planning. We are not against development but we are against this ad hoc approach which is not consistent with balanced and sustainable development,” he said.

If the new Taoiseach has his priorities, the previous incumbent was famous for his consensus approach. According to Charlie Kurtz this mirrors the Council approach to land acquisition for schools and facilities and has not been an effective way of doing business.

“We suggested going down the CPO route three years ago and if that had been pursued at the time, we’d be through that process by now. There is something wrong if developers cannot be forced to provide sites. We have legislation in place in order to do that. It is being done in the South Dublin County Council area. Why is it not done here?

“We fully support the building of schools but the location is critical. The old Phoenix Park racecourse would be an ideal location for a secondary school. I don’t know why it always has to be done this way here but services and facilities are always lagging behind development. Housing has been allowed to be developed in this area with no apparent concern for amenities or schools. This deficit of facilities needs to be dealt before any new re-zonings take place. We cannot cater for the needs of the current population in the area as it is. We need to balance the immediate needs with the longer-term plan for the area.”

He is also heavily critical of the interest of politicians in house-building as if it is an end in itself. “We have relied far too much on the housing market here in recent years for economic development anyway. We are twice as reliant economically on the housing market as comparable European countries and any politician who thinks that is a sustainable way to move an economy forward is mistaken.

“It is also true that sectors of the Community are always being played off against each other. For example, Castleknock GAA was originally being talked about as moving to Kellystown but then the Community Council suggested Somerton and we probably saved the Council a million euro in doing so. But if you are playing people off against each other what better issue to use than such an emotive one as schools? It will be used as a weapon to force through this re-zoning while existing area remain uncatered for despite being there for years.”

Meanwhile, an opposing viewpoint emerged at a meeting held on Tuesday 13th May in the Diswellstown Community Centre. Over 50 people attended a stormy meeting called by Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar TD and Cllr. Eithne Loftus to discuss the issue. The meeting voted 28 to 15 in favour of the rezoning.

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