Lucan Pool Progress July to October 2025

Rolling updates have been going on since 2022. Click here for the previous update March-June 2025.

Cllr Helen Farrell and I will be updating further as more news becomes available.

11th September 2025 - SECC refuses to budge on car park peak time barrier

We’ve received several videos over a period of days from a local resident and parent showing that the leisure centre car park has ample capacity during school times.

I added this information to a query asking why parents dropping children off to local schools face a barrier at the leisure centre at school hours when they previously had use of this public space.

This was the response.

Not sure I agree. When the pool is finally open we might see the sense of this, but equally are the Council suggesting parents drive in and out of estates like Ash Park instead? I’m all for public transport, walking and cycling but the Gaelscoileanna especially have a wide catchment area of students.

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6th September 2025 - Report by Helen on car park

🚗 Griffeen Park Car Park – Update on Access at Lucan Leisure Campus

I’ve spoken directly with senior management in SDCC about the recent issues at the car park beside Lucan Leisure Campus.

✅ SDCC confirmed that no Aura security personnel or restrictive signage will be placed by Aura at the entrance again. SDCC confirmed that there will be no parking charges in the car park.

🔐 However, under the licence agreement, the car park is considered part of the overall Lucan Leisure “campus” and is being operated by Aura Leisure on behalf of SDCC. They have agreed between themselves that the barriers will be lowered for 30 minutes each morning during school drop-off times, to deter parents from using the car park as a drop-off point. They say that they have safety concerns about the use of the car park for drop off and that it is not suitable.

If you need to access the car park during that time, you’ll have to buzz Aura for entry — but SDCC couldn’t explain how access will be assessed! Users of the playground, park, pitches, Naíonra, Esker Boxing Club and gym are allowed in, but even cars queuing to buzz in the barrier at this busy spot at drop-off time will be a huge issue. I’ve told them that I believe this setup will be unworkable and will likely cause further traffic congestion.

📢 SDCC says they’ll trial it for a few weeks and review. They also confirmed the entrance is being widened to improve access - just not for drop-off of children at GSER.

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22nd August - Major Update by SDCC on Lucan Leisure Campus as Main Contractor Removed

Communication from SDCC as posted by Helen today:

“The main contractor has been officially removed from the project as of this morning. While this decision wasn’t taken lightly, it allows SDCC to ensure greater transparency and control moving forward.”

✅ A security team is now in place to monitor the site

✅ An interim contractor has been appointed to continue works

✅ SDCC are facilitating progress with other contractors already working directly with them

✅ A new main contractor will be selected through the proper procurement process

Works outstanding still include water filtration, accessibility lift installation and the moveable floor. We’ve been told for years that hanging on with the main contractor was cheaper and faster than re-tendering. Obviously things just have got to a very bad stage if SDCC has to retender for a main contractor and appoint an interim one also.

The procurement process timeline does not bode well for a fast completion. It does also beg the question as to how long SDCC management can hold off on much delayed transparency and accountability about the whole mess of a project to date.

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20th August - clarification re car park

SDCC has clarified that there will be no charge to use the car park, although exact allocations of spaces are still to be ascertained. We’ve queried the narrow entrance lane as raised by residents.

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3rd August Gym now open

The dry side of the gym is open and the café should be up and running by mid to end August. Still no information on delay to dry works.

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18th July - Major Update -

18th July - Major Update on Lucan Leisure Campus (gym and pool) by Paul Gogarty TD and Councillor Helen Farrell - Public tours of gym area available from next Tuesday and memberships go live at 12pm (SDCC told us Monday but Aura said Tuesday subsequently)

This report contains the latest reply from SDCC to query by Paul and a comprehensive update from today’s Lucan Leisure Campus tour for all Councillors, by Helen.

Completion of Certification and handover of dry side to Aura:

Validation for the dry side of the building and associated external works was achieved on Monday 14th July. The dry side of the building was handed over to Aura today July 18th, 2025.

Opening date of Gym by Aura:

Aura are starting public tours from Tues July 22nd 2025 from 12pm – 8pm for visiting. Full opening is likely in about a fortnight’s time but Aura are now open for joining, with a reduced rate in place until the pool opens in a few months’ time.

Tour with Elected Representatives:

Took place today, Friday 18th July. This revised update incorporates the report from Cllr Helen Farrell. Councillors were given a full tour of all of the facilities, wet and dry sides, and ancillary rooms and services. The gym, reception, paths, parking, meeting rooms (will be available for public hire) and coffee shop are all completed and ready to open in a couple of weeks, roughly by early August once staff familiarisation and training is completed. Once a firm date is given, we will let all constituents know.

Completion of Café and Reception Area:

These areas are complete for occupation by Aura and the Café Operator. It is wonderful to discover that the Café will be managed and staffed by “So Coffee”, an independent coffee shop currently based in Leixlip.

Lucan Leisure Campus is their second shop and the menu will include healthy options, porridge, protein balls as well as customer favourites, and lots of coffee too! Customers will be able to use the coffee shop direct from Griffeen Park from the “playground side”, with no need to be a gym member or even go through the gym turnstiles. So your walks in Griffeen Park can now end with a coffee!

It was lovely to speak to some of the staff on reception today with many from Lucan. Some of the instructors are staff who previously worked in the original Lucan Leisure Centre, so there is that community knowledge and continuity there. Additionally, some of the staff even attended the Leisure Centre as children, so it’s brilliant to have locally employed staff.

Floor repairs:

Floor repairs are complete, and cleaning and polishing was happening today during the Councillor tour.

Final Completion of Car Park Area:

The car parking area is complete with the exception of the traffic island at the main entrance. Concrete due to be poured on Tuesday 22nd July with barriers and cameras to follow shortly afterward.

SDCC and Aura Leisure Services are still in discussions around parking allocation. It will not be paid parking but rather barrier swipe. The critical issue is just how many spaces are intended to be allocated for gym members (all, or a percentage?) versus public parking.

As this is public land and provides access to a public park, SDCC know that it is essential to have a set up that allows for this kind of mixed parking. Additionally, in the old Leisure Centre, Esker Boxing Club, a Naíonra (Irish-speaking nursery), and the 3-2-1 leisure hall (available for public booking) will all be in operation in the coming weeks, so SDCC will be ensuring provision for these in the discussions. This issue will need to be revisited.

Cllr Helen Farrell today again raised the long period that Ashpark residents have put up with heavy parking loads in their estate during drop-off and pick-up times, which seems to be happening due to parents using their estate, rather than using the set-down area in local schools. Helen spoke of the need to accommodate parking for parents who may have a child to drop to Naíonra, perhaps another child to school, and who then want to use the park for a walk or coffee. It would be unfair not to allocate public parking to allow for this, as well as all the other eventualities that can happen in the park as a whole.

However, discussions still need to be had between SDCC and Aura regarding this allocation and how it will break down in practice, and it seems likely that in the school holiday period, nothing will be decided with finality. Cllr Farrell will keep abreast of this issue with SDCC and will report back on any developments.

Questions in relation to Pool Side - test filling of swimming, completion of pool area and opening of swimming pool:

The above items all relate to phase 2 completion. There has been significant recent progress made in relation to completion of the following:

• Roof

• Glazing and pool tiling

• Sauna & steam rooms fully tiled

• M&E installation

Under construction, with significant progress visible are:

• Wet changing village

• Variable height showers (accessible)

• Variable height benches

• Hoist

• Group changing rooms

SDCC are exploring all options to achieve completion of the pool side of the building as soon as possible and will advise of the date for completion and opening as soon as it is reliably established

Photos shared by Helen following Cllrs tour below:

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14th July - Latest update from SDCC

According to SDCC, "work continues (see photos above and below) at Lucan Leisure Campus with completion of external works and the gym and exercise studios allowing handover of that side of the facility to our operating partners. Members will be informed shortly of plans to progress completion of the pool side of the facility and a site visit will be arranged to view the gym/exercise areas before opening".

As of now, it appears that the delayed certification and handover to Aura could take place this week or early next week. It is possible, but not 100% certain that the gym and foyer, training/meeting room and possibly café area could be open before the August Bank Holiday weekend. As a lot of this will be in Aura's hands once the handover is completed, it is worth keeping an eye on their social media. Cllr Helen Farrell will update following any site visit.

Current view of pool and the gym area

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12th July -Briefing meeting with Aura Leisure

Councillor Helen Farrell was invited to a briefing meeting last week on 10th July, 2025, by SDCC with Aura Leisure Services, the company who have been contracted to manage Lucan Leisure Campus,  along with other Local Councillors from the area. 

"This was a terribly disappointing meeting overall with no proposed opening date given for either the 'dry side' (gym and studios) or the pool, despite my direct questioning, " said Cllr Farrell. 

While there are some positives in terms of Aura Leisure Services' track record around awards for inclusion and concessions for under-3's, students during the month of the Leaving Cert, and discounts for Seniors and Students (PAYG), Aura currently do not intend a direct parity of membership cost with SDCC's facility in Clondalkin, operated by the not for profit South Dublin Leisure Services. Indeed as we previously pointed out, it would be difficult to do this given the Clondalkin pool is subsidised by the Council but no such subvention is provided for Lucan. However Aura's apparent refusal to use flexibility on its own pricing was very strongly challenged by Councillor Farrell at the meeting and she urged Aura to ensure that the membership fees of Clondalkin and Lucan be on a more equal footing for residents. Whether this happens remains to be seen.