Following the recent controversy over potential rezoning of Scully’s Field, Dermot sets the record straight on his stance on the issue, including his proposal to use money from the Dormant Accounts Fund to develop a new park area stretching from Scully’s Field to Herbert Park.<\/p>\n
\nFor the record, following submissions from myself and, in fairness, two Green Party Councillors, agreement was reached on the City Council, to retain the Z9 “Open Space” zoning in the Draft Plan. The Manager had sought, unsuccessfully, to change the zoning to “Residential”.<\/p>\n
The campaign to save Scully’s Field and develop the linear park therefore continues. In order to progress this further I have submitted a proposal to the City Council suggesting that we seek funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund to pay for the development of the Park.<\/p>\n
This fund, essentially the brainchild of Pat Rabbitte TD and the late Jim Mitchell, has almost E400 million available for community improvements. In my view, Scully’s Field meets this criteria.<\/p>\n
For years those of us seeking to protect the Dodder and develop a public amenity, have been told that there is no money available. Now there is. This new fund has been established and is rapidy growing. According to best estimates there is now approximately E400million to be distributed for community projects.<\/p>\n
The new Dodder Park would have, at its core, the area known as Scully’s Field in Milltown and would continue down through Clonskeagh and Donnybrook. From Donnybrook Church down to Herbert Park it would incorporate the stretch along the Rugby Grounds that are to be transferred to the City Council under new development plans anyway.<\/p>\n
This is a unique opportunity to create a real public amenity that is environmentally sustainable, that will provide play and recreational facilities to a heavily populated area, that will protect and enhance the River Dodder and will resolve once and for all the saga of Scully’s Field.<\/p>\n
The ball is now firmly in the Government’s court. If Fianna Fail and the PDs are serious about the environment and serious about protection and enhancement of the River Dodder as their local representatives claim, they will row in behind this proposal and endorse the allocation of the necessary finance to complete the job.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Following the recent controversy over potential rezoning of Scully’s Field, Dermot sets the record straight on his stance on the issue, including his proposal to use money from the Dormant Accounts Fund to develop a new park area stretching from Scully’s Field to Herbert Park.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogs"],"yoast_head":"\n