Dublin and Fingal councils urged to unite on Dunsink plan

Fingal County Council's proposed Dunsink City Quarter could impact those within Dublin City Council's boundaries and Cabra-Glasnevin Councillor Gayle Ralph is calling for formal engagement between the local authorities on its cross-boundary implications

Greater cooperation is needed between Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council for the Dunsink plan to work according to one councillor.

Fine Gael Councillor Gayle Ralph is the latest Dublin city representative to chime in on debate around the Dunsink City Quarter, a new development led by Fingal County Council that opens the doors to approximately 18,500 new homes on 435-hectare greenfield site in west Dublin between Finglas and Blanchardstown. The Draft Dunsink Urban Area Plan has seen pushback from residents and representatives who are worried about the impact such a large population will have on already stretched school places, roads, and GPs.

“Dunsink is a huge opportunity - but we have to get the planning right,” Cllr Gayle Ralph said. The Cabra-Glasvnevin politician believes the proposed plan offers a “huge opportunity to deliver desperately needed homes and create a new community,” but without proper infrastructure and community engagement she believes there could be problems.

The Draft Dunsink Urban Area Plan envisages approximately 18,500 homes across three major phases. 2,500 in Phase 1, followed by 8,000 in Phase 2 and a further 8,000 in Phase 3. “We are in the middle of a housing crisis and we desperately need homes. I want to see Dunsink developed and I want to see it succeed. But an opportunity of this scale brings enormous responsibility,” Cllr Ralph said.

“Dunsink may sit within Fingal, but its impact won't stop at an administrative boundary. Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council need to be working together from the outset.” Cllr Ralph welcomed Fingal's commitment to delivering schools, childcare, community facilities and other infrastructure alongside housing, but said certainty is needed around the major strategic infrastructure required to support the later phases.

View 3 Images Proposed map for the Dunsink City Quarter (Image: Fingal County Council)

The proposals envisage enhanced connections to Ashtown and Navan Road Parkway railway stations, expanded bus services and ultimately an extension of the Luas Green Line towards Tyrrelstown. “The question isn't simply whether infrastructure appears on a plan. The question is when it will actually be delivered.” she said.

“If later phases and higher densities depend upon major transport, water or other strategic infrastructure, we need clear milestones ensuring development does not outpace the infrastructure required to support it.”

One concern outlined by Cllr Ralph is that earlier work on Dunsink identified potential for approximately 7,000 homes, compared with approximately 18,500 in the current draft plan. This figure comes from a 2023 Transport Oriented Report report.

“That increase in scale makes questions around transport capacity, water, schools, community facilities and surrounding roads even more important. The housing crisis demands urgency, but urgency and good planning are not opposites,” Cllr Ralph said.

Having visited Scribblestown Lane, one of the areas impacted by the plan, Cllr Ralph highlighted the Lambert family , who have lived there for generations and expressed apprehension about the impact on narrow country roads, the environment, and the local equine community. “Communities like Finglas and Cabra must be part of the conversation,” she said.

“I found it incredibly disappointing that a family who have lived there for generations became aware of the potential impact on their home when they saw a proposed flyover on a map, with their home beneath it. Whatever ultimately happens with that proposal, people directly affected deserve meaningful engagement and respect from the beginning.”

View 3 Images A computer-generated image of the proposed Dunsink developmen (Image: Fingal County Council)

Collaboration between the two local authorities is needed because neighbouring communities, including Cabra, Finglas, Ashtown, Navan Road and the Ratoath Road corridor, could experience the impact of Dunsink, Cllr Ralph explained, stating there are lessons to be learned from prior history in Ashtown and Pelletstown.

“We don't have to look far to understand why infrastructure sequencing matters. Ashtown/Pelletstown saw significant residential development while some essential infrastructure took considerably longer to arrive. Pelletstown railway station, for example, did not open until 2021.”

“There has been significant investment since, but the lesson for Dunsink is clear: we cannot assume neighbouring established communities will simply absorb additional demand while infrastructure catches up.”

Cllr Ralph has submitted a motion to Dublin City Council seeking formal engagement between Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council on the cross-boundary implications of Dunsink, including transport, roads, construction traffic, infrastructure and services. “Dunsink is a huge opportunity to create a new community and deliver thousands of desperately needed homes. Let's get it right from the beginning, for the people already living there and for the thousands of families who will eventually call Dunsink home,” she concluded.

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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