LIFFEY CYCLE ROUTE – UPDATE
Dublin City Council has commissioned Aecom Ltd. to undertake a review of the 1,200 submissions made during the informal consultation on the proposed Liffey Cycle Route. This followed the decision of the Council to, effectively, start its consideration of the project again. The four potential routes initially identified failed to attract sufficient support of the Council’s Transportation Policy Committee. It is now expected that Aecom Ltd. will complete its work early in the New Year with the identification of a preferred route in February 2016. Prior to that, it will be necessary to establish the effect of the project on existing public transport services, including Dublin Bus and the LUAS. Both myself and Councillor Ray McAdam have been working with Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority in order to answer questions and queries that local residents have raised.
DRAFT DUBLIN CITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The Dublin City Development Plan contains the vision and overall strategy for future planning and sustainable development within the city over the next six years. The existing Development Plan expires next year and the City Council is currently preparing a new plan. Your City Councillors recently approved the draft plan for the consideration of the public. This consultation phase began on October 1st and will continue until Friday December 11th. During that time you will have the opportunity to have your say on issues from the maximum height of developments to the density of developments to the provision of educational, recreational and other facilities and amenities. Further details of what is included in the draft Plan can be found at www.dublincitydevelopmentplan.ie. Both Councillor McAdam and I would be eager to get your views on the draft Plan so please email paschal.donohoe@oir.ie with your feedback.
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL HOUSING PLANS – PROGRESS REPORT
In May, the Government provided €12.5m to Dublin City Council for the construction of new housing in Dublin Central. The funding will see 60 new units built on former Department of Defence lands on Infirmary Road and a site on North King Street beside the junction with Beresford Street. It is disappointing, however, that Dublin City Council has not advanced this important housing project as much as it should have. Both Councillor McAdam and I are working that a Part VIII planning application be presented to Councillors quickly so that local residents can have an opportunity to have your say on the plans. Either one of us will keep you updated of progress on the matter. Funding has also been provided to Tuath Housing to assist the redevelopment of Ellis Court on Benburb Street. Design work is well underway which will allow a planning application to be lodged by Tuath Housing in early 2016.
CHURCH STREET GRAFFITI REMOVAL
The Public Domain Unit of Dublin City Council has been removing incidents of graffiti in various sites across the Church Street district in the past number of weeks. The Council’s Corporate Contractor and the City Council’s Waste Management Services have removed graffiti on Chancery Street, The Markets, North King Street, Ormond Square, Ormond Place, Church Street, Haymarket and at Bridewell Garda Station. If there are items of graffiti on your street or avenue, please get in touch with me and I will arrange for its removal.
ENHANCING THE CROPPY ACRE
The Parks Department of Dublin City Council has commenced work on the first phase of enhancing the Croppy Acre. This phase of the project will involve the installation of new perimeter paths around the park and the upgrading of the gate entrances to the Croppy Acre. Following the completion of these works, the Croppy Acre will then be opened as a public park.
CHURCH STREET TRAFFIC MATTERS
The Traffic Department of Dublin City Council is currently considering a number of requests for traffic related measures on streets across the Church Street district. No decision has yet been made with regards the suggestion that a pedestrian crossing be installed at the junction of Stoneybatter with North Brunswick Street. Nor has any recommendation been issued in respect to the proposal to install traffic calming measures at the junction of North King Street and Queen Street. Traffic Engineers are assessing whether there is a need for the introduction of road markings for the existing Pay & Display and Permit Parking spaces along Arran Street East. If you have any questions or queries about these issues or any other traffic related matter, please email me at paschal.donohoe@oir.ie.
CONSERVATION PLAN FOR WOLFE TONE PARK
Both myself and Councillor Ray McAdam have been working with local residents to develop proposals to enhance the current appearance and condition of Wolfe Tone Park. Since the redevelopment of the public space there in 2001, the area has not been managed as well as it could have been. In order to maximise the potential for community use, Councillor McAdam and I, along with local residents, have secured a commitment from Dublin City Council Community Development and Parks Departments to develop and implement a Conservation Plan for Wolfe Tone Park. Approximately €50,000 has been set aside for initial works in 2016 to enhance Wolfe Tone Park.
RETAIL FRUIT & VEGETABLE MARKET PLANS
Substantial progress is being made with plans for the redevelopment of the Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market. Refurbishment works, including the painting and electrical re-wiring of the Market building are expected to be completed by Christmas. The procurement process to select a contractor to undertake the building works for the Multi-Use Games Area on the site of the old Fish Market is progressing and will be concluded in the New Year. The City Council has also undertaken site investigation works and is finalising the procurement of a design team and contractor for the new Market facility. All being equal, construction work on the new wholesale and retail market should begin on site by late Spring 2016.