Fitzgerald Welcomes €178,000 Grant for Clondalkin’s Round Towers

Local Minister Frances Fitzgerald has confirmed that a grant of €178,000 was approved for the Clondalkin Round Towers GAA Club at the weekend.

The announcement came on Sunday as part of the Sports Capital Grant Programme and local members of the hugely successful club are said to be thrilled with the news.

“This funding is a huge boost to the Round Towers and builds on the massive voluntary efforts and fundraising already done by the Club. This is the first Sports Capital Grant Programme in four years and it is fantastic news that the Round Towers are set to benefit to the tune of €178,000. This money, together with the member’s contributions and their fundraising will enable the club to complete the development of the Monastery Roads Grounds,” explained Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

“I attended the Towers launch of their plans for this €750,000 all-weather floodlit pitch just over two years ago. From day one of this project it’s been a really exciting venture. This development will prove a fantastic resource for the local community as well as members of the club and young people throughout Clondalkin. I am delighted that Fine Gael’s Minister Ring has approved funding to help complete the project,” said Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

The Minister paid tribute to her colleague Tony Delaney, Chairman of the Round Towers and his committee for their leadership on this exciting project.

Disappointment and Dismay as SIAC Gets Green Flight for Development

Fitzgerald and Delaney disappointed by An Bord Pleanala refusal of community’s appeal 

An Bord Peanala today (Tuesday) upheld the decision to grant permission for a mixed use development on the SIAC site at the top of Woodford Hill and Monastery Road. Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Councillor Tony Delaney have described the decision as extremely disappointing.

Fitzgerald and Delaney have been working with residents of Monastery, Floraville, Newlands, Knockmitten and Woodford on this issue over the past two years. An Bord Pleanala’s decision granted permission for a scaled down version of SIACs original plans. Their decision on planning applications is final and no further appeals process is open to residents. 

“I am extremely disappointed by An Bord Pleanala’s refusal of our appeal and utterly dismayed by the decision of the Bord to extend their planning permission grant from five years to ten,” said Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

“Tony and I have worked with the community of Clondalkin on this issue since day one. Our campaign led to a decrease of activity on this site and a scaling down of the proposal, but there is still much concern locally regarding this development. Residents from right across Clondalkin objected to the planning application, signed petitions expressing their opposition to this development and we appealed the grant decision to An Bord Pleanala. Our demands of an Oral Hearing were upheld and I was among those who gave evidence at the Hearing in An Bord Pleanala,” explained Fitzgerald.