NORTH STRAND MATTERS – March 2024

STRENGTHENING NORTH STRAND COMMUNITY POLICING

The need for a more visible community Garda presence has been raised with me as I have spoken to residents over the last few weeks. The importance of such increased visibility was reiterated to me by residents along Clonmore Road, Charleville Avenue and Bayview Avenue following intimidatory anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and incidents of car vandalism.

MEETING WITH FITZGIBBON STREET SUPERINTENDENT

Last Thursday, I met Superintendent Brennan from Fitzgibbon Street to impress upon him the importance of maximising the increased resources available, given that another 19 officers have been assigned to our area following their graduation from Templemore last week. This is on top of the 115 officers assigned to Dublin stations prior to Christmas. At present, there are 16 Garda officers and 3 Sergeants assigned to Community Policing divided across four separate teams serving the communities along the North Strand. With additional recruits due to be assigned to the district across 2024, the Superintendent intends activating a dedicated Crime Prevention Unit which will further enhance the level and visibility of community policing locally. Strengthening community policing is a vital step to:

• Act as a deterrent for all anti-social and criminal behaviour,
• Improve local Garda visibility,
• Ensure those who attempt and engage in anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour in the North Strand area are identified and apprehended swiftly.

This initiative is an important step that will enhance the feeling of being safe, and secure on your own street and within your own neighbourhood.

ALWAYS LISTENING, ENGAGING & COMMUNICATING

Be it through our WhatsApp conversations, community group chats or meeting you at the door to your home, I know that many of you along the North Strand have been concerned about policing in the area in recent months. I heard you. I listened to what you had to say and as a result, I engaged directly with the Superintendent in Fitzgibbon Street. The assignment of a further 19 Gardaí locally and strengthening of the Community Policing Team in Fitzgibbon Street will, I believe, significantly improve the visibility of the Gardaí in the area and assist in tackling the issues and problems which have been of concern to you. As YOUR local Councillor, I will continue to work with local Garda Management to ensure that that the strength of this Community Policing unit is enhanced as and when new Garda recruits are assigned to the district over the course of this year and into 2025.

SHAMROCK TERRACE RECYCLING FACILITY – DEFINITIVE COMMITMENT ABOUT ITS FUTURE

Many householders across the area have been in touch with me again in recent days expressing concern about the Shamrock Terrace Recycling Centre, amid further rumours of its possible downgrading. On foot of these concerns, I wrote to Derek Kelly, DCC Executive Manager – Environment & Climate Change requesting “a clear and unequivocal statement from Waste Management that the Shamrock Terrace recycling centre is not under an threat of closure or downgrading and that Dublin City Council intends to maximise the level of services that can be provided at this facility going forward and that the staff located there would be DCC employees.” I am pleased to report that Mr. Kelly has confirmed in writing that “Waste Management Services have no plans to close, or downgrade in any way the services currently on offer at Shamrock Terrace Recycling Centre.” I obviously, much welcome this confirmation and I am pleased to provide this certainty to you. While officials consider potential actions to enhance existing services, I wanted, as YOUR local Councillor to get your views as to how you think Dublin City Council can further improve service levels at the Shamrock Terrace facility. So, I’d welcome your thoughts on the existing hours of operation, are there other services you would like to see provided, how we can encourage more households use the facility or any other suggestion you may have. Please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com your thoughts.

TACKLING ILLEGAL USE OF E-BIKES, SCRAMBLERS AND E-SCOOTERS

The Gardai, this month, have successfully targeted the illegal use of motorbikes and scramblers, as part of new legislation introduced by the Government. The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 has enabled the Gardai to seize 11 scrambler bikes, 2 E-Scooters, 10 Electric Bikes, 2 stolen High-Powered Motorbikes, and one Quad Bike. Some of the vehicles seized were being used to transport drugs as well as being used to commit dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour. These targeted operations are being led by Garda officers focused on effectively tackling criminality associated with the use of the machines. The Assistant Garda Commissioner with responsibility for Dublin has reassured me that this initiative will continue across the spring and into the summer in order to remove these vehicles involved with either criminal activity or dangerous driving. For more information on the Garda activity in respect of this problem, please get in touch with me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

KEEPING YOU UPDATED ON READYMIX SITE REDEVELOPMENT

Officials in the Housing Department of Dublin City Council have confirmed to me that it will, in all likelihood by the end of 2024 before any works will start on the former Readymix site, as part of the redevelopment plan. Work is being undertaken to complete tender documentation to select a contractor for the construction phase of the project. Separately, I have sought a commitment from the Chief Executive of Dublin City Council to establish a Community Consultative Forum so that local residents can be fully engaged, informed and central to the project. For the last number of years, I have co-Chaired the O’Devaney Gardens redevelopment Community Consultative Forum which includes residents, Council officials and representatives of the contractors on-site. This structure has ensured that free flow of information and has enabled that local residents are fully updated of planned works. It is my view that Clonmel Enterprises having to vacate the Readymix site by the end of September, the proposed Community Forum should be established quickly thereafter. I will keep you updated of developments in respect of the proposed Community Forum.

IMPROVING FAIRVIEW PARK PUBLIC LIGHTING

When I spoke with many of you last month about my plan to make Fairview Park safer and more secure, the need for improved public lighting in the park was raised. While I was glad that many of you who frequent Fairview Park have experienced the improved visible Garda presence, reiterated to me the feeling that it was simply too dark and poorly lit, especially during the autumn and winter months. The next stage in my efforts to enhance the appearance of Fairview Park and provide a greater sense of safety inside it, is to secure improved public lighting there. I have asked the Parks Department of Dublin City Council and the Public Lighting Section to examine where additional lighting columns can be installed and how the existing lighting levels can be improved. I expect to have a detailed update for you on this after Easter. If you would like further information on how, I believe, Fairview Park can be made safer and better of all users, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com or WhatsApp me on 086 – 847 1720.

HSE ROLLS OUT MEASLES MMR VACCINE CATCH-UP PROGRAMME

As YOUR local Councillor and member of the HSE Regional Health Forum, I recently sought specific information from HSE officials about developing an awareness campaign against the threat posed by measles to children and young adults in particular. This week, I was pleased to be provided with details of the HSE’s new MMR vaccine catch up programme. Given how highly infectious measles is and can be an acute and serious infection, the only protection against it is vaccination. Two doses of MMR vaccine are needed and if a child or young adult is not fully protected then MMR vaccines can be obtained from your GP or HSE Vaccination Clinic, details of which are available here – https://www2.hse.ie/services/mmr-vaccine/vaccination-clinics/. The campaign focuses on delivering the MMR vaccine to key groups, who may have missed their vaccines in the past, including children, young adults and health and care workers. For more information, check out my dedicated information page on www.RayMcAdam.com.

DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THOSE WHO SHOW UP!

Finally, with elections later this year, I am working to ensure local residents are registered to vote so that they can fully exercise their democratic right in those elections and vote for candidates active on the ground. You can register to vote here – https://www.electoralcommission.ie/referendums/check-the-register/. Remember, decisions are made by those who turn up. Make sure you are registered to vote and have the opportunity to have your say on who represents the North Strand on Dublin City Council over the next five years.

FREE BOOKS FOR JUNIOR CERT STUDENTS FROM SEPTEMBER

Free schoolbooks will be available for junior cycle students in public secondary schools and special schools from September. This landmark scheme will help ease the financial burden facing families during back-to-school time from September. It will offer free schoolbooks, and core classroom resources for all students in Junior Cycle years in secondary in the free scheme in the 2024/25 school year, which will help parents and guardians with the pressures of back-to-school costs every year. The announcement also delivers on Fine Gael’s commitment to have a first-class education system, which was contained in the Fine Gael 2020 General Election manifesto. As with the primary scheme, schools have the flexibility to use funding to purchase classroom resources to meet the specific learning needs of students once the cost of schoolbooks and core classroom resources are met. This flexibility is particularly important for students with special educational needs.