Citywest Community Centre Project to Commence This Year Despite Funding and Delivery Delays

Construction on a long-delayed community centre and crèche in Citywest is expected to commence later this year, according to statements made in Dáil Éireann.

During a parliamentary debate, Deputy Paul Murphy raised concerns over the lack of community infrastructure in the area. Deputy Murphy stated that the facility was written into the local area plan in 2012, extended in subsequent plans, and made a binding condition of planning permission in 2018. Despite the subsequent construction of nearly 4,000 homes in the area, the community centre has yet to be built.

In response, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Dara Calleary, confirmed that planning permission has been approved to construct a community centre and crèche in the Cúil Dúin Avenue area of Citywest. Citing communications with South Dublin County Council, Minister Calleary stated that the local authority is engaging with the developer and expects the project to start later this year.

Minister Calleary also confirmed that his Department has not yet received an application for financial support for the Citywest project. He highlighted that the Department's Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) has previously approved over €30 million for 12 new-build community facilities under its 2023 round, and indicated that a new call for funding for new-build community centres is expected to be announced in 2027.