I am writing to formally lodge my objection to the NTA’s recommendation regarding Material Alteration 3.1 (Omission of Finnstown Castle) and Material Alteration 6.1 (Omission of St. Edmundsbury) in relation to Proposed Variation No. 2 of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022–2028.

I strongly support the removal/omission of Finnstown Castle and St. Edmundsbury from the residential rezoning proposals and urge South Dublin County Council to reject the NTA’s recommendation to rezone these lands for housing.

Public transport accessibility alone should not be used as the sole justification to rezone lands for thousands of additional homes while existing local infrastructure is already stretched beyond capacity. My opposition is based on the following key concerns:

1. Public Transport & Rail Overcrowding: Existing residents in Adamstown, Lucan, and surrounding areas already face daily issues with severe bus and train overcrowding, insufficient service frequency, and capacity bottlenecks. Prioritising housing development based on theoretical transport connectivity fails to reflect the reality experienced on the ground by commuters.

2. Traffic Congestion & Road Network: Local roads, junctions, and feeder routes are heavily congested during peak times. Adding large-scale residential developments will severely worsen traffic flow and road safety without adequate road infrastructure upgrades.

3. Overburdened Essential Community Services: Local essential services—including primary and secondary school places, healthcare facilities, childcare provision, and sports/recreational amenities—are already operating at or beyond capacity.

4. Preservation of Open Space & Community Impact: Planning decisions must account for the broader community footprint, environmental impacts, and the protection of local heritage and green spaces, rather than relying exclusively on transport proximity metrics.

I request that the Council respect the democratic local planning process and prioritize the holistic infrastructure needs of existing local residents over premature high-density rezoning.

Please acknowledge receipt of this submission.

Yours sincerely,
Igor.S