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Dún Laoghaire, Environment, Justice and Latest Press Releases

7 September 2005

Green Party voices Concern about future of allottments

The Green Party has called on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council to give a commitment that the Goatstown allotments will be retained in any future development of the Council owned land off Mount Anville Road. It has also called on the Council to actively promote and manage the County Council allotments at Goatstown. The call comes after a visit to the allotments by Councillor Kealin Ireland and Deputy Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party.

The Party has also called on the Council to clarify how much of the allotments land will be lost by the construction of housing units at the site and by the proposed Mount Anville Road Interchange.

Deputy Cuffe stated:

We are concerned that the allotments might disappear altogether in any redevelopment of this site. Of course we want to see the development of social and affordable housing; but between that and the plans for the Eastern Bypass, it could mean that the allotments would disappear. I want the incoming County Manager to give a commitment to protecting and promoting allotments within the County.

“The allotments are fantastic, but more should be done to manage and promote them. Many of the allotments are overgrown and the Council should adopt a ‘use it or lose it’ approach to make best use of the land. People who don’t use their allotment should give it back to the Council.

Cllr. Kealin Ireland said: “The allotments are a great resource. However many people don’t even know that they exist. I’m sure that many people living in apartments, especially those with children would love to have an allotment where they could grow their own fresh fruit and vegetables.

“I’d like to see the Council do more to promote them by advertising them, and by making some reference to them on the Council’s website. They could also encourage people to use allotments by promoting them in the papers and on local radio. How about an annual competition for the best fruit and vegetable from the allotments?

“The commencement of the housing scheme on part of the site will mean that allotment holders will be no longer able to drive in with water containers to the site. I want the Council to make available a water supply so that they can have their own water supply on site.

“We have written to the Council requesting that the allotments be retained and promoted."

Anybody seeking more information on the allotments should contact Teresa Hannon (extension number 4345) in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

ENDS

Notes for photo editor

Photograph left to right: Ciarán Cuffe, T.D., Councillor Kealin Ireland and Mick McDonagh, 7 Charlton Lawn, Goatstown Dublin 14.

Photograph taken at the allotments in Goatstown

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com, or Text Ciaran on 087 265 2075.