Fingal County Council launches Corduff Place Standard Tool Report

Elected representatives, community partners, and project staff gathered yesterday at TU Dublin Blanchardstown as Fingal County Council formally launched the Corduff Place Standard Tool Report. The report presents the findings of an in-depth community engagement process carried out with residents, local organisations, and service providers throughout 2025.

The Place Standard Tool was piloted in Corduff as the first location in Fingal, reflecting the Council’s commitment—set out in the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2023–2028 to strengthening community voices, promoting participation, and delivering more inclusive, evidence based planning. Over the course of the engagement, 146 residents and organisations took part across seven facilitated workshops, focus groups, and surveys.

The findings highlight a range of significant community strengths, including Corduff’s strong identity, exceptional community spirit, active volunteer networks, well used green spaces, and much loved local amenities such as Corduff Football Club. The process also raised several key challenges that matter to residents. These will shape future collaborative work in the area.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Tom O’Leary emphasised the importance of the initiative: “The launch of this Corduff Place standards report marks an important milestone for the people of Corduff and indeed for Fingal as a whole. This fantastic Tool has given residents a structured, engaging way to share their experiences and shape the future of their community. Their contributions have given us a clear roadmap to deliver meaningful, lasting improvements working with them and partner stakeholders.”

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, also outlined the importance of the work: "The research and engagement undertaken in Corduff helps us to build inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable communities. It represents a significant milestone in our approach to community development and place-making. The report presented challenges but also highlighted Corduff’s many strengths: including its strong identity, community spirit, and the dedication of its volunteers. We are dedicated to ensuring that this is not simply a report, but a mechanism for action and we look forward to continuing this work with local residents as partners in shaping a stronger, safer and more connected Corduff".

The Place Standard approach aligns closely with the Council’s core community development values: empowerment, collaboration, inclusion, and evidence led decision making. By enabling residents to reflect on how their neighbourhood supports their quality of life, the process directly advances LECP objectives on community wellbeing and the Strategic Plan’s commitment to meaningful local participation and place based investment.

Director of Economic, Community & Cultural Development, John Quinlivan, added: “The Place Standard engagement in Corduff demonstrates the power of listening to residents and working in partnership. Our team has seen first-hand the depth of insight, creativity, and commitment within this community. The issues identified will support and guide our work with the community and agencies in Corduff.”

The launch is a key milestone in Fingal County Council’s ongoing programme to embed community led planning across the county, ensuring that local voices help shape the design, delivery, and prioritisation of future supports and infrastructure. The learnings from Corduff will inform further Place Standard rollouts in other areas of Fingal, helping to build stronger, more connected, and more resilient communities.

For more on the tool see here