The proposed Dunsink City Quarter will transform our community for generations to come. We recognise that Ireland needs more homes, and we are not opposed to housing. However, developments of this scale must be properly planned, supported by the right infrastructure and designed to work for both existing and future communities.

The people of Finglas have already demonstrated the strength of feeling in our community through hundreds of formal submissions to Fingal County Council. We are now asking our elected representatives to ensure that residents’ concerns are reflected in the final plan

We want a development that provides homes while respecting the people who already live here and creating a community where both existing and future residents can thrive.

If you believe Dunsink should be planned with the community, not simply built around it, please sign this petition and help us send a clear message to Fingal County Council.

Together, we can help shape a better future for Finglas and Dunsink.

We are calling on Fingal County Councillors to support motions that will:

MOTION 1: Protection of Scribblestown Lane

That Fingal County Council formally recognises the importance of Scribblestown Lane and its significant heritage, hedgerows, landscape and biodiversity assets and that it commits to its protection within the final Dunsink Urban Area Plan.

Scribblestown Lane is to remain a unique rural road and it will not be changed or widened into a commuter road in the Dunsink Urban Area Plan.

MOTION 2: Buffer Between Dunsink and Finglas

That Fingal County Council further strengthens the proposed buffer between the Dunsink development and the established Finglas residential communities by removing the remaining six residential development blocks immediately adjoining the Finglas boundary and replacing these lands with a landscaped public open space and ecological buffer.

This motion calls for the potential restoration and interpretation of the surviving historic Georgian garden walls and landscape features in this buffer area to be investigated, creating a new community amenity which would provide a meaningful physical, visual and ecological transition between Finglas and Dunsink. 

Dunsink Update.pdf

MOTION 3: Residential Density

Request that the Chief Executive review and amend the residential density strategy contained within the Draft Dunsink Urban Area Plan.

The Guidelines state that residential densities of 40 to 80 dwellings per hectare (net) shall apply to suburban and urban extension locations in Dublin. The density strategy to be reconsidered, with 40 to 80 dph (net) adopted as the general density range for all areas. No reliance should be placed on future or uncommitted infrastructure alone as justification for higher densities. 

Dunsink Update.pdf

MOTION 4: Dunsink Landfill, Independent Testing, Contamination and Environmental Safety

More investigation into the safety concerns for Dunsink Dump and the surrounding illegal dumps are required.

There have been significant concerns raised regarding the former Dunsink landfill, including potential risks associated with residual landfill materials, landfill gas migration, leachate, contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water, soil stability, and potential impacts on the health and safety of existing and future residents.

Independent testing by a suitably qualified assessor, extending beyond the immediate landfill site into surrounding areas should be undertaken.

These requests have not been fully addressed in the Chief Executive’s Report, which relies on existing EPA licence monitoring and concludes that further assessments are not necessary. 

Dunsink Update.pdf

MOTION 5: Biodiversity and Enforceable Protection

That Fingal County Council amends the Draft Dunsink Urban Area Plan to make the retention and protection of existing biodiversity assets a prerequisite for development rather than a matter to be addressed primarily at subsequent planning application stage and before compensatory planting or biodiversity enhancement measures are considered. 

Dunsink Update.pdf

MOTION 6: Infrastructure Before Further Development

The Council notes that Uisce Éireann has advised that full delivery of Dunsink in Phases 2 and 3 requires both the Water Supply Project and Greater Dublin Drainage Project, and that the Water Supply Project is currently at planning approval stage with no determined delivery timeline.

How will Fingal ensure that Dunsink is not left in an unfinished condition if the proposed infrastructure is unavailable and unable to keep up with the pace of building?

The Council therefore agrees that future phases of residential development should not proceed beyond the demonstrated capacity of water supply, wastewater, transport, roads, schools, healthcare and community infrastructure.

Development thresholds shall be linked to independently verifiable infrastructure delivery milestones rather than indicative or aspirational future projects. 

Dunsink Update.pdf

MOTION 7: Finglas Traffic and Construction Traffic

The cumulative traffic impacts on Finglas, Ashtown, Castleknock, Rathborne, Cabra and surrounding communities to be monitored throughout the lifetime of the Plan, with mitigation measures required where agreed thresholds are exceeded.

The development of Dunsink must not result in an unacceptable transfer of development or construction traffic onto existing Finglas roads and residential communities.

The final Urban Area Plan will include binding transport thresholds and mitigation triggers, with development phases linked directly to demonstrated road and transport capacity. 

Dunsink Update.pdf

MOTION 8: Retain River Road as an Open Vehicular Route

That Fingal County Council removes the proposal to introduce filtered permeability on River Road which would remove through vehicular traffic, and instead retain River Road as an open vehicular route.

River Road is an important road to existing residents, businesses, emergency services and the wider road network and is concerned that restricting through traffic would transfer additional traffic onto Ratoath Road, Navan Road, Cappagh Road, Tolka Valley Road and other already constrained routes. 

Dunsink Update.pdf

MOTION 9: Joint Fingal and Dublin City Approach

That Fingal County Council formally establishes a cross boundary working group with Dublin City Council under section 52, including elected representatives and relevant officials, to address the cumulative impacts of the Dunsink Urban Area Plan on Finglas and neighbouring Dublin City communities.

The Council recognises that the Dunsink lands are located immediately adjacent to established communities within Dublin City Council’s administrative area and that the impacts of development will not respect the administrative boundary. 

Dunsink Update.pdf

MOTION 10: Dunsinea Lane Heritage and Biodiversity

That Fingal County Council formally recognises the importance of Dunsinea Lane and the significant heritage value of the Hamilton Walk from Dunsink and the lane’s significant biodiversity assets.

That Fingal County Council commits to the protection of Dunsinea Lane within the final Dunsink Urban Area Plan. 

Dunsink Update.pdf

MOTION 11: Parking Provision

That Fingal County Council reconsider the proposed long term parking ratio of 0.3 spaces per residential unit in the Draft Dunsink Urban Area Plan.

The Chief Executive’s Report acknowledges concerns that 0.3 spaces per dwelling may be inadequate, particularly during the early phases of development, and acknowledges the risk of overspill parking into Finglas, Ashtown, Rathbourne and Castleknock.

Therefore calls for parking provision in the development to be increased with adequate visitor parking and accessible parking provided.