ELECTRICAL GOODS RECYCLING DAY
WEEE Ireland in conjunction with Dublin City Council will hold an electrical goods recycling day on Saturday July 20th. Householders will be able to dispose of items with a plug or battery free of charge in the Grangegorman Bring Centre between 10am and 4pm. The type of items that can be disposed of include TVs and Aerials, Microwaves, IT Equipment, Dishwashers, Fridges and Freezers, Power Tools, Battery operated toys in addition to all waste batteries. Further information is available on WEEE Ireland’s website at www.recyclefree.ie.
GARDA OPERATION TO TACKLE ‘DRINKING PARTIES’
The recent spell of good weather has led to problems of social media organised ‘raves’ and ‘drinking parties’ in public parks and locations across Dublin Central. Local residents have highlighted their concerns with me about this phenomenon and I have been liaising with local Gardaí to address the problem. Superintendent Ward has advised me that a Garda operation is now in place where officers across all local stations are monitoring the publicity for such events. In addition to this, specific locations that have played host to such events in recent days will have a more visible Garda presence in situ to prevent similar incidents occurring. The Gardaí are also carrying out a number of ‘test purchases’ of alcohol in licenced premises to establish who is selling alcohol to minors. To date, four premises have been caught selling alcohol to children under the age of 18 and appropriate action is expected.
COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEME 2013
Dublin City Council allocated almost €60,000 in small grants to clubs, projects and Residents’ Associations across Dublin Central this year. Of that allocation more than €4,400 has been distributed to twelve groups and projects located across the Phibsborough district. The purpose of the community grants scheme is to encourage and support local people to undertake small improvements in their neighbourhood, to organise a community festival or event or to provide assistance to projects for the elderly or the vulnerable in our community.
DOYLE’S CORNER TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
Many people have expressed their concern to me about the safety of pedestrians at Doyle’s Corner because of motorists breaking the lights. Local parents and elderly residents have contacted me asking that action be taken to end this practice. The Gardaí have advised me that a highly visible Garda presence will be maintained at Doyle’s Corner across the coming weeks at morning and evening rush hour to tackle this problem. Following this operation, a report will be provided to me by the Traffic Corps Sergeant. I hope that such work by the Gardaí will help to make this junction a lot safer for pedestrians and motorists alike.
CONCENTRATION OF TREATMENT FACILITIES IN PHIBSBOROUGH
The clustering of residential and treatment facilities across the Phibsborough district is an issue that continues to be raised with me at local community meetings and forums. Many of the concerns relate to the sheer number of such facilities in the area. Questions include: how they are run, whether they receive support from State Agencies like the HSE and Dublin City Council for example and if minimum regulatory standards are being met? I have been working with your local Fine Gael Councillors to ensure that inspections are undertaken by the Environmental Health Officer and the Planning Enforcement Section of the City Council. A lot of the concern expressed by local residents has focused on the recent rise in anti-social and criminal behaviour and whether the locating of such social facilities has contributed to the problem. I recently met with local officers in Mountjoy Station to discuss this situation and they assured me that sufficient Garda resources are in place to respond strongly to such concerns.
CITY COUNCIL TACKLING POOR PRIVATELY RENTED PROPERTIES
Environmental Health Officers continue to inspect multi-unit privately rented properties along the North Circular Road, across Phibsborough and other parts of the city. Since the programme of inspections started twelve months ago, more than 3,200 rented buildings have been inspected. In excess of 70% of these properties failed to meet the minimum standard of accommodation as set out in legislation regulating the area. The City Council has also served fifteen prohibition notices on landlords that have failed to upgrade the units they have rented out. Thirty-six prosecutions have now been initiated by the Principal Environmental Health Officer in the Courts for failure to comply with improvement orders. As the number of people opting to rent properties rather than buying their own homes is rising, it is important that we ensure that those renting live in a minimum standard of accommodation.