Dear Resident
FINE GAEL GLASNEVIN UPDATE
Please find an update on local matters in the local community. If I can help you with these or any other matters do not hesitate to contact me.
Senator Paschal Donohoe
Thank you again for your support and kindness during the General Election campaign. I am very grateful to you all for your support and will continue to do my best on behalf of the area. As you may be aware, I was recently elected to serve in Seanad Eireann. This will allow me to raise local issues on a national stage and more effectively represent the community. In the last number of days I have raised matters of concern with the government such as the need for better planning of local health services and how we can make protect our Gardai as they carry out their duties.
Introducing – Mary O’Shea
Mary O’Shea will be co-opted to Dublin City Council on October 2nd as my replacement. As a senator I can no longer serve as a City Councillor. Mary has lived in our community for the last 15 years. She is originally from Kerry, and is a law graduate from Trinity College Dublin. She has worked as a solicitor and has been a very active member of Fine Gael for many years. She has a teenage daughter and lives in Dalcassian Downs. I am delighted that Mary will be joining the Council as I know she will do an excellent job as a City Councillor.
Future of Smurfit Land – Phibsborough Local Area Plan
The Phibsborough Local Area Plan is designed to allow us to better plan for the development of the area by establishing targets for local amenities and infrastructure. The area of this plan was expanded to include the Smurfit Site in Glasnevin. This is because of the size of the land and the impact that it’s eventual development will have on the surrounding community. Dublin City Council recently presented a pre-draft plan to local resident associations and representatives. This was to consult prior to the display of the draft plan in the near future. This will then begin the statutory process which may result in Dublin City Council adopting this plan by the end of the year. In this plan they proposed a number of suggestions in relation the Smurfit lands. They include the provision of:-
· A major pedestrian route.
· A community facility (no further details suggested).
· A range of housing options.
There will be many opportunities to give suggestions into this plan for the land. The first of these is to provide submissions to the Draft Plan. This must be done by Friday 5th October by e-mail at planning@dublincity.ie or to Tom Vaughan, Administrative Officer, Planning Department, Dublin City Council, Block 4, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. Amongst the points that could be included in such a submission are:-
· Development requirements for the perimeter of the site. We need to ensure that homes adjacent to this site are not badly affected by future development. It is important that the more substantial development takes place in the centre of the site.
· Provision of Additional Community Facilities. This land is ideally suited to provide much needed amenities for the local area eg a community hall, youth facilities etc.
· Involvement of An Garda Siochana in the plan to ensure all new and existing public areas can be effectively policed.
De Courcey Square Update
The City Council is in the final stages of completing purchase of the allotment land in de Courcey Square. They have identified a number of projects to be implemented in this area once the purchase is complete including railings ands path works. I will work with the City Council to have this completed as soon as possible.
Local Resident Match Day Parking Scheme
Legislation was published this year giving local authorities the power to implement local parking schemes in response to major sporting events. Dublin City Council published a report in September proposing an implementation scheme for resident only match day parking in a 1square kilometre zone of Croke Park. This plan will be used to prepare draft by laws which should be made available for public consultation by the end of this year. The local Fine Gael team will be working to deliver:-
1. A fair and effective operation zone is put in place.
2. Local residents are not charged for the scheme.
3. Provision of Park and Ride Facilities.
Metro North
It is likely that Metro North will run under a number of local homes. I am calling on the Government and RPA to develop a Metro Charter so that local residents understand their rights and how they can most effectively communicate with the RPA. I am raising this issue in the Oireachtas to ensure that affected residents are recognised and responded to in the ongoing works that will take place during this massive infrastructure project.
Yours sincerely
Senator Paschal Donohoe