ARBOUR HILL TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT SCHEME — THE NEXT STEPS

Posted on November 9, 2018 by

As you know, I undertook an extensive consultation initiative across late September and early September to gauge your views and feedback on what the City Council envisages as being an effective plan to reduce vehicular speeds along Arbour Hill. So many of you came back to me sharing your thoughts, offering your opinions and assessment on the measures included in the draft Traffic Improvement Scheme for Arbour Hill. For that, I wish to thank you but because of the volume of emails, texts and Facebook messages I received, it has taken a little longer than expected to update you as to how we progress the Improvement Scheme from here.

I have been liaising with the Local Traffic Engineer in the Transportation Department of Dublin City Council to analyse your feedback and what changes or clarification is required prior to the scheme being finalised.

I am happy to report to you that Dublin City Council is advancing the tendering stage of this project and I expect that contractors will be appointed to complete the works in the coming weeks. However, due to the Garda Operation Freeflow beginning on November 28th next, it is likely that the construction work associated with the Traffic Improvement Scheme will take place until after Christmas.

Finally, I have compiled a further short questions & answers document which address the variety of questions, queries and issues raised during the consultative initiative earlier in the autumn for your information.

ARBOUR HILL TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS….

 

1. Will the footpath extend along Temple Street West?

Yes. The footpath will extend from the Museum entrance on Arbour Hill to Temple Street West and tie-in with the existing footpath.

2. Will there be some form of pedestrian crossing linking the north and south sides of Arbour Hill?

Yes. An uncontrolled pedestrian crossing will be installed near the Arbour Hill / Cavalry Row junction to facilitate north to south pedestrian movements.

In addition, a buildout will be installed on north side of Arbour Hill at the existing pedestrian crossing point near the Museum Entrance. This will slow traffic and reduce the distance pedestrians need to cross the road.

3. How wide will the footpath be?

The footpath will be a minimum of 1.8 meters wide. According to the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS), this is the minimum recommended footpath width for two wheelchairs to pass by each other.

4. Will there be cycle lanes?

Yes. There will be advisory cycle lanes on both sides of the road.

5. What types of trees will be planted?

Dublin City Council’s Parks Department will select the most suitable tree species depending on their suitability to setting, biodiversity value and visual appearance.

6. Will the existing cobblestones be retained?

The existing cobblestones have been incorporated into the detailed design and are likely to be retained in their current position.

7. Other traffic issues were raised, how and when will they be addressed?

The other traffic issues that were highlighted but not related to the scheme have been forwarded to the Traffic Advisory Group, which will present recommendations on each to the North Inner City Area Committee.

Posted in Arbour Hill, Dublin City Council, Fine Gael, Stoneybatter, Transportation | Leave a comment

Emmet Street / Great Charles Street Policing Matters – November 2018

Posted on November 8, 2018 by

Residents and householders on both streets highlighted to me problems with repeated incidents of anti-social behaviour. It was made clear to me that homes were being targeted by youths and that bangers and fireworks were being dumped through letterboxes and into local homes. Following my being made aware of the situation, I organised a meeting for residents with the Chief Superintendent in Mountjoy Garda Station prior to the recent Bank Holiday weekend. The key outcomes of the meeting include:

– A commitment by Chief Superintendent Dan Flavin to put in place a targeted Policing Operation to identify those responsible for this repeated anti-social and criminal behaviour.
– Inspector Mulligan has been tasked with overseeing this operation that will see both uniformed and plain clothes officers policing the area to tackle the problems residents have been experiencing.

The Chief Superintendent requested that any and all incidents of anti-social behaviour continue to be reported to Mountjoy Garda Station. You can report these incidents by:

– EMAIL:  DMR.NorthCentral.Community@Garda.ie

– PHONE: 01 666 8600

As your LOCAL Councillor but also as Chairperson of the Dublin Central Policing Committee, I would ask you to include me in any email reporting of incidents. My email address is RayMcAdam@gmail.com. I ask you to do this so that I can effectively monitor the situation but also to ensure that the Gardaí in Mountjoy continue to put the resources and personnel into policing the area visibly and deal with the problem in the most effective way possible.

Posted in City Centre, Clonliffe Road, Garda, North Circular Road | Leave a comment

Lisburn Street Planning Matters – November 2018

Posted on November 2, 2018 by

HSE lodge planning application for Health Centre at the corner of Lisburn Street and Coleraine Street.

LOCATION OF PLANNING APPLICATION:

HSE, Lisburn Street, Dublin 7 (Junction of Coleraine Street)

KEY POINTS OF PLANNING APPLICATION:

⁃ Demolition of the existing two single storey structures.

⁃ Restoration and repair of the existing building

⁃ Construction of two single storey extensions containing;

⁃ Shower and WC facilities at the rear,

⁃ Enlarging of an existing window for use as a new entrance door onto Coleraine Street,

⁃ and associated site works.

PLANNING REFERENCE NUMBER:

The Planning Reference Number for this application is 4238/18.

This planning application was lodged on October 24th 2018. Should you wish to see the full application it is available online at http://www.dublincity.ie.

Any resident or concerned third party can lodged an observation on the planning application. Any submission should be lodged in writing and sent to the Planning Department, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 2 inclusive of the €20 fee before November 27th 2018.

I am arranging a briefing for local residents with officials in the Planning Department of the City Council to outline the particulars of this planning application. If you would be interested in attending such a briefing, please let me know.

If you or your family have any questions or queries arising from the details provided above, please contact me at raymcadam@gmail.com.

Posted in Church Street, City Centre, Constitution Hill, Dublin City Council, Planning, Quays, Smithfield | Leave a comment

Pensions Reform Plan: Have your say

Posted on November 2, 2018 by

Since Regina Doherty T.D. was appointed Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, she identified that two-thirds of all private sector employees in this country have no workplace pension and are not saving for their retirement.

This means that many of these people will see an unwanted drop in their living standards when they retire. This paper is about introducing an Automatic Enrolment (AE) retirement savings system into workplaces to address this issue. When completed, this will be the largest reform of our pensions system in the history of the state.

An important part of this plan is the feedback obtained from people. So, please take 5 minutes to examine the full proposal which is available at https://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/Automatic_Enrolment_Strawman_Proposal.pdf

Minister Doherty and her Department ask that any feedback, observations or queries should be submitted by 4th November 2018 and should be forwarded by email to autoenrolment@welfare.ie. Minister Doherty has confirmed to me that all submissions will be acknowledged.

Posted in Arbour Hill, Ballybough, Church Street, City Centre, Clonliffe Road, Constitution Hill, East Wall, Fine Gael, Grangegorman, Montpelier, North Circular Road, North Strand, Pensions, Quays, Rathdown Road, Smithfield, Stoneybatter | Leave a comment

O’DEVANEY GARDENS CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP

Posted on October 22, 2018 by

  • LIFFEY SUITE, ASHLING HOTEL

  • Wednesday, 24th October from 6pm.

    • Ensuring that the redevelopment of O’Devaney Gardens is advanced and that new homes and better community services and space provided has been a key priority of mine since you first elected me to Dublin City Council in 2009.

    That work is now well underway but before final plans are advanced to An Bord Pleanala, the Community Consultative Forum, which I am a Co-Chairman, has organised a Community Consultative Workshop to update you on the works ongoing but to enable a conversation take place about how the final redevelopment will look, feel and how we ensure that our community has the services, amenities and facilities it needs to flourish even more.

    Therefore, I write to invite you to attend this Workshop next Wednesday, October 24th from 6pm in the LIFFEY SUITE of the ASHLING HOTEL on Parkgate Street.

    CONSTRUCTION WORK PROGRESS

    Demolition on the remaining two blocks of the original flats in O’Devaney Gardens is nearing completion. Construction work is well underway in delivering the first 56 new Public Homes with the laying of foundations nearly completed. Actual building work has started on these new homes with the contractor completing extensive drainage infrastructure works, diverting utility services and finalizing the realignment of the public road. An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D. visited O’Devaney in recent days where I along with our local Minster, Paschal Donohoe T.D. showed him the progress that is currently being made on site.

    ADVANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REMAINING O’DEVANEY GARDENS LANDS

    The Special Housing Delivery Team in Dublin City Council is continuing with the Competitive Dialogue Procurement Process to select a Contractor / Developer, who will be responsible for building the remaining 640 homes in line with the Revised Master Plan, agreed by Dublin City Council in January 2017. Currently, three candidates remain in contention. Prior, however to the City Council beginning the final phase of this Procurement Process, the Consultative Forum, of which I am a Co-Chairman, is hosting a Community Consultative Workshop so that local views and opinions can be included in the criteria being prepared to begin that final phase of the Procurement Process next month.

    INVITATION TO COMMUNITY CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP

    As one of the Community Consultative Forum Chairs, I ask that you come along to our Community Consultative Workshop in the LIFFEY SUITE, ASHLING HOTEL on Wednesday, 24th October 2018. Registration begins at 6pm with the Workshop starting at 7pm. As a resident and your LOCAL Councillor, I have always said that the redevelopment O’Devaney Gardens cannot be allowed to take place in isolation from the rest of Stoneybatter, Infirmary Road, Arbour Hill and Montpelier. That is why I ask you to consider coming along to take part in this consultative process, hear what is happening and how the redevelopment may have an effect on our community.

    WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR COMMUNITY CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP?

    Our Consultative Forum is seeking to bring together individuals, residents associations, community organizations and key local stakeholders to explore our ideas, hopes, concerns and opportunities that need to be addressed as part of the redevelopment of O’Devaney Gardens.

    Some of the things we intend to discuss on Wednesday, 24th October at our Community Consultative Workshop include:

    • Building design of the homes to be provided and the materials to be used as part of that process.

    • Planting and landscaping of the redevelopment.

    • Future identity of the O’Devaney Gardens lands. 

    • Safety during and following the construction works.

    • The provision of Community & Recreational facilities. 

    • Design of the Park & playground. 

    • Availability of car-parking and bicycle parking spaces.

    • Phasing of the redevelopment project. 

    • Permeability and accessibility of the proposed redevelopment. 

    This is not an exhaustive list and if there are other items that people wish to discuss, the Workshop will facilitate that.

    REGISTERING FOR THE COMMUNITY CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP

    If you intend coming along next Wednesday, please register at EVENTS.CONNECTTHEDOTS.IE/ODEVANEY. Alternatively, you can let me know you can attend by either:

    • TEXTING ‘ATTENDING O’DEVANEY WORKSHOP’ to 086 847 1720 along with your name and address.

    • EMAILING ‘ATTENDING O’DEVANEY WORKSHOP’ to RayMcAdam@gmail.com along with your name and address.

    I would ask you to register in advance of the Community Consultative Workshop so that I send can you a brief Questionnaire you can complete PRIOR to Wednesday’s Community Workshop. This is questionnaire is designed so that you can get the most out of the Consultative Workshop as possible but also to assist the Forum in working to ensure your views and suggestions are factored into the final criteria Dublin City Council will use to select the preferred Contractor / Developer to undertake the building of the remaining 640 homes planned for O’Devaney Gardens.

    FURTHER INFORMATION

    Between now and next Wednesday, if you have any questions or queries arising about the details outlined above or indeed, about the workshop itself, please contact me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com. I will endeavour to answer those enquiries as best I can.

    Posted in Arbour Hill, Church Street, Dublin City Council, Fine Gael, Grangegorman, Housing, Montpelier, North Circular Road, Quays, Smithfield, Stoneybatter | Leave a comment

    NORTH-EAST INNER CITY MATTERS – Sept/Oct. 2018

    Posted on October 22, 2018 by

    NORTH-EAST INNER CITY GREENING STRATEGY

    One of Kieran Mulvey’s key recommendations from his 2017 ‘Creating a Better Future’ Report was to improve the physical environment of the North-East Inner City. The City Council in partnership with the North-East Inner City Government Initiative has sought to implement this recommendation by preparing a Greening Strategy that identifies opportunities to develop and improve streetscapes and open spaces. The Greening Strategy has been developed in consultation with residents and community groups with the aim to improve the quality of life of local residents through greening enhancements of the physical environment. This strategy contains ideas and suggestions to enhance Diamond Park on Gardiner Street, Liberty Park, Mountjoy Square Park, open space within East Wall and develop a Linear Park along the Royal Canal. In addition, major tree-planting is put forward for Sean McDermott Street, Killarney Street, Summerhill, North Circular Road, Dorset Street and Caledon Road in East Wall. Smaller scale projects involving Oriel Street Upper, West Road, Railway Street, Belvedere Place and Forth Road have also been prepared. The formal Greening Strategy will be accessible online shortly for your review and consideration. In the interim, if you would like to receive a copy of the Greening Strategy, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

    FITZGIBBON STREET GARDA STATION – REFURBISHMENT WORKS

    As you know, our Fine Gael-led Government committed as part of the North Inner City Initiative that Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station would re-open. Since that commitment was made by former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D., planning permission has been approved for a significant extension to the rear to the existing building as well as a major refurbishment programme internally. €8m has been provided for this project. To date in 2018, asbestos removal has been completed with further enabling works occurring throughout the summer. Hoarding has been erected outside the site with major construction work underway. The new Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station is expected to open in December 2019. Both myself and Minister Paschal Donohoe will work to keep you updated of progress on the refurbishment and extension of the Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station across the coming weeks.

    HOUSING MATTERS

    Work is progressing well on new housing projects being funded by our Fine Gael Government. The two storey extension is nearing completion in St. Mary’s Mansions on Railway Street. The project is still on schedule for completion by July 2019. Foundations have been laid with construction on the basement area in the Oaklee site on Poplar Row well under way. The City Council expects that construction will shortly begin on 72 new homes on Dominick Street which should be completed in early 2020. Our Fine Gael Government is now considering an initial application for funding to allow for the redevelopment of Constitution Hill and Dorset Street complexes. Myself and Minister Donohoe recently met Matt Talbot Court residents to discuss how the City Council intends to advance the redevelopment of the complex and to improve the quality of housing for people. It is our intention to meet Dunne Street and North Clarence Street residents shortly to discuss similar regeneration plans for their complexes. Separately, Dublin City Council officials informed me that the Housing Department has examined the potential for building public housing on the Readymix site along the East Wall Road. That initial analysis has indicated that 86 apartments and 6 houses could be built along with some commercial or retail space. Our Fine Government has currently invested in 2018, €1.5 BILLION to build new homes for Dubliners with more than €105m alone here in the North Inner City. As your local Councillor, I am working with my colleagues in Government and City Council staff to ensure that new housing and better housing continues to be delivered across the North East Inner City.

    NORTH-EAST INNER CITY PRIMARY CARE CENTRE – SUMMERHILL

    Residents have been in touch with me about how the services to be provided in the new Primary Care Centre in Summerhill and how it will impact the existing North Strand Health Centre. The Health Services Executive has confirmed that Summerhill and Inns Quay Primary Care Teams and Network staff for Summerhill will be based in the new facility. Staff working in the Mental Health, Disabilities, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services as well G.P. services will be based in the Primary Care Centre. The North Strand Team will remain in North Strand Health Centre. Should individuals be unable to make it to the North Strand Health Centre, they will be accommodated in the Primary Care Centre in Summerhill. The new facility will be open between 7am and 8pm, Monday to Friday. It is anticipated that this major new health facility which serve the communities of the North-East Inner City will open next month.

    GARDA YOUTH AWARDS 2018

    Applications are now being accepted for the annual Dublin North Central Garda Youth Awards in association with Croke Park.  These awards celebrate outstanding young people between 13 and 21 years of age and recognise the good work being done by young people throughout the communities of the North-East Inner City. Awards will be considered for nominated young people who by their presence make their communities a better place to live. The Dublin North Central Garda Division covers Mountjoy, Fitzgibbon Street, Bridewell and Strore Street Garda Stations. This year’s Garda Youth Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 17th. Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.crokepark.ie.

    €107,846 FUNDING FOR YOUTH PROJECTS IN THE NORTH INNER CITY

    Local youth projects in the North Inner City will receive €107,846 funding from new Government capital grants. This funding is going to be of huge benefit to young people here in the North Inner City as they will improve the quality of the services on which local young people rely. Projects including The Cavan Centre, An Siol Child & Youth Services, SWAN St. Agatha’s Hall & North Wall Development Group, Bradóg RYS, East Wall / North Port Youth Development Group and Belvedere Youth Club are all set to benefit from this support from our Fine Gael Government. Investing in and supporting young people are a key priority for this Government. Thanks to our strengthened economy, the Government is able to improve supports to the communities who need it most.

    PUBLIC LIGHTING UPGRADE

    The Public Lighting Section of Dublin City Council is currently upgrading the quality of street lights across the North East Inner City. This has involved the upgrading of 660 lights to LED lights. To date, street lights have been upgraded along Beaver Close, Beaver Street, Bella Avenue, Bella Street, Clarence Street Great North, Dunne Street, Emmet Street, Portland Place, Portland Street North, Richmond Crescent, Richmond Street North, Rutland Place, Simmons Place, Summerhill, Summerhill Parade, Terrace Place, Thompson Cottages and William Street North. This programme will continue across remaining streets in the North Strand across the coming months.

    TRAFFIC MATTERS

    • A request for Pay & Display and Permit Parking on Portland Place has been rejected following a ballot of residents. 12 votes were cast with 3 in FAVOUR and 9 AGAINST.

    • A new Set-down area outside Summerhill Court has been approved by Traffic Engineers.

    • The request for the installation of Double Yellow Lines on Charleville Mall has not yet been decided upon.

    • A decision is still outstanding as to whether a Pedestrian Crossing should be put in place in Summerhill to allow for safe access to Smith’s Pharmacy.

    NORTH INNER CITY FOLKLORE PROJECT

    Last month, I was honoured to be present as former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D. along with myself and former Lord Mayor, Christy Burke, officially opened the North Inner City Folklore project on Railway Street. Terry Fagan has curated a brilliant collection of stories, artefacts and memorabilia about years gone and what life was like to live in, grow up in and to raise a family in the North Inner City. I was delighted to be there and to see Terry and his team get the just recognition they deserve and to have an appropriate premises to house this collection.

    REDEVELOPMENT OF SEAN McDERMOTT STREET CONVENT LANDS

    A coalition of Independent, Green, Social Democrat, Labour and Fianna Fail Councillors voted to stop the redevelopment of the former Convent Lands on Sean McDermott Street. This group of Councillors voted NO to investment of €14m in the North-East Inner City. They voted No to jobs, No to public housing for our senior citizens. No to Commercial, Retail and Hotel facilities. No to community, cultural and artistic space. This group of Councillors voted NO to providing an appropriate space to remember those women who were inhumanly treated in the Magdalen Laundry. I voted IN FAVOUR of this proposal. I voted IN FAVOUR for a positive future for the North-East Inner City.

    Posted in Ballybough, City Centre, Dublin City Council, East Wall, Fine Gael, Housing, North Strand, North Wall, Planning | Leave a comment

    Rathdown Road Planning Matters – October 2018

    Posted on October 20, 2018 by

    Given the interest and concern expressed previously when an application for planning permission was sought on the former Christian Brothers lands at 274 North Circular Road, I wanted to notify you of details of the latest planning application for the redevelopment of the Nolan Seafoods site to the rear of homes on Rathdown Road.

    WHAT PLANNING PROCESS IS INVOLVED?
    NTM ROI Seed Capital LP submitted an application with An Bord Pleanála on October 10th last for planning permission for a strategic housing development under the Planning & Development (Strategic Housing Development) Regulations 2017 as provided for under the Planning & Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act, 2016.

    LOCATION OF PLANNING APPLICATION:
    Nolan Seafoods Ltd, Rathdown Road, Dublin 7.

    KEY POINTS OF PLANNING APPLICATION:
    • Demolition of existing buildings on the site and the construction of purpose built student accommodation development, comprising:

    o 289x student bed-spaces within two separate development blocks.

    • Block A is proposed to be 3x storeys high, comprising:

    o 88x student bed-spaces
    o 191.5 square metres of amenity space.

    • Block B is to be 8x storeys high, inclusive of an enclosed plant which is to be located adjacent to the Grangegorman LUAS stop, in total, comprising:

    o 201x student bed-spaces
    o 347 square metres of amenity space.

    • 6x Disabled access bed-spaces to be provided within the proposed development.
    • The proposed development also includes:

    o Central Courtyard,
    o Roof Terrace
    o Balconies
    o Gym
    o TV & Study areas
    o Cinema Room
    o Lounge Areas

    • 90x Bicycle Parking spaces to be located across the proposed development site.
    • Pedestrian access to the redevelopment to be located at the Northern end of the site.
    • Planned upgrade of the access laneway from Rathdown Road and provision of a pedestrian access route.

    PLANNING REFERENCE NUMBER:
    The Case No. assigned by An Bord Pleanála to this planning application is 302749.

    PLANNING REGSITRATION DETAILS:
    Officials in An Bord Pleanála have advised me that this planning application was lodged on October 10th 2018. Should you wish to see the full application and all documentation submitted to An Bord Pleanála, it is available online at http://www.highfieldparkshd.com. Should you wish to lodge an observation on the planning application, it should lodged in writing to Strategic Housing Unit, An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902 inclusive of the €20 fee on or before November 13th 2018.

    WHEN IS A DECISION DUE TO BE MADE ON THIS PLANNING APPLICATION?
    An Bord Pleanála is requested under the Planning & Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act, 2016 to set an indicative date upon which a final decision is to be made as to whether planning permission is approved or not. A decision is expected to be made on this planning application by February 7th, 2019.

    Posted in Grangegorman, Phibsborough, Planning, Rathdown Road | Leave a comment