East Wall MATTERS – February 2019

UPDATE ON FUTURE OF EAST WALL HEALTH CENTRE 

Concerns about the future of the Health Centre were raised with myself and local Minister, Paschal Donohoe T.D. following the recent East Wall Policing Matters public meeting I organised in St. Mary’s Youth Club on Strangford Road. In speaking with East Wallers afterwards, I committed to securing reassurance from the Health Services Executive and the Department of Health that the Health Centre would not be closing. 

 

Myself and Minister Paschal Donohoe can confirm therefore, that:

• A building survey of the existing Health Centre has been undertaken to identify the level of repairs and refurbishment works required to improve disability access and facilities in the building. 

• Work is progressing on determining the delivery of necessary works identified in the survey. 

• It is expected that these refurbishment works will be completed by the end of 2019. 

 

Separately, Minister Paschal Donohoe and I can also advise you that we are working with the Department of Health and the Health Services Executiveto further improve the quality of health-care and services provided in East Wall. We are working to secure a Primary Care Centre for East Wallers, similar to the facilities that have been opened by Fine Gael in Government across Cabra West, Grangegorman and recently in Summerhill on the former Mountainview Court site. We expect to update you further on this in the coming weeks. 

 

We hope this information is of assistance and provides you with the reassurance that health-care services in East Wall are to be enhanced not reduced! However, if you have any questions or queries arising from the details provided, please contact us at either RayMcAdam@gmail.com or Paschal.Donohoe@oir.ie. 

EAST WALL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN 

The need for Dublin City Council to act and publish proposals that can alleviate problems East Wallers are experiencing with parking and traffic volumes was reiterated at the recent East Wall Policing Matters public meeting I organised. Resident after resident spoke off the difficulties they have experienced with driveways being blocked, cars being parked on double yellow lines, accessing Church Road and East Road among the complaints raised. I have repeatedly called on the City Council to act. Over the last five years, I have worked with colleagues on the City Council to ensure such a plan is put in place. Following my public meeting earlier this month, I along with Councillors Burke and Fagan submitted an emergency motion that formally requested Traffic Engineers involved with the Neighbourhood Traffic Scheme project meet with representative group of residents from East Wall to discuss the ongoing traffic management issues in East Wall. I am pleased to report this motion was unanimously agreed by the North Inner City Area Committee and a date is being finalised for this meeting to take place with a group of residents from East Wall with the Northside City Engineer, local Traffic Engineers, the City Council Manager for the North Inner City, myself as Chair of the Dublin Central Policing Committee and Councillor Fagan as Chair of the North Inner City Area Committee.

 

WEST ROAD IMPROVEMENT WORKS

The Roads Maintenance Department of Dublin City Council will undertake improvement works to West Road this year. €30,000 has been allocated to enable overbanding works on the road surface take place. I have sought further details of the works envisaged which I will share with you once they available. Separately, officials have confirmed to me that both mini roundabouts on West Road will be resurfaced also. 

 

EAST WALL COMMUNITY GRANTS 2019

I am happy to report that €41,125 worth of Community Grantswill be made to projects and organizations across the North Inner City. These grants are designed to provide assistance to local areas and help support community development projects. Local groups set to benefit from these Grants in 2019 including The East Wall Garden Club, East Wall Men’s Shed, Irvine Terrace Area Action Group, East Wall Bowls Club, East Wall Youth among others. Full details will be available on http://www.RayMcAdam.com from Monday.

 

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. 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.

 

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.

 

CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION FOR DUBLIN

Dublin’s four local authorities have joined together to develop Climate Change Action Plans 2019-2024, which outline the actions they will take in response to the climate change challenges facing Dublin. Each Dublin Local Authority has developed a detailed plan outlining the actions they will take in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. Dublin City Council’s Climate Change Action Plan identifies the main climate risks facing Dublin City and both the council’s and the city’s current levels of greenhouse gas emissions. It also outlines all the actions that are ongoing or planned within the council and these are grouped under five key areas – Energy & Buildings, Transport, Flood Resilience, Nature-Based Solutions, and Resource Management that collectively address the four targets of this plan:

• A 33% improvement in the Council’s energy efficiency by 2020

• A 40% reduction in the Council’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

• To make Dublin a climate resilient region, by reducing the impacts of future climate change-related events

• To actively engage and inform citizens on climate change

You can have your say on the City Council’s Climate Change Action Plan by making a submission online via www.dublinclimatechange.ie, by email at climateaction@dublincity.ie or by writing to Executive Manager, Environment and Transportation Department, Dublin City Council, Block 2, Floor 6, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. The closing date for receipt of submissions is Monday 25th March 2019.