‘A long time coming' - Belmayne residents welcome €13m for community facilities

Irish Independent

22-05-2025

Senior management at the council presented a detailed report at the North Central Area Committee meeting this week, outlining a multi-million-euro plan to deliver long-promised facilities, including a new library, sports amenities, a primary healthcare centre, community spaces, and a garda station.
A dedicated local team will oversee the rollout of these projects, marking a significant step in addressing long-standing gaps in essential services.
Michelle McGoldrick, a member of Belmayne Community Group, described the announcement as a 'huge step forward'.
However, she stressed the need for further investment, estimating that an additional €40m is needed from central government to fully meet the scale of local demand.
'It's a great start, and we're delighted to see this commitment from DCC,' she said.
'But you're talking about an area with nearly 10,000 residential units and barely any community facilities. We've been advocating for over 14 years – this is just the beginning.'
Rapid residential growth over the past two decades has transformed Belmayne and Clongriffin into one of Dublin's fastest-growing areas, with a young and diverse population of over 13,000 residents, 30pc of whom are under 19.
However, key amenities like youth services, mental health supports, and sports facilities are either inadequate or non-existent.
Promised facilities dating back to the 2012 Local Area Plan were never delivered, with some projects stalled or left incomplete after developers went bust and sites changed hands.
'When Belmayne was first built, they were supposed to put in a library at the corner of Main Street and Belmayne Avenue,' Ms McGoldrick said.
'But the builder went into NAMA, the building was sold on, and the space is still lying idle today. It could have been an ideal community hub.'
The report also addresses long-standing challenges with private housing developments that have not met Dublin City Council's standards and remain outside the formal 'taking-in-charge' process.
This has left roads and services in limbo, complicating service delivery and community planning.
'Many estates here were fast-tracked through An Bord Pleanála with promises of crèche spaces and amenities that never materialized,' Ms McGoldrick said.
According to the report presented to councillors, one small room in a local school currently serves as the only dedicated youth space
Plans in the report include a Primary Care Centre and a new garda station at Belcamp Lane, developed in partnership with the HSE and OPW to address critical healthcare and policing needs.
A flagship public library is also planned as part of a new urban square in Belmayne, with temporary library facilities proposed to serve the community in the interim.
Sports and recreation amenities are also a priority, with DCC collaborating with Fingal County Council to develop new playing pitches and an indoor sports centre to meet the needs of the area's youthful population.
Upgrades to Father Collins Park are planned, potentially including a café, market, and public art installations.
Ms McGoldrick praised the increased engagement and responsiveness from the council's senior management in recent years.
'They've really taken what we've been saying on board. It's great to finally see this level of commitment," she said.
'Now we need central government to step up and put their hands in their pockets. This is 20 years of neglect we're trying to fix.'
In a statement, Belmayne Community Group thanked local representatives for 'putting political differences aside' to advance the project and urged continued pressure on all stakeholders to secure the remaining funding.
'We have waited way too long already. This is a welcome official start, but we need to make sure it's not delayed, and that it delivers everything our growing community desperately needs,' they added.