Chapter 4: Community Infrastructure and Open Space

Healthy placemaking is a key ambition of this Plan and National and Regional policy place a strong emphasis on the need to create urban areas that are well-designed, resilient to change and which provide for high-quality public spaces which add character to an area and which are accessible to all. The Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas Guidelines 2009 define sustainable communities as ‘areas where an efficient use of land, high quality urban design and effective integration in the provision of physical and social infrastructure such as public transport, schools, amenities and other facilities combine to create places where people want to live’.

While healthy placemaking is discussed in detail in Chapter 3 Sustainable Placemaking and Quality Homes, it is a key factor in delivering successful and sustainable development within the County and is particularly relevant in the provision of community infrastructure and open space. Community or social infrastructure includes facilities, services, places and spaces that provide a community with their social needs. The provision in appropriate accessible locations of good community infrastructure, such as education, sports and recreational facilities, libraries, childcare facilities, places of worship, health and community centres, is vital as it contributes positively to enhanced quality of life. The physical appearance of these facilities can also have a defining role in an area, strengthening the sense of identity and character.

This chapter sets out the policy context by which community infrastructure and open space is guided. A brief of Fingal’s community infrastructure and open space is provided in Section 2. Section 3 of the chapter outlines the opportunities in the County and the strategic aims are provided in Section 4. The final section, Section 5, details the strategic policies and objectives which will form the basis for community infrastructure and open space provision for the lifetime of this Plan. This chapter is in accordance with National, Regional and local economic development policies and objectives.

4.2  Context

The provision and access to locally based community infrastructure and essential services, which are central to our health and wellbeing, is vital for a community to thrive, to engender a sense of place, ensure social inclusion and build resilience. The Council will continue to support the work of both council and non-council owned community centres in recognising the important role they play for citizens in the county. Ideally, services and facilities which improve quality of life for residents of an area should be provided within close proximity of homes and within neighbourhoods to facilitate greater access and opportunity for local people. These facilities must also be relevant to the community’s needs. In addition, making these facilities accessible to all and by sustainable transport means is also encouraged. The Plan has a key role to play in enhancing and developing healthy, sustainable and inclusive communities by ensuring that residents have access to a range of accommodation options, quality facilities and healthy environments which in turn help to foster and strengthen local identity and community spirit.

While many of these services already exist in established urban and rural areas, it is important that new facilities are located close to the communities they intend to serve and clustering and multi- functional uses will be encouraged where appropriate. Community infrastructure can be provided by the public and private sectors and in some cases by the communities themselves. While the Council and other public bodies provide much of the community infrastructure in the County, it is also the responsibility of developers, frequently as part of larger mixed-use or residential schemes, to provide appropriate facilities such as childcare, sports, recreation, play and healthcare facilities.

The Council is involved in the delivery, funding and operation of many community facilities throughout the County and works collaboratively with Boards of Management in existing community facilities to secure funding for additional facilities which can used by schools during the day and by the community outside of school hours. Examples of facilities where this collaboration has been successful is Mulhuddart Community Centre, Donabate/Portrane Community Centre, Mountview Youth Centre and Parslickstown House. Community campus models, whereby facilities are grouped together and managed in clusters, creating enhanced synergies and greater efficiencies. In Mulhuddart, the Council is exploring the possibility of extending the Mulhuddart Community Centre to maximse local community facilities in the area. This would ensure that the new residents would enjoy the provision of a state-of-the-art community centre as they move into their new community.

A successful community is made up of many components, the result being a place where people want to live, work and visit. National and Regional guidance focuses on compact growth and the need for urban and village centres to provide the focus for a wide range of activities, contributing to a sense of place and identity. Many towns, villages and neighbourhoods within Fingal have seen significant population growth and expansion over recent years. Such centres have an important economic, social and cultural role to perform and it is a priority for the Council to consolidate development in existing centres, thereby supporting businesses and activities in order to maintain vibrancy. The Council will continue to provide community infrastructure to meet the demands of the County’s increasing population and will build on significant investment in Fingal’s social infrastructure, including the provision and expansion of services such as healthcare, education, community facilities, libraries, recreational facilities, public parks, heritage restoration projects and playgrounds.

In addition, the importance of accessible, high-quality public open space to Fingal’s residents is widely acknowledged. The County’s regional parks within the historic demesnes of Malahide, Newbridge and Ardgillan and parks such as Millenium Park and St. Catherines Park and smaller neighbourhood and pocket parks are an invaluable resource for so many in recent times. The provision of new parks and the upgrading of existing open space is continuously reviewed by the Council. Good design principles of multi-functionality, inclusivity, accessibility as well as active and passive surveillance are key factors in the design of new parks, playgrounds, and open spaces. Initiatives to promote the use of outdoor recreation, health and well-being and general enjoyment of Fingal’s many and varied open spaces is supported by the Council. The high quality of Fingal’s parks is recognised in the awarding of Green Flag status to Ardgillan Demesne, Malahide Demesne, Millennium Park, Newbridge House and Farm, Santry Demesne and St. Catherine’s Park for exceeding environmental standards in green space management and excellence in visitor attractions. New park facilities including the first phase of the Rogerstown Park, Lusk as well as the completion of major restoration works at Shackleton Gardens, Clonsilla and the delivery of new playgrounds at Bremore Balbriggan, Skerries Town Park, Lusk Village, Glebe Park, Balrothery and new skateparks in Balbriggan and Skerries are providing invaluable facilities to local communities.

4.3  Opportunities

The Council acknowledges that the provision of good quality and multi-functional social and community infrastructure in existing and newly developing areas is a key element in the development of successful and sustainable communities. The need to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that community and social infrastructure is provided in a timely manner in line with residential development is also a key factor.

Equally, the provision of community services and facilitation of a range of social infrastructure in the correct locations is important in realising the sustainable growth of our settlements and in limiting the need for unnecessary travel, thereby contributing positively to climate change. This includes the identification of appropriate sites for schools, libraries, community facilities, as well as the inclusion of objectives within the Plan to secure the delivery of childcare facilities and other supports for children and families.

The Council recognises the wide range of benefits accruing to communities through the provision of high-quality public open spaces and opportunities to expand and improve on such spaces throughout the County. ‘Keeping it Green’, An Open Space Strategy for Fingal provides a vision for the planning, development and sustainable management of our open spaces which will ensure high quality and sustainable spaces are provided throughout the County.

Community and stakeholder engagement is paramount in the provision of community facilities, including open space. Non-statutory and statutory consultation will be employed by all relevant Council Departments in proposing, planning and delivering community infrastructure and public engagement and contributions is vital to successful outcomes.

As the County’s population grows, there is a responsibility and opportunity for the Council to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities are met, including across the different age groups. The Council is committed to developing a more socially inclusive society and promoting participation and access for all. In Fingal, a number of plans and strategies have been developed to foster social inclusion in our communities. These include:
 

• Fingal Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2020, which is designed to promote and support the local economic and community development of Fingal over the period 2016-2021. The Plan includes a range of actions designed to foster economic growth in the County over the medium-term.
• Fingal Age Friendly Strategy 2018-2023, in conjunction with Fingal Age Friendly Alliance, is committed to enhancing the quality of life of older people by guiding and coordinating the strategic development of Fingal as an age friendly County, through the development and oversight of cross-sectoral age-friendly initiatives.
• Migrant Integration & Social Cohesion Strategy 2019-2024, which aims to support inclusive and cohesive communities, where all who live, work and visit are valued, and all residents are enabled to fully participate and contribute to their communities, irrespective of their nationality, ethnicity, religious or cultural background.
• Traveller Accommodation Programme 2019-2024, which highlights the need to maximise usage of existing resources including occupancy of existing accommodation, management and maintenance of existing sites and establishing structures to encourage greater resident participation in building active and inclusive communities.
• Fingal Public Participation Network (PPN), which is a network of community, voluntary, social inclusion and environmental organisations, working to build a better County for the community of Fingal.
• Social Inclusion Community and Activation Programme (SICAP), which provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.
• Fingal Comhairle na nÓg, the recognised youth council for consulting on the development of policies relevant to young people

There are also several other plans and strategies that have been developed by the Council to provide mechanisms for future opportunities in community development throughout the County. These include:

• Fingal Community Development Office Strategy/ Vision Statement 2019-2021  Seeks to guide and ensure the continued delivery of focused and appropriate community development work in Fingal. This strategy specifically identifies mechanisms to support community facilities to enhance wellbeing and meet the changing needs of communities. Key goals include the following:
  • Develop and improve community facilities
  • Support the development of the community facilities network
  • Develop suitable structures to manage Council community facilities

• Healthy Fingal Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025 – Sets out to support the implementation of Healthy Ireland across Fingal by addressing health inequalities. It identifies 19 actions, corresponding to the five pillars of the National Healthy Ireland Strategy. Together these actions provide a roadmap for improving health in Fingal.
• Flemington Community Research Project – Liveability and Flemington: An analysis of the issues of most concern to the community in the hinterland of Flemington Community Centre, Balbriggan and to identify the issues experienced by residents living around the Flemington Community Centre, to analyse them and to provide a range of recommendations to efficiently address the mentioned issues.
• Tyrrelstown, Our Future – A report on the needs of the Tyrrelstown Community.
• 2017 Mulhuddart Strategic Development and Implementation Plan, A Plan for Mulhuddart -Seeks the development of a collaborative and prioritised approach to Service Provision and Community Development work in the Mulhuddart area.
• Sports and Recreation Facilities Audit – for the local electoral areas of Balbriggan, Swords, Rush-Lusk, February 2021-The aim of the audit was to develop a comprehensive overview of the existing provision of recreation, leisure and sports facilities within the study area, in order to determine recreational priorities for the study area and demonstrate commitment, cooperation and shared vision in developing equitable, accessible sport and recreational opportunities for all.

The Council also recognises the work/studies that local communities carry out and these form another valuable source of information utilised by the Council in the provision of community infrastructure and services. For example, the ‘Lusk Vision 2030: Lusk for Life’ is a unique community-led action plan for Lusk town.

4.4  Strategic Aims

The policies and objectives of the Plan must be consistent with National and Regional policy. In this regard, policies and objectives relating to the provision of community facilities such as childcare, education, health, recreational and social facilities, including the overarching theme of social inclusion are very much to the forefront of Government policy at national level and regional level.

4.4.1  Social Inclusion

Social inclusion is a key objective at national, regional and local level when planning for our communities. The ultimate aim of social inclusion is enabling participation in the mainstream of society for all those who desire it. Creating a more socially inclusive and cohesive society by alleviating social exclusion, poverty and deprivation is a major challenge. Steps taken towards this can include the provision of recreational and community infrastructure and improving access to information and resources. This infrastructure should meet the social, health and educational needs of the community. Social inclusion is embedded in the Plan with policies in particular, focused on improving access for all groups within society, impacting positively on the lives of citizens. There are key groups within society which must be considered when planning and designing our communities and providing social and community facilities. These include for example, children and younger people, older people, persons with disabilities, new ethnic communities and the Traveller community.
 

This Plan seeks to contribute to the creation of a more socially inclusive, equal and culturally diverse society by providing for appropriate community infrastructure, quality public realm and improving access to information and resources. This is in line with the requirements of NPO 28 of the National Planning Framework (NPF) which requires Councils to ‘plan for a more diverse and socially inclusive society that targets equality of opportunity and a better quality of life for all citizens, through improved integration and greater accessibility in the delivery of sustainable communities and the provision of associated services’.

4.4.2  Provision of community and social infrastructure

Through placemaking, which is advocated in the NPF and the RSES, the Council will continue to ensure the development of sustainable communities by supporting the development of adequate housing, retail, leisure, and employment uses, quality public realm, community facilities, design and standards and open space throughout the County. The need for community infrastructure to be accessible and inclusive for a range of users is a priority and is supported by the RSES. RPO 9.14 which specifically states that ‘Local Authorities shall seek to support the planned provision of easily accessible social, community, cultural and recreational facilities and ensure that all communities have access to a range of facilities that meet the needs of the communities they serve’. Through compact growth and in line with the Core Strategy set out in Chapter 2, the provision of key social infrastructure such as quality childcare, education and health services will be provided at locations where they are required most in accordance with NSO 10 of the NPF. The Council will continue to provide a diverse, network of attractive, sustainably managed open spaces to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Fingal.

4.4.3  Stakeholder and Community Engagement

Fingal County Council will continue to engage with public and private stakeholders, such as developers, Government and other key agencies to ensure the effective and timely provision of community infrastructure. The Council is also committed to supporting voluntary and community groups to take a leading role in the management and operation of their local community facilities.

4.4.4  Climate action

In order to mitigate and reduce the effects of climate change, the Council will continue to ensure the provision of community infrastructure and open space at locations which are accessible by active travel, including walking or cycling and which are close to transport routes. This will reduce the need to drive to access services and facilities. In addition, Fingal County Council has launched ‘Fingal’s Keen To Be Green Facilities Project’ which will see community facilities from around Fingal take part in a 5- stage plan to become sustainable and take action against the effects of climate change. The project is a collaboration between Fingal’s Community Development Office, Fingal Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel Department and the Fingal Community Facilities Network.

4.5  Policies and Objectives

4.5.1  Community/Social Infrastructure

Community or social infrastructure within a County plays a hugely significant role in facilitating spaces where citizens can come together to meet, enjoy group activities, find social support and public information, exercise and enjoy nature amongst other uses. Such facilities promote activity across all ages and promote inclusion, bringing together diverse groups of people from within the community. As the County grows, Fingal County Council continues to provide a range of facilities which support the provision of valuable community infrastructure in existing and new communities. While the delivery of community and social infrastructure is the responsibility of a number of stakeholders, the Council will use its financial resources and/or external funding to deliver new facilities while also maximising the potential of existing quality facilities, e.g Donabate/Portrane Community and Leisure Centre and Mulhuddart Community Centre. This avoids duplication and prevents the creation of smaller spaces, which may not always result in long term viability nor lasting benefit for the wider community. External funding mechanisms include the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) and the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF). In addition, the Council will work with public and private stakeholders to provide facilities throughout the County.

As Fingal continues to grow in line with projected population, it is proposed over the lifetime of this Plan to undertake an audit of community infrastructure which will provide direction in terms of future investment in this area. Given that community facilities are provided by a range of departments in Fingal, a collaborative approach is considered the best practice approach.

As part of the Development Management process, a developer may be required to provide space for a new community facility or contribute towards the provision or improvement of new or existing facilities and infrastructure by way of a development contribution under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). This legislation permits the Council to include conditions requiring the payment of a contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority. The Development Contribution Scheme 2021-2025 includes a range of applicable community and open space infrastructure which may be provided in this manner. These include new and extended community centres and libraries, new children’s play facilities, recreational facilities and open space provision and upgrade. A social infrastructure audit will be required for large scale residential developments in the planning application process.

Land-use management plans also play important roles in achieving community and recreational facilities as part of the plan-making process. Such plans may set specific objectives or direct that community infrastructure is provided as part of development proposals within a plan area, setting clear design principles and specifying standards to be achieved. Provision of social/community facilities should always incorporate a universal design approach, taking account of location, layout and design to ensure maximum accessibility and connectivity to the surrounding area.

4.5.1.1  Community Centres

In Fingal, there is a strong network of community centres in both established and growing communities which offer a wide range of facilities and services. They play a vital role in bringing people together and reducing isolation, encouraging people to take part in both educational and recreational activities. Through social interaction, these centres help build inclusive communities. Fingal’s Community Development Office provides support to community centres to deliver initiatives that specifically meet community need. The Fingal Community and Sports hub in Mountview, Tyrrelstown and Flemington through the work of a designated community officer, is supporting community group development and increasing community service delivery in these community centres.
 

These facilities offer a range of social and recreational opportunities for the local community. Fingal County Council currently owns and operates 15 no. community centres and has shared arrangements through the Department of Education for a further 6 no. centres as well as multiple other buildings throughout the County. In addition, there are numerous centres around the County which are privately owned and managed by individual communities. Multi-purpose community facilities proposed for Lanesborough/Meakestown and Baldoyle are currently at design/planning stage and the Council is actively engaging with the community in Howth to identify suitable options for community facilities. The need for additional and extended community facilities within the County is kept under active review and the Council will support the provision of such facilities where there is an identified need in line with population projections. In addition, the Council will support the extension and refurbishment of existing centres.

Fingal County Council is committed to ensuring the provision of high-quality state of the art facilities. A Community Facilities Management Support Unit provides support to 33 no. community facilities across Fingal through the provision of a range of funding, technical and mentoring supports. The Council also engages a facility operator to support the day-to-day management of a further 15 no. community facilities. This ensures that such resources are provided to a very high and safe standard for community enjoyment.

A Community Facilities Network has also been established which supports a wide range of collaborations and training options promoting greater synergies. Such projects include a ‘remobilisation working group’ which was established during Covid-19 to provide support and assistance to community centres post lockdown.

4.5.1.2  Recreation and Sports Facilities in Fingal

It is imperative that as our communities grow, the expanding recreational and amenity needs of the community are also met. The provision of open spaces, recreational facilities and areas which encourage physical activity in general are key factors in contributing to improved physical and mental health. The Council supports national and regional objectives to ensure an active population thereby significantly enhancing public health and RPO 9.15 of the RSES which requires that ‘Local Authorities shall support the vision and objectives of the National Sports Policy, including working with local sports partnerships, clubs, communities and partnerships within and beyond sport, to increase sport and physical activity participation levels locally’. The Council directly provides the majority of facilities used for sports and outdoor recreation in Fingal. Currently almost 200 no. outdoor sports pitches are provided by the Council for use by a range of sporting codes. These are generally applied for and allocated on an annual basis to local clubs in response to their demand for facilities. The maintenance of sports grounds is of critical importance to clubs in Fingal, some of which rely almost exclusively on the Council for their facilities. Over 400 teams from more than sixty sports clubs use these outdoor facilities.
 

The Council supports the National Physical Activity Plan – Get Ireland Active: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 and its target to increase the proportion of the population across each life stage undertaking regular physical activity by 1% per annum across the lifetime of Healthy Ireland2. The Fingal Sports Office Vision Statement 2019-2021 is based on a vision to build stronger, healthier and more sustainable sporting communities across Fingal. This is an interim policy statement to allow the Council to carry out certain functions and procedures as outlined in the National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027. These procedures include a facility audit, which will help inform the basis of ‘Local Sports Plans’ as outlined in the National policy document.

The National Sports Policy 2018- 2027  recognises the importance of developing a comprehensive, up- to-date database of facilities as the basis for a long-term planned approach to facility management, investment and addressing future needs. In line with this, a Sports and Recreation Facilities Audit was published in February 2021 for the local electoral areas of Balbriggan, Swords, Rush-Lusk. The aim of the audit was to develop a comprehensive overview of the existing provision of recreation, leisure and sports facilities within the study area. One of the key objectives was to identify a gap and needs analysis, focusing on what is required in the study area in order to develop and maintain facilities. A similar audit will be carried out for the remainder of the County during the lifetime of this Plan.

Active Recreational Hubs

Fingal County Council is pioneering the provision of Active Recreational Hubs strategically located in parks and open spaces around the County. This programme is in line with Council’s ‘Keeping It Green – Open Space Strategy’ adopted in 2015. Recreational Hubs include high specification, well-serviced sports facilities designed for high-intensity use, catering for a range of sporting codes and located so that they facilitate ease of access with good connectivity via active travel infrastructure. Proximity to primary and post-primary schools is also a factor in determining the optimum location for these facilities. Where hubs are located close to schools, this increases the daytime use of the facilities and ideally associated infrastructure adding greatly to the financial sustainability of the facilities. The intensification of use in these hubs is achieved by the inclusion of professionally designed and constructed grass pitches, all-weather sports pitches and athletics facilities which are floodlit and available for evening use when demand is high. The Recreational Hub model is predicated on the Council liaising with local clubs with a view to these clubs becoming major stakeholders in the facilities and forming Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to manage the facilities via a Management Agreement between the clubs and the Council. The Capital investment provided by the Council by way of open space levies and grant funding is protected by a ‘not for profit’ sustainable financial model. Currently in Fingal, four of these facilities have received planning approval and several more are at various stages in the planning process including Porterstown Park and Ballymastone Recreational Hubs.

The state-of-the-art National Sports Campus (NSC) is located at Abbottstown and is home to world- class indoor and outdoor facilities which host local, national, and international events and which are used for team and individual training. The Campus also provides valuable amenities for the local community with facility rentals, children’s camps, sports academies, team-building events, corporate conferences and more. Fingal County Council recognises the importance and potential of the NSC and to support the growth of the campus, it has been given its own unique zoning (NSC). This will allow for the continued expansion of the campus in a sustainable manner, which will give greater scope for the provision of associated and ancillary facilities at this location.

4.5.1.3  Facilities for Older People

The RSES recognises that many of the factors which contribute to a good quality of life for older people are community-based and that all sectors have a role to play in creating an age-friendly society. High quality healthcare, community facilities and accessible transport networks are important factors for older people and it is imperative that the Council plays a role in achieving age-friendly communities in the County.

It is vital for Fingal County Council to plan to meet changing needs as the population age profile of the County changes and RPO 9.23 of the RSES requires that the Council ‘Facilitate the development of primary health care centres, hospitals, clinics, and facilities to cater for the specific needs of an ageing population in appropriate urban areas in accordance with RSES settlement strategy and core strategies of development plans’.

Fingal County Council signed the Dublin Declaration on Age Friendly Cities and Communities, a World Health Organisation Initiative in 2011 and proceeded to develop the Fingal Age Friendly Strategy 2012- 2017 and update in 2018-2023. From this came Fingal Age Friendly Facilities, which are places where older people may enjoy the best possible local facilities as they grow older. Fingal County Council is committed to supporting older people to live healthily and independently and to be active participants within their own communities.

4.5.1.4  Education - Primary and Post-Primary

Fingal County Council is the youngest Local Authority in the State (at 33.8 years) which is 3.7 years lower than the State, 2.2 years lower than the region and 2.5 years lower than Dublin average. As such, the demand for school places and new schools is high in the County. School facilities play a key role in their respective communities and can be a determining factor as to why people chose to live in a certain area. Fingal is home to a wide range of both primary and post-primary schools. Many schools provide a broader function in the communities they serve and often provide meeting rooms and facilities for evening classes, sports clubs and other activities. The facilitation of school premises outside of school hours for community use is supported and encouraged.

The Code of Practice issued by the Department of Environment, Heritage and local Government in 2008 entitled ‘The Provision of Schools and the Planning System’ 2008, has three core objectives for the effective integration of the school and the planning system. These include the following:

• That schools provision should be an integral part of the evolution of compact sustainable urban development and the development of sustainable communities.
• The provision of any new schools (both primary and post-primary) should be driven by and emerge from an integrated approach between the planning functions of Planning Authorities and the Department of Education and Science; and
• Local Authorities, as Planning Authorities, will support and assist the Department in ensuring the timely provision of school sites.

Fingal County Council continues to work collaboratively with the Department of Education in relation to the identification of schools and associated facilities. Under the Memorandum of Agreement, Fingal County Council makes land in its ownership available at a reduced cost to the Department of Education. In return the Department of Education, in co-operation with Fingal County Council, make a greater investment in enhanced sports and community and recreational facilities for schools being provided throughout the County. Based on extensive experience in the management and operation of community facilities, Fingal County Council’s Architects and Community Departments have developed a design brief which may be duplicated across various sites ensuring facilities can meet the needs of the community.

Enhanced facilities are designed to meet varied community needs as identified by the Community Culture and Sports Division of Fingal County Council. The range of facilities includes amenities such as full-size sports hall, dressing rooms, storage areas, community meeting rooms, childcare spaces, all weather pitches and playgrounds. (This may vary from site to site). These additional facilities exceed the Department’s standard specification for schools and are also made available to the local community outside of school hours. Facilities constructed under the Memorandum of Agreement are leased by the Department of Education to Fingal County Council who in turn issue a management licence to a local Board of Management. This ensures that community facilities are operated to meet community and educational needs in tandem.

Table 4.1: New Primary and Post-Primary Schools opened in Fingal since 2016

While the provision of new schools is the responsibility of the Department of Education, Fingal County Council has and will continue to work collaboratively with the Department and with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the identification of suitable sites for the delivery of new and expanded educational facilities in Fingal. Fingal County Council will engage with all relevant stakeholders and identify sites that could be used to provide much needed schools as identified in the Kilmartin Plan for the people of Tyrrelstown, Hollystown and Hollywoodrath that are in real need for a primary and secondary school.

4.5.1.5  Higher and Further Education

Fingal is home to one third level institution, Technological University Dublin located in Blanchardstown while Connolly Hospital, a major teaching hospital is also located within the County. Educational attainment is an important factor when planning for the future and 39.6% of the population in Fingal have a third level education, which is higher than the national average at 33.4%. The importance of a well-educated population is recognised and fully supported by Fingal County Council.

Other third level institutions within close proximity to Fingal and accessible to Fingal’s residents include Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD). In addition, there are numerous facilities in the County offering higher and further educational opportunities, including adult and Youthreach classes and programmes. Fingal County Council is an active member of the Fingal Community Education Network, which is an inter-agency group providing support and coordination for specific adult education courses in areas across Fingal.

4.5.1.6  Healthcare

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is the primary body responsible for the provision of health care facilities in the County. There are currently three public hospitals within the Fingal area including, Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, and the more specialised facilities of the National Orthopaedic Hospital at Cappagh and the new National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) which is a new state-of-the-art facility, located at St. Ita’s in Portrane. There are 14 no. health centres in Fingal, with a centre located in each of the urban population centres, including 3 no. in the Blanchardstown area.