AN POST PLANS TO REDEVELOP McGINLEY SITE
An Post has advised me of its intention to develop a new depot / sorting office on the former McGinley site on Ravensdale Road. While no formal application for planning permission has yet been lodged with Dublin City Council, Councillor Ray McAdam and I understand that the new facility will be between one and two storeys high and will accommodate a public entrance and reception area off Ravensdale Road. The main operational portion of the facility will be accessed by East Road. It is also expected that provision will be made for loading facilities, manager’s office, meeting room, staff facilities, ancillary vehicular and cycle parking. If permission is granted, An Post expects that up to 150 construction jobs could be created. The new East Wall facility will replace the existing An Post sorting office on Cardiff Lane, which the company believes to be no longer fit for purpose. An Post will be formally applying to Dublin City Council for planning permission inside the next fortnight and when that application has been lodged, both Councillor Ray McAdam and I will provide you with a detailed update as to its contents. If you have any questions or queries about these plans, please contact me at paschal.donohoe@oir.ie.
DRAFT DUBLIN CITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN & EAST WALL
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 in 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. One key inclusion in the draft Plan is the proposal for the development of an Environmental Improvement Plan for East Wall which was put forward by Councillor Ray McAdam and was adopted by the Council. 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.
DART UNDERGROUND
I announced at the end of September that the current Dart Underground tunnel which received planning permission from An Bord Pleanala in 2011, will not proceed. Other aspects of the Dart Expansion plan will happen including the upgrading of signalling works to enable the Phoenix Park tunnel to re-open as well as the electrification of the rail-line to Balbriggan. The Railway Order that was approved by the Board has now expired and therefore no tunnelling works will take place for this tunnel as a result of this decision.
PREPARATIONS FOR HALLOWEEN
Officials in Dublin City Council’s Housing Section and Parks Department are liaising with local Gardai to develop a co-ordinated approach to minimise bonfires and incidents at Halloween. The City Council will utilise all necessary resources in order to reduce the number and size of bonfires across the north-east inner city. Warning letters have already been issued to businesses and local groups in respect of the storage and distribution of materials for bonfires. A number of residents have already been in contact with me about the build-up of materials in certain locations across the district, which have now been removed. If you have information about the stock piling of materials or premises supplying such materials, these details can be reported to the City Council’s litter hotline on 1800 248 348. Should you have any difficulty in getting through to the hotline, please contact me at paschal.donohoe@oir.ie or on 618 3689.
COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEME 2016
Each year, Dublin City Council provides grants to community groups and residents’ associations to assist with their activities and projects in their locality. The 2016 Community Grants Scheme is now open for applications. Any group considering applying for a community grant should be aware of the priorities of the scheme which include:
- Community Development
- Social Inclusion
- Integration
- Local Area Issues
The closing date for the receipt of applications is October 30th. All completed forms and relevant documentation should be returned to the Community and Social Development, Block 3, Floor 1, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.
EASTLINK FUNDING FOR EAST WALL
As your local T.D., I am delighted to let you know that more than €32,500 has been allocated to community groups and projects in the East Wall area. This money has been made available to the Community Development Section of the City Council through proceeds generated from the East Link toll bridge. Dublin City Council annually receives a payment from East Link LTD to be awarded to community projects in the Docklands area. In excess of €61,000 was received by the Council for 2015 and has been divided between groups and projects across East Wall, North Wall and the North Strand. This allocation of funding will be formally agreed by the full City Council shortly.
DUBLIN CENTRAL NEIGHBOURHOOD AWARDS
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the East Wall Men’s Shed on winning the best Community Environmental Initiative award at the Dublin City Council Central Area Neighbourhood Awards in August and their subsequent second place at the City-wide awards in Croke Park recently. Congratulations to all those involved.