STONEYBATTER COMMUNITY UPDATE – Autumn 2013

11th November, 2013

STONEYBATTER POLICING MATTERS
Local residents have expressed their concern to both myself and Councillor Ray McAdam in recent days about the apparent increase in the number of attempted burglaries of homes across the district. This is a worrying development and it is one that we are liaising closely with Gardai in the Bridewell about. In recent months, local Gardai have had a number of operations in place designed to target those responsible for breaking into homes in the area. These operations have had some success with a number of arrests taking place for burglary offences, theft from the person and intent to sell and supply illegal drugs. Whilst these actions are welcome, both Councillor McAdam and I will continue to liaise closely with local Gardai in order to address the concerns highlighted with us recently.
ELECTRICAL GOODS RECYCLING DAY
WEEE Ireland in conjunction with Dublin City Council will hold a further electrical goods recycling day on Saturday October 26th. Householders will be able to dispose of items with a plug or battery free of charge in the car park of
TESCO CABRA on the Navan Road between 10am and 4pm. The type of items that you can dispose of include TVs and Aerials, Microwaves, IT Equipment, Dishwashers, Fridges and Freezers, Power Tools, battery operated toys and all waste batteries. If you require any further information on this, please get in touch with me at paschal.donohoe@oir.ie or check out WEEE Ireland’s website at www.recyclefree.ie.
HOME RENOVATION TAX INCENTIVE SCHEME
Minister Noonan announced last week in the Budget that people will be able to claim back VAT paid on home renovation or extension work. The VAT will be returned on amounts over €5000 and under €30,000, provided that the work is completed after January 1st next. This scheme will enable people to make improvements to their family home as well as creating jobs for small builders who have been hit hard by the economic crisis. In order to avail of the scheme, people must use a tax compliant and VAT registered contractor. Further details of the scheme can be found on www.revenue.ie but if you require more information, please email me at paschal.donohoe@oir.ie.
GRANGEGORMAN PLANNING UPDATE
The Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) will shortly appoint a contractor for completion of the Site Infrastructure and Public Realm aspect of the development. Works to be completed under this contract include the laying out of new roads and paths, services and the development of the new playing pitches in Grangegorman. It also includes the laying of a new surface water pipe from Grangegorman to Smithfield. Subject to the successful appointment, the contractor will be available with GDA staff in the GDA offices from 4pm to 8pm on Wednesday 23rd October to discuss the contract and these works will impact upon the local community.
The October meeting of the Community Liaison Committee was informed by the GDA that three new planning applications will be lodged with the City Council in the coming weeks. The new HSE Primary Care Centre will provide care services in the North-west inner city and will be located on the site of the old laundry building. Planning permission is also being sought to provide vehicular access at the new service entrance to the rear of homes on Grangegorman Villas. As part of the overall works to create the new entrance to Grangegorman at Broadstone and to facilitate Luas Cross City, Dublin Bus will lose some of their parking area in Broadstone. Therefore they are being provided with replacement bus parking facilities at Constitution Hill.
CROPPIES ACRE RENOVATION WORKS
Dublin City Council Parks Services are currently in discussions with the Office of Public Works with regard to formalising the taking in charge of the Croppies Acre. These discussions began in early June and it was agreed that until such time that a formal licensing agreement could be put in place the Parks Service would in the short term be prepared to take over the maintenance of the park. Since the takeover began on July 1st last, the Croppies Acre Park has been maintained on a continuous basis and is now in a better condition than it was earlier in the year. Before the Park is re-opened to the public, and Minister Brian Hayes has committed to its re-opening, major works will have to be undertaken. These works include an improvement to the existing footpath layout and general accessibility to the park as well as some minor design changes. In order to enable these works to take place, both Councillor Ray McAdam and I will be working to ensure that funding in the City Council’s Budget for 2014 which is expected to be adopted later this year.