Residents and politicians in Dublin 15 have complained that large trucks delivering to a construction site close to schools are endangering school children — the issue has been raised in the Dáil twice and is subject to a planning enforcement warning letter and investigation, but parents have told IrishCycle.com that the issue is continuing.
A Preliminary Construction Management Plan for constructing the Kellystown Strategic Housing Development said no deliveries would be made during school dropoff and pick-up times. A full plan was supposed to be agreed upon between the developer, Castlethorn, and Fingal County Council before the work started, but this did not happen and is part of the planning investigation.
Residents have complained that heavy construction delivery traffic passes by two primary and two secondary schools, Saint Mochta’s and Scoil Choilm, and Luttrellstown Community College and An Tuchair, including a construction site entrance beside the entrance to one of the schools.
Local TD Paul Donnelly (Sinn Fein) raised the issue in a Dáil debate on road safety on April 17th and again last week. He said it was an “immediate safety” issue relating to delivery trucks around the school run times.
Residents have counted numerous trucks around the school run time with no signs of traffic management staff to guide them, including long articulated trucks making turns across cycle tracks, other articulated trucks carrying large concrete pipes passing a zebra crossing beside the school entrance, concrete mixer trucks parked on the wrong side of the road, and rigid tipper trucks delivering or removing materials from the site.
“I would also like to raise an issue of immediate safety in my constituency and that of the Minister of State, which relates to the new development that started in Kellystown. The developer started major groundwork using trucks adjacent to schools in Luttrellstown. The traffic management plan was rejected by Fingal County Council and a new one was requested with the schools in mind,” said Deputy Donnelly in April.
He added: “Unfortunately, now that it is being dealt with by enforcement, it seems that the developer is continuing to do the works in those fields near St Mochta’s and Luttrellstown schools. It seems there has been no stop to this despite the fact that no traffic plan is in place. Perhaps that can be looked at with stronger legislation to prevent this from happening.”
Last week, Deputy Donnelly raised the issue again in the Dail. He said that there were supposed to be no trucks going in an out of the site at school opening and closing hours but that residents keep emailing him with examples of trucks at delivery times.
Afterwards, he said on social media: “I have emailed Fingal planning enforcement and was informed that they are investigating. Yesterday I was sent another picture of a heavy truck entering the site at 8.40am. I again sent another email to planning enforcement and was informed again the there was an investigation ongoing.”
He said he emailed the council’s director of services for planning only to be told the same thing.
He said: “All the while there is an ‘investigation’ underway the developer continues to drive heavy trucks in contradiction of their planning conditions. This is appalling, and I only hope no child is hurt or worse. I’ll be back onto Minister Jack Chambers to take action and demand this site is closed until the law is followed by these developers.”
When contacted by IrishCycle.com, Fingal County Council confirmed a planning complaint was made, and a warning letter was issued to the developer.
A council spokesperson said: “A warning letter, pursuant to Section 152 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, was issued on 09/04/2024. Investigations remain ongoing into this matter at present.”
An email was sent to Castlethorn on April 19th requesting comment. Follow-up emails were sent on April 22nd and May 13th. No response was received before the publication of this article.
