Dessie Ellis (Dublin North-West, Sinn Fein)

St. Luke's community centre was built decades ago. At the time, the community of Kilmore and surrounding areas fought tooth and nail to get this badly needed facility. For the best part of a year and a half, it has been closed by Dublin City Council. With little or no consultation with the community, the building was blocked up and closed and access refused. The building itself is in good condition except for a number of works to be carried out, which would cost in the region of €150,000.

There is no shortage of people looking to use this building. There is a huge increase in the population locally, with hundreds of new apartments and houses built and being built. Kilmore Celtic, a local football club across the road, has young girls and boys with no place to change, go to the toilet or even have a shower. It is a huge embarrassment and a terrible indictment that visiting football teams, especially young girls, have to change out in the open and cannot even go to the toilet or have a shower.

At a time when young children are going on holidays, summer projects and activities should be taking place in this community building. Senior citizens and community groups are crying out for facilities. People and those with disabilities have nowhere to go while attending football matches across the road from the centre - so much for disability-proofing our communities.

I have engaged with Dublin City Council personnel on a good number of occasions. I have repeatedly been told that we are moving ahead but there is still no movement. It is frustrating that excuse after excuse has been put in the way.

This is a vital community facility which we urgently need. There seems to be an unwillingness to move ahead with this project and that is part of the problem.

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