NORTH-EAST INNER CITY MATTERS – January 2019

ACCESS TO APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
The Access to Apprenticeship Programme is aimed at young men and women aged 16 to 24 living in Dublin who experience social and economic barriers. The Programme provides an opportunity for young people to;
• Sample a range of apprenticeships in; Construction, Engineering, Electrical, Motor and Aviation industries
• Prepare their CV and interview skill
• Undertake two weeks work experience
• Health & Safety and Safe Pass Certificate
• It is a 12 week full time course commencing in April 2019.
The purpose of the programme is to progress young people into apprenticeships. The closing date for applications is Friday the 8th of March 2019 at 1p.m. I strongly recommend starting the application as soon as possible as it could take some time to get the required documentation together. Once applications are completed please send them to;
• Therese Fitzgerald, Programme Officer Access to Apprenticeship, TU Dublin Bolton St (Formerly DIT Bolton St), Dublin 1, D01 K822.
For anyone interested in future intakes you can register your interest by following this link: http://www.dit.ie/colleges/collegeofengineeringbuiltenvironment/accesstoapprenticeship/
If you have any queries re the Access to Apprenticeship Programme or the application form please contact accesstoapprenticeship@dit.ie or ring (089) 219 3691.

FITZGIBBON STREET GARDA STATION – Construction Update
Further to my update in the autumn about the refurbishment and extension of Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station, I can confirm that steady progress continues to be made with the construction project. As you know the project is being advanced in two phases. The initial phase of enabling works is progressing well and is on schedule. It is expected that the second phase will begin in April. In excess of €8m is being provided by our Fine Gael-led Government so that the new station will be fully developed as a community oriented policing centre. Both Minister Paschal Donohoe and I will work on keeping you fully informed as to the progress being made in transforming Fitzgibbon Street Station into a modern fit for purpose local community policing facility. The importance of getting Fitzgibbon Street Station open again was underlined to me recently when meetings residents from Sean O’Casey Avenue, Charles Street and Emmet Street with local Gardaí to address continued problems with anti-social behaviour. Having the station open again with officers based at the heart of the north-east inner city, will be a significant reassurance to those putting up with mindless thuggery and anti-social behaviour.

SF CITY COUNCIL ALLIANCE CUTS FUNDING TO TACKLE LITTERING & ILLEGAL DUMPING
The Council’s Waste Bye Laws governing the presentation and collection of household and commercial waste were updated this month, details of which are available on http://www.RayMcAdam.com. While I welcome these new regulations, it is somewhat ironic that Sinn Fein, Labour, Green and Fianna Fáil Councillors called for more litter bins, better enforcement of waste regulations and improved clearing of bottle banks and bring centres. Why so? For these parties approved a City Council Budget for 2019 which cut the amount of money to be spent on the operation of our Recycling Facilities, our Litter Warden Service, the provision and improvement of Litter Bins, enforcement of our Waste Regulations as well as reducing the money available to implement the Waste Management Plan. Sinn Fein and their partners in Labour, Fianna Fáil and the Greens continue to speak out of both sides of their mouths on this issue. Tackling illegal dumping and littering requires a multi-facet response but the Sinn Fein Council Alliance in refusing to invest in the enforcement of waste regulations or the provision of new litter bins is not one of them. If re-elected with increased Fine Gael numbers, my party will work to ensure that litter and waste enforcement is properly resourced and that litter bins are located where we need them and that recycling facilities and bottle banks are cleared more efficiently.

NORTH INNER CITY PROJECTS SECURE GOVERNMENT FUNDING
15 North Inner City clubs, organisations and projects have secured more than €143,000 in funding through our Fine Gael Government’s Community Enhancement Programme. Across the country, more than 3000 separate projects are benefitting from €12.5 million in funding. In the North Inner City, Minister Ring has confirmed to me that funding has been approved for groups including the Barbara Ward Clonliffe & Croke Park Community Centre, The Cavan Centre, the North Inner City Folklore Project, CASPr, Charleville Mall Art Group and the Ana Liffey Drug Project. This announcement is further evidence of Fine Gael’s commitment to supporting the communities of the North Inner City so that all our citizens can achieve their full potential across a wide range of areas.

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL HOUSING COMPLEX RENEWAL PLAN
As you know Dublin City Council published Phase 1 of its Estate Renewal Plan last March. That programme outlined details of initial plans to refurbish, redevelop and enhance some of the 240 housing complexes across the city. In the North Inner City, that programme includes plans for Constitution Hill, Dorset Street, Matt Talbot Court, Dunne Street and Gardiner Street. The Council has submitted funding applications for four of the five complexes to Government which are now presently being examined. At the January meeting of the Housing Committee, I sought clarity from Council officials as to plans to renovate and to improve the quality of housing for those residing in other complexes the city and particularly in the North Inner City – Fitzgibbon Court, Summerhill Court, Avondale House, Brendan Behan Court among others. Officials have confirmed to me that a multi-disciplinary team comprising of architects, planners and housing personnel have completed a technical study of how these complexes can be enhanced and additional homes provided. Separately, a Condition Survey of 17,000 homes will be completed by the end of March. A full report detailing the future refurbishment plans for each complex will be published in April. Myself and Minister Paschal Donohoe have been working closely with officials on this matter for the past number of months and we will work to keep you updated on progress in delivering and ultimately implementing these plans.

NORTH-EAST INNER CITY PRIMARY CARE CENTRE – UPDATE
The new North-East Inner City Primary Care Centre is located opposite the existing Summerhill Health Centre site and will become operational in March. The building is currently being commissioned and it will provide services to both the local community and the wider North Inner City areas. Two Primary Care Teams will be based in the centre in conjunction with staff providing all Network services for the entire North Inner City Area. There will be approximately 60 Primary Care staff located in the building, plus a further 30 staff for Mental Health, 10 Dental Staff and 25 Disability staff. The nursing staff currently based in Summerhill will move to new Primary Care Centre when it opens to the public in March.
The following services will be provided in the new North-East Inner City Primary Care Centre, including:

• General Practice Services – Summerhill Family Practice – (Dr. Colleen Hopkins and Dr. Brid Shanahan)
• Public Health Nursing/Community Nursing Service including specialist wound treatment room
• Primary Care Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech & Language Therapy
• Psychology
• Dietetics
• Primary Care Social Work
• Dental (4 Surgeries)
• Community Mental Health Team services including Day Hospital Services
• Disability – Early Intervention & School Aged Teams for children with disabilities
• Ambulance Service (located on site in a separate building)

Specialist network children’s services for the Summerhill and the wider North Inner City area will be provided from the centre. These are the early intervention and school aged teams, dental services (4 suites) along with a hub for all other primary care children’s services in the area. In addition, a number of Primary Care Network services will be delivered from the centre as outlined above. The facilities have been developed to meet the highest infection control, safety and energy standards in a bright and modern environment

NEIC HOUSING MATTERS
CROKE VILLAS:
Despite a Judicial Review being brought Dublin City Council in respect of the planning process for the redevelopment of Croke Villas, the project is still being advanced. Works on 1 – 6 Ballybough Road continues and is due for completion in February.
St. MARY’s MANSIONS:
The project continues to progress well. The raising of the external walls continues with the second floor extension nearing completion on two of the four blocks.
RAILWAY STREET – Circle Housing
Additional information has been sought of Circle Housing by the Planning Department of the Council before permission is determined.
POPLAR ROW – Oaklee Housing
Foundation work and construction of basement are now complete with construction of the external brick/block walls now well under way and up to first floor height.

FINE GAEL COMMITMENT TO NORTH-EAST INNER CITY RENEWED & STRENGTHENED
Funding for 2019 has increased to €6.5 million to help accelerate progress to ensure our vibrant communities across the North East Inner City continue to flourish. As Chairman of the North Inner City Policing Committee and local Fine Gael Councillor, I joined local T.D. and Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe and Michael Stone, Chair of the North East Inner City Implementation Board to launch the 2018 NEIC Progress Report. The Report details where Government funding has been spent in 2018 and outlines the ambition for 2019, which sees funding increase to €6.5 million to achieve goals and objectives set out by the Board. Our Fine Gael-led Government has been unwavering in its commitment to addressing the needs of communities in the North East Inner City. Much valuable work has been undertaken this year to improve outcomes through enhancing the links between education and local employment opportunities, with programmes such as P-Tech in Larkin Community College and the development of a Social Employment Fund, which has supported projects like CASPr, North Wall CDP and Belvedere Youth Club to name but a few. Programmes such as this will have a significant impact on our communities and our young people in particular, increasing their chances of fulfilling their dreams and reaching their full potential.