PHIBSBOROUGH AND DISTRICT LOCAL UPDATE – Jan 08

12th January, 2008

Dear Resident,

Please find an update on matters in the local community. If I can help you with these or any other issues do not hesitate to contact me.


REPRESENTING YOU IN SEANAD EIREANN

As a Senator I work on legislation and issues that are important nationally and which have an impact on our local community. The main areas that I am focusing on at the moment include:-

  • The Dublin Transport Authority: legislation due later this month to set up an organisation to deliver strategic planning for the transport needs of the Dublin region.
  • Standards in rental accommodation: to ensure that updated legislation is stronger to protect both those living in and near private rental accommodation.
  • Health Service Executive Funding of Local Facilities: working to make sure that local health centres and facilities are not jepordised by HSE cutbacks.

Development of the Grangegorman Site

A new draft strategy for the future development of our city has just been published by Dublin City Council – ‘Maximising the City’s Potential’. This draft strategy outlines areas the Council has earmarked as suitable for intensive development and high-rise buildings. The Grangegorman DIT campus has been nominated as one such area. The draft strategy suggests high-rise and landmark buildings on this land. This development will be guided by the Framework Development Plan developed by the Grangegorman Development Agency. The draft strategy is available on www.dublincity.ie.

If you cannot access this please contact me and I will arrange for a copy to be sent to you. Should you wish to make a submission to the Draft Strategy it must be submitted by Friday, 7th March by email at planning@dublincity.ie or to the Executive Manager, Planning and Economic Development Department, Block 4, Floor 3, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.


Phibsborough Local Area DRAFT Plan

This plan will go on public consultation across February. As a local public representative I have been briefed on the draft plan. The below summarises some of the key points:-

  • The provision of a number of new pedestrian walkways linking Dalymount Park to Mountjoy, a canal walkway along the Shandon Bakery Site and alongside the Royal Canal Basin.
  • The council plans to keep the area as a low-rise village at four to six storeys with a small number of buildings of up to eight storeys.
  • Two to three “landmark buildings” will be allowed. These are likely to be high rise and will be stand-alone structures rather than part of a high-rise cluster.
  • New Schools with the plan identifying the need for 3 new schools in the area: 2 Primary and 1 Secondary. The sites for such schools have yet to be identified.
  • The plan recommends the provision of a new Phibsborough train station at Cross Guns Bridge.

Private development sites in the area warrant particular attention. The below proposals will require a change in the zoning status of the land.

The Bakery Site at Cross Guns Bridge is the subject of a current planning application. This application seeks permission of the construction of a number of apartment blocks, 8 stories in height and of a 13 storey tower housing medical consultancy rooms. The draft plan proposes a lower level building with fewer stories.

Phibsborough Shopping Centre and Dalymount Park to become the site of a new village centre and plaza.

The Mountjoy Site is identified as a site suitable for a mixed use development providing family oriented housing and community facilities such a school or sports facility.

Once the draft plan is published there will be a consultation process where interested parties will be invited to make observations and submissions on the plan. Once the consultative process is complete, local Councillors can decide to adopt, reject or modify the Area Plan based on the issues raised during the public consultation.

I hope this information has been of benefit to you. I want to ensure that we can put together the best plan for our area to ensure that we will have a vibrant, safe and pleasant community in which to live and work, so if you have any concerns arising from the information in this leaflet or wish to receive further information on the Draft Area Plan please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Wishes

Paschal Donohoe

Fine Gael Senator- DUBLIN CENTRAL