Overflow Owenabue Car Park Carrigaline Needs a Makeover

Writes Leo McMahon

There was full support for a motion from Cllr Patrick Donovan (FF) at the recent meeting of Carrigaline Municipal District (MD) to seek funding to resurface the overflow space at the rear of Owenabue car park, Carrigaline.

In a report, acting senior executive engineer Alan Cogan stated: ‘The Council’s Capital Delivery and Asset Management Directorate are currently progressing Public Realm works at this location and awaiting a call for funding. Once this is made, an application will be submitted for a budget to progress this project. In the interim, the area office will monitor and undertake any temporary repairs on the existing surface’.

Cllr Patrick Donovan at the pot-holed overflow Owenabue car park which he believes should be surfaced - photo Leo McMahon

It was a very important section of the car park which was generally full most weekdays, said Cllr Donovan who questioned the wisdom of ‘throwing money into pot holes.’ While accepting there were public realm works in the pipeline, these could be a long way off. The section in question is between the glass, can and clothing recycling tanks and Carrigaline Tidy Towns ‘Potter’s Corner.’

Seconding, Cllr Jack White (FG) said it was discussed before. There was need to progress the Plaza/Public Realm Project in the car park area which was first mooted in 2017 and formally approved under a Part 8 planning application by the council last year really needed prioritising.

An Cathaoirleach Cllr Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan (Ind) concurred but warned against re-lining as it could serve to reduce the number of vehicle bays.

In reply to a query from Cllr White, Senior Executive Officer Maurice Murphy said it was his recollection that the car park section referred to was in the public realm to be funded under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.

Last year, at the request of councillors, the front section of Owenabue car park was resurfaced and re-lined.