Tyrrelstown is a new housing area with close to 2,300 houses and apartments. Unbelievably, when Fingal County Council gave the Twinlite development company planning permission in 2000, there was no obligation to provide public open space for this huge development. The developers were obliged instead to make a financial contribution of a few million euro.
Socialist Party T.D. Joe Higgins was the only public representative to strongly oppose this proposal at the time, objecting both to the planning manager of Fingal County Council and An Bord Pleanála.
Now with over 2,000 homes occupied and a rapidly expanding population, the question of open space for Tyrrelstown is very urgent. By coincidence a widely used golf range just beside Tyrrelstown estate closed down. The owners said that the growing encroachment of houses made golf unviable for health and safety reasons.
The Socialist Party in Dublin West is now demanding that Fingal County Council move immediately to acquire this land to develop as open space. We are also saying that the developers who made a fortune in profits from the people of Tyrrelstown should be obliged to fund the acquisition.
The open space should be developed expeditiously in consultation with the local community. There should be a combination of land set aside for active recreation such as football and other areas for passive recreation and relaxation.
