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

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.