Arbour Hill, Infirmary Road & Montpelier Matters – Autumn 2017 

GARDAĺ TACKLING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Over recent weeks, Gardaí from the Bridewell have been involved in targeted operations designed to tackle problems with drug use, public drinking, theft of vehicles and anti-social behaviour taking place throughout Montpelier, Stoneybatter and on Infirmary Road. Those initiatives have involved on-foot patrols, air support unit and mounted patrols. Operation Target has been in place in the Montpelier, Infirmary Road and North Circular Road areas for some time in a bid to identify those involved. This action has been part of a wide Garda initiative in the North Inner City which has seen 775 anti-social behavioural orders issued so far this year with 903 arrests for Public Order offences since the start of 2017. Locally, Garda officers have sought specific bail conditions to be included as part of District Court hearings following the public order arrests. I am glad to report that conditions not to enter or approach our area district have been successfully issued as part of the bail conditions, which is welcome news! The visible Garda approach will be continued by Community Policing Officers from the Bridewell over the coming weeks. Both Minister Donohoe and I will work to keep you updated of further progress being made in respect of reducing the amount of anti-social behaviour experienced since the summer.

LIFFEY CYCLE ROUTE – PROJECT SUSPENDED!

Following the very unsatisfactory manner in how Dublin City Council advanced a variety of options for the delivery of the Liffey Cycle Route, the National Transport Authority has directed the Council to suspend all works on the project. The National Transport Authority has now indicated that an Independent Third Party will undertake a review of the entire project and the various proposals that have published with regards how the Liffey Cycle Route can be delivered. Over the past twelve months, I have reiterated my opposition to Option 7 given the potential impact this proposal would have on Stoneybatter, Infirmary Road, Arbour Hill, Smithfield and the wider north-west inner city. No timeline has been provided by the National Transport Authority for the completion of this independent review and as Chairman of the North Inner City Area Committee, I have already sought a firm commitment from the National Transport Authority that the local community will be afforded the opportunity to input directly into this review. With that in mind, I invited the Save our Streets Campaign to speak at the North Inner City Area Committee meeting in City Hall on October 10th last to begin that process.

 

COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEME 2018 – APPLICATION PROCESS OPEN!

The Dublin City Council Community Grant Scheme is now open for applications. The closing date is the 27th October 2017. All applicants for the 2017 scheme will be sent an application form for next year’s scheme. ALL APPLICATIONS should be returned to: Community and Social Development, Block 3, Floor 1, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. More information can be accessed through http://www.dublincity.ie or by contacting the Community & Social Section of the Council at Tel:2222148 or by email at doce@dublincity.ie.

 

STONEYBATTER SUCCESS IN NEIGHBOURHOOD AWARDS

Stoneybatter enjoyed great success at the local and city-wide Neighbourhood Awards recently. Among the local winners were IUNVA, Infirmary Road & District Environmental & Community Group, Stoneybatter Pride of Place, Gerard Scully, Manor Street/Stoneybatter Residents & Traders’ Association, St. Gabriel’s National School, Kirwan Street and Kirwan Street Cottages and Bi Urban. These winners went on represent the North Inner City at the City Neighbourhood Awards in Croke Park last week where Stoneybatter had another successful evening, where:

• Pride of Place was the Joint Winner of the Team Dublin Clean-up.

• Manor Street and Stoneybatter Residents & Business Association came 2nd for the Best Urban Village.

• Kirwan Street & Cottages Residents Association were 2nd in the Under 150 Dwellings Category.

• Infirmary Road & District Environmental and Community Group finished 3rd in the Over 150 Dwellings Category.

• Gerard Scully, Ashford Cottages deservedly won 2nd place in the Individual Endeavour Category.

Congratulations to everyone involved and to each of the winners and for the huge work you do to further enhance your own ‘little patch’!

ED SHEERAN CONCERTS – MAY 2018

Aiken Promotions has formally lodged an application with Dublin City Council to secure an Event Licence to enable the Ed Sheeran concerts in the Phoenix Park to take place next summer. The three concerts are take place on Wednesday 16th, Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May 2018. Aiken Promotions, in their application, have sought permission to begin setting up the concert area within the Phoenix Park from April 26th next. Construction works will be completed between 8am and 10pm daily, with the exception of concert days when it is intended for works to continue until 1am. The formal Event Licence application was lodged with the City Council on Tuesday, September 26th last. An opportunity was available to individual residents and community groups to lodge their views on the Event Licence application submitted to Dublin City Council through a public consultation which ended on October 17th last. A decision on whether to grant permission for the Event Licence will be made shortly and I will keep you updated of the decision and the specific conditions attached by Dublin City Council.

GARDA PREPARATIONS FOR HALLOWEEN 2017 – OPERATION TOMBOLA

An Garda Siochana’s operation to police the Halloween period has kicked into effect. The approach undertaken by the Gardaí centres on:

• Deploying hi-visibility patrols throughout the North Inner City to tackle any anti-social behaviour, or other criminal behaviour.

• Deploying an overt Public Order Unit capability on Halloween night across the North Inner City.

• Establishing a liaison with City Council Area Managers and other agencies to ensure there is a co-ordinated approach to help reduce the availability and prevent the use of tyres as combustible material.

• Intelligence led operations to prevent and detect the organised importation for the sale of fireworks, between now and Halloween.

• Auditing areas across the North Inner City for skips and ensure that all skips are removed or properly secured to prevent the contents being set alight.

These plans are designed to ensure public safety and an environment conducive to the public’s enjoyment of this holiday period.

 

COMMUNITY BASED CCTV SCHEMES

Our Fine Gael-led Government announced details of a new grant aid scheme to assist local groups in establishing community-based CCTV systems. Under the scheme, eligible community groups can apply for up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of €40,000. Upon approval of the grant, the applicant will receive an upfront payment of 50% of the grant with the balance to be paid when the system is fully operational. €1 million has been provided by the Government it is planned that similar funding will be available across each of the next three years. Such community run schemes, when run in conjunction with a text alert scheme helps to give our communities an enhanced ability to be proactive about the prevention of crime locally. Further details of the scheme are available by contacting the Department of Justice at communitycctv@justice.ie.

 

INFIRMARY ROAD HOUSING SCHEME – WHERE DO THINGS NOW STAND?

Despite our Fine Gael-led Government providing funding of €6 million to Dublin City Council for the construction of 30 new homes on the vacant site at the corner of Infirmary Road and Montpelier Hill, there has been no movement on site! I pursued this matter at the recent Housing Committee of the Council where I was informed that officials now plan to advance a planning application, which will be presented to Councillors after Christmas. It is disappointing that despite funding being made available by Government this project has not been advanced more quickly! Ultimately, planning permission will be a matter for Councillors to approve. When those plans are available to me, I will make sure to share those details with residents for your input and consideration.

 

LOCAL NEWS IN BRIEF…

• The City Council has appointed a contractor to complete Phase III of the St. Bricin’s Court refurbishment works. Unacceptable delays have occurred with the completion of Phase II which the Council is endeavouring to resolve as best it can.

• A Contractor for the construction of the first 56 homes in O’Devaney Gardens will now be agreed by early January with works to begin by the end of March at the latest. Further meetings of the Consultative Forum, which I co-chair have been taking place.

• I have asked Dublin City Council to examine the potential for a Bicycle Hangar system to be trialled in Stoneybatter. Such a system would allow for between 10 and 15 bicycles to be parked in such a hangar. When the Council has completed its assessment work, I will update you further.

• Despite this year’s weed spraying programme being more effective than last year’s, it did not take place until very late in the spring. Therefore, I have asked the City Council to consider carrying out an earlier round of spraying across March or April. Again, when a final decision is taken, I’ll let you know the outcome.

• As Chairman of the Dublin Central Policing District, I have been liaising with the Assistant Garda Commissioner for Dublin to secure further Garda transport for the Division. I am pleased to report that a new Garda Public Order Van for the Bridewell will be in place across the coming weeks to further compliment the proactive policing by local officers.

• Tuath Housing Association has lodged an application to redevelop the Ellis Court on Benburb Street in order to build 22 new homes. The public consultation aspect of the planning process will conclude on October 23rd next.