Stoneybatter Community Update

13th October, 2016

I am writing to provide you with an update on some local issues which may be of interest to you. I continue to work closely with Councillor Ray McAdam on all local matters. Please contact either one of us if we can be of help to you or your family.

 

NORTH CIRCULAR ROAD ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

A number of residents in Rathdown Square contacted me recently with regards ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour at the bus-stop on the North Circular Road . After receiving that correspondence, I contacted the Gardai requesting that action be taken to tackle the situation. Community Gardai in the Bridewell subsequently put in place a police operation to identify those involved and take whatever necessary action. Garda Pimlott has since advised me that a number of individuals have been identified with the Gardai issuing four anti-social behaviour orders to those involved. The Gardai will continue to closely monitor the stretch of the North Circular Road in the vicinity of Rathdown Square so that this situation does not re-emerge.

 

PARK SHOPPING CENTRE – PLANS FOR REDEVELOPMENT

Both Councillor Ray McAdam and I attended a recent Public Information meeting organised by the owners of the Park Shopping Centre which provided initial details of the proposed redevelopment of the shopping centre site. While a formal application for planning permission will not be lodged for a number of weeks, some details have been shared with us including:

  • The demolition of all existing buildings.
  • Construction of three separate development blocks, which are to be between five and seven storeys high.
  • Purpose built student accommodation will be provided above the retail units comprising of 568 separate bed spaces.
  • TESCO will remain in the redevelopment as the main retail outlet.

As soon as a formal planning application is lodged and registered with Dublin City Council, myself and Councillor Ray McAdam will provide you with a detailed update outlining the main aspects of the application and how you can view those proposals.

 

O’DEVANEY GARDENS REGENERATION – UPDATE

Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government convened a meeting of the Chairpersons of the City Council’s Strategic Policy Committees at the beginning of September last to discuss the parameters upon which the redevelopment of O’Devaney Gardens is advanced. An agreement was reached whereby Minister Coveney committed the Government to fund the construction of social housing on the site, which will amount to 30% of the total redevelopment. Half of the redevelopment will be for private housing with the remaining 20% yet to be determined but an affordable rental model is to be considered. A project team comprising Council officials and representatives from the Department have had initial meetings in order to implement the agreement reached. Consultation with the local community is essential however and I believe that Dublin City Council should engage with the community in advance of a planning application being initiated. If not, Councillor McAdam and I will then seek to establish a local forum that will provide for a community-wide discussion as to how the redevelopment is advanced in line with the wishes of the remaining residents in O’Devaney Gardens, the surrounding area and the objectives set out in the new Dublin City Development Plan 2016 – 2022 that will come into effect from this month.

 


 

CITY COUNCIL PREPARATIONS FOR HALLOWEEN

Dublin Central Area officials in Dublin City Council have been making preparations for Halloween since June. Meetings have been taking place between the Housing, Public Domain Unit and Waste Management Departments of Dublin City Council with local Gardai. Removal of bonfire materials such as tyres and pallets has been taking place throughout the summer. On-site inspections of tyre garages by the Waste Enforcement Section are continuing in order to ensure that garages are in compliance with new tyre disposal regulations introduced last year by the Government. If you notice stockpiles of bonfire materials, please report those sightings to Dublin City Council at 1800 248 348.

 

 

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY GRANTS 2017

Dublin City Council has launched its Community Grants Scheme for 2017. The purpose of the Scheme is to support community participation and involvement for the greater good. There are two different application forms available under the scheme this year. One is for a Community Grant and the other is for the separate category of Informal Adult Education. Both forms are available in Irish and can be downloaded from the Dublin City Council website at www.dublincity.ie. The closing date for the receipt of applications is October 28th next. If you are involved in a local community group or residents’ association and have questions or queries about the Community Grants scheme, please contact me at paschal.donohoe@oir.ie.

 

GRANGEGORMAN S.D.Z. SCHEME – AMENDMENT TO BE PROGRESSED

The Deputy City Planner recently confirmed to both myself and Councillor Ray McAdam that Dublin City Council intends to make an application to An Bord Pleanala seeking to amend the Grangegorman Strategic Development Zone Planning scheme. This application will be made as the existing scheme only allows for a sixteen classroom national school to be built. However, following analysis by the Department of Education of the population change in the Dublin 7 Educate Together National School catchment area, a three stream or a 24 classroom school is now required. An Bord Plenala, on receipt of this application, must determine whether the amendment is a material or a non-material change. In accordance with the Planning & Development Act 2015, should An Bord Pleanala decide that this change represents a material amendment, Dublin City Council will be obliged to hold a four week public consultation process. Provision is also made for submissions or observations to be lodged by members of the public, after which the Chief Executive of Dublin City Council will submit a report on those submissions to the Board. A final decision on whether the amendment is successful is for An Bord Pleanala to make.

 

STONEYBATTER ROADS IMPROVEMENT WORKS 2016

Following work by myself and Councillor Ray McAdam, a commitment was made by the Roads Maintenance Division of Dublin City Council that a three year programme of road improvements would take place across Stoneybatter. Part of that commitment involved the allocation of €50,000 towards improvement works that will take place in 2016. Councillor McAdam and I have been working with the Roads Maintenance Division in order to determine how this year’s allocation of €50,000 should be spent. After meeting with and talking to neighbours and local residents, I have been highlighting the streets where re-surfacing and other improvement works are necessary. Following this engagement, it has now been determined that the Road Maintenance Services will re-surface Sigurd Road and upgrade sections of Halliday Road, Ostman Place and Ivar Street. The re-surfacing works are likely to begin towards the end of October with a contractor being appointed by Dublin City Council by mid-October.