Cabra Update October 09

16th October, 2009

This is an updated that I will be circulating soon for the Cabra district

October 2009.

Dear Resident

CABRA COMMUNITY UPDATE

I am writing to let you know of work that I am doing for the Cabra community and to update you on matters that may be of interest to you. I work on all of these matters with your local Fine Gael Councillor Mary O’Shea. Please contact either of us if we can ever be of help.

This letter contains an update on Gaelscoil Bharra, drainage proposals for Cabra, the provision of local social and affordable housing and other local matters.

My work in the Seanad

As a Senator representing the constituency of Dublin Central I do all I can to raise issues that matter to you. This leaflet provides an update on local matters. Other issues that I have recently worked on include:

The National Transport Regulator Bill of 2009. This Bill aims to provide a new legal framework for bus and train services across Ireland. I made many proposals to improve this law to provide for better and more effective services for passengers.

Reform of Leinster House expenses. I was the first member of the Oireachtas to call for the resignation of the last Ceann Comhairle and have championed the introduction of a vouched expenses system.

Fixing our Banking System. The NAMA legislation is due to the Seanad shortly. Fine Gael put forward our ‘good bank’ proposals to deliver a working bank system at less cost to the tax payer. I will continue to advocate this in the Seanad.

Gaelscoil Bharra

Since my election to Seanad Eireann I have always supported the need for Gaelscoil Bharra to be provided with a permanent building. The parents, teachers and students at this school deserve nothing less.I recently raised this issue with both Dublin City Council and the Department of Education. The City Council have confirmed their support for a permanent school on the current site. I have been informed by the Department of Education that discussions have now started regarding the potential design of the school. Through raising this regularly in the Seanad, media and elsewhere I will do all I can to help deliver this much needed school.

PLEASE TURN OVER

McKee Park Social and Senior Citizen Housing

Work is due to start on the building of a Dublin City Council complex on McKee Park. This will provide 37 senior citizen units and 1 social housing unit. It will consist of 36 one bedroom apartments and 2 two bedroom houses. Dublin City Council has informed me that this complex should be open by the end of next year. The City Council are due to confirm a start date for the work on this site soon. It is important that this project be delivered quickly as the planning for this project has now taken over 5 years.

Land Beside Church of the Most Precious Blood Update.

Dublin City Council is seeking to use the land between the Church and Dunmanus Road for the provision of further accommodation in the area. The Department of Environment has given initial approval for a social housing project on this site. The City Council’s proposal is currently at the detailed design stage and has yet to be submitted to the Department. As with the McKee Park complex I attended my first meeting on plans for this site in 2004! I will continue to push for progress on this site and will update those interested on any developments.

CABRA DRAINAGE PLANS

Parts of the Cabra community continue to be flooded. The City Council have prepared a plan to stop this happening again. Short term improvements have been made however larger work is required. Possible drainage improvement works identified so far include further work at the junction of Drumcliffe Road and Inver Road and the construction of a new pipeline from the junction of Bannow Road and Carnlough Road to the River Tolka. All of these options are been evaluated at the moment by the Drainage Department of Dublin City Council.

Councillor Mary O’Shea and I will push for this work to be finished and for a plan to be submitted to the Department of the Environment. I will then raise this in the Oireachtas. It is not good enough that residents live in fear of flooding and I will do all I can to help.