A previous post written in August 2025 outlined two issues concerning the management of the river Poddle by the local authority South Dublin County Council in the upstream part of the catchment. First, the underground piped part of the river is mapped as a “sewer” and/or at the wrong location in planning processes. It means that the environmental, ecological, flood risk impacts of developments on the river are not accounted for. Second, mapping the piped underground part of the river as a sewer or at the wrong location also means that its uncovering cannot be properly explored as prescribed in the local area plan.

The August 2025 post was shared with all Tallaght councillors. Councillor Jess Spear offered to start questioning the council about the different issues. 2 questions were submitted to the council (September & October 2025 committee meetings) and 1 motion was proposed (January 2026 committee meeting). Questions submitted to the council are responded to in writing whereas motions are responded to both in writing and in person.

1ST QUESTION (TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE MEETING, SEPTEMBER 2025)

“Can the Manager please give an update on the progress of uncovering/uplifting sections of the River Poddle and incorporating it into open space in Tallaght as per the Local Area Plan?” Please include any future plans.

1ST COUNCIL RESPONSE (TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE MEETING, SEPTEMBER 2025)

The Tallaght Town Centre Local Area Plan 2020 is a strategic framework for the sustainable development of Tallaght Town Centre. One of the many objectives of the plan is to “explore the feasibility of uplifting the River Poddle and incorporating into public realm, open space and green/blue infrastructure asset strategies as part of proposals for development”. This objective, TC15, is specific for the development of the area the plan defines as “the Centre”. More specific, the objective relates to a parcel of land adjacent to the northern and eastern boundary of the Work IQ Innovation Quarter, where the source of the River Poddle is located. As per the Local Area plan, the delivery of the objective will be subject to the planning and development of the site, which has not occurred.  Any proposed development of the site will be considered in accordance with the objective of the Local Area Plan.

It should be noted the remaining areas of the River Poddle, within the Tallaght area, predominantly flows through open channel and form part of the key amenity value to the council parklands of Bancroft and Tymon Parks.

COMMENT RESPONSE 1

The council response is inaccurate. The development of the land parcel where the uncovering of the river Poddle must be explored has started (SD23A/0237). The river uncovering objective does not relate to a land parcel adjacent to the Work IQ Innovation Quarter. The source of the river Poddle is not located on a land parcel adjacent to the Work IQ Innovation Quarter. Information concerning lower parts of the catchment (Bancroft and Tymon Parks) is irrelevant.

2ND QUESTION (TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE MEETING, OCTOBER 2025)

“What measures are to be taken as a matter of urgency to ensure that the development (planning application SD23A/0237) complies with the local area plan objectives for CTF1? I refer to your answer to my question on the uncovering of the River Poddle in Tallaght – ITEM ID: 88220. In the Local Area Plan, areas CTF1 and CTF2 are targeted for exploring the uncovering of the River Poddle. However, a new development has been granted planning permission in CTF1 on the basis of the River Poddle being referred to as a “surface water pipe/sewer/drain” (planning application SD23A/0237). It indicates that the river was not considered in the plans at all, let alone its uncovering?”

2ND COUNCIL RESPONSE (TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE MEETING, OCTOBER 2025)

The Tallaght Town Centre Local Area Plan 2020 is a strategic framework for the sustainable development of Tallaght Town Centre. One of the many objectives of the plan is to “explore the feasibility of uplifting the River Poddle and incorporating into public realm, open space and green/blue infrastructure asset strategies as part of proposals for development”. The objective TC15 is specific for the development of the area the plan defines as “the Centre”. More specific, the objective relates to a parcel of land adjacent to the northern and eastern boundary of the Work IQ Innovation Quarter, where the source of the River Poddle is located.

As per the Local Area Plan, the delivery of the objectives will be subject to the planning and development of sites and is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and where relevant. A number of factors are generally considered when proposing to uplift a section of river and as stated in the Tallaght Local Area Plan, they must be feasible. Some key considerations may relate to flood risk and potential risks and implications of uplift, ability to connect and link to high quality public open space, scale and quality of specific section of river and its proximity to rights of way and accesses, public transport and road networks. It should be noted that all proposed development sites that form planning applications are considered in accordance with the objectives of the Local Area Plan.

COMMENT RESPONSE 2

While the question is extremely specific, asking about a particular development and particular land parcels, the response remains extremely vague and general and does not address any of the question’s items. The inaccuracies found in the first response are repeated. Most concerning is the claim made by the council that they do consider flood risk and other risks whereas, as indicated in the question, the mentioned development did not account for the river as a river but as a sewer. The river was not taken into account in the development’s flood risk and appropriate assessments.

MOTION (TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 2026)

“In line with the local area plan commitments to explore the uncovering of the River Poddle in Tallaght, this area committee calls on the Manager to bring immediate clarity on the following: describe the specifics of all exploratory assessments conducted so far and especially in relation to the first CTF1 development (planning application SD23A/0237); clarify how exploratory work is to be ensured now and in the future when the River Poddle is widely referred to as a “surface water pipe/sewer/drain” in developments’ planning applications (including in planning application SD23A/0237); clarify how uncovering is to be effectively explored if it is tied to individual planning applications and not applied to targeted areas as a whole?”

MOTION COUNCIL RESPONSE (TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 2026)

The planning application SD23A/0237 was assessed by Natural Water Section of SDCC taking account of the following three documents – The Sustainable Drainage Explanatory Design and Evaluation Guide 2022, The County Development Plan 2022- 2028 and the Greater Dublin Regional Code of Practice For Drainage Works.

The examining of how the River Poddle can be opened up will be assessed on a case by case basis by Natural Water Section where planning developments are applied for adjacent to the River Poddle.

SDCC completed the Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) in Tymon Park last year to open up the Poddle and enhance the water quality and biodiversity.

COMMENT RESPONSE MOTION

Once again, the response does not address any of the motion’s items. Information concerning lower parts of the catchment (Tymon Park) is irrelevant as well as misleading. The ICW’s main aim was to address flood risk. The ICW is part of a wider flood scheme which was highly contested due to its foreseen harmful environmental and ecological impact. The flood scheme required high levels of hard engineering and tree removal throughout the catchment.

CONCLUDING WORDS

Accountability requires specificity. It requires calling a river a river and mapping a river where it actually flows. While the questions and motion did not succeed in bringing accountability (the ability to come forward and say ‘yes, what we did was wrong’, the ability to account for wrongdoings), it shed light on high levels of unaccountability. Unaccountability, in all its shapes and forms, is what we must keep fighting!

Laure de Tymowski (04/02/2026)