The Local Government Act 2001 (s.135) requires the Council officials to present a 3-year Capital Programme to the Councillors every year, setting out the anticipated capital expenditure.  In 2004 and in 2005, this Programme included a Recreation Centre and all-weather pitch for Baldoyle.  This year, the programme was presented last Monday and the Baldoyle facilitiy had disappeared!
You can watch the meeting at http://www.fingalcoco.public-i.tv/site/ . The discussion is about 40 minutes in, where I ask what has happened to the proposed all-weather facility.

In response, Senan Turnbull, Director of Services, said more or less:  At the time, the Brickfields site was the one in question.  We believed then and believed since then, having looked at it in greater detail that with a brand new secondary school literally across the fence from that having a full blown sports facility, the idea of having two within a hundred metres of each other doesn’t make sense.  And particularly on that site, that site being a site of great difficulty from the point of view of anti-social behaviour, putting a facility there would not necessarily be the best use of it.  In relation to the all-weather we are still in discussion, in consultation with Trackside Tennis Club to see how it is that site which is currently fully occupied by tennis courts can be developed jointly as tennis and all-weather facilities.  We have had some discussions there, we intend to continue those and we would hope that in a few months time if not sooner we could agree an overall strategy for that Trackside facility which would effectively be an upgrade for which they have already got a grant from the Sports Capital Funding from the Government to upgrade half the area as tennis courts and then possibly come to an agreement with them whereby we would invest money in an all-weather within the same campus with them but as of now that is not agreed and we weren’t confident that it would be and therefore we didn’t put the money in.  But again to repeat what the Manager says… But we don’t believe putting a second all-weather facility or a second hall in there makes any sense given that there’s a school hall literally the other side of the fence.

I responded angrily. I should also point out that the school hall was in existence in 2004 and 2005 and that there is no outdoor facility there. 

The capital programme has been deferred to the local area committee, presumably on 20th.  There is another Council meeting on Tuesday 17th

I can supply by emailto anyone intersted the 3 year capital programme discussed yesterday and the previous two years’ versions.  I look forward to feedback from community organisations and residents in Baldoyle.