Markets Matters – March 2019

LISBURN STREET HEALTH CENTRE PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED

The Planning Department of Dublin City Council has granted permission, after seeking additional information from the Health Services Executive (HSE), for an extension to the Lisburn Street Health Centre. Five conditions have been issued as part of the permission statement, including:

• The site development works and construction works shall be carried out in such a manner as to ensure that the adjoining streets are kept clear of debris, soil and other materials, to be carried out at the developer’s expense.

• The site and building works required to implement the development shall only be carried out between the hours of: Mondays to Fridays – 7a.m. – 6p.m and Saturday – 8a.m. – 2p.m. Work outside of these times will only be permitted where prior written approval has been received from the Council.

• Noise controls are to be put in place during the demolition and construction phases.

• The development shall be carried out in accordance with the plans, particulars and specifications lodged with the application.

• All drainage requirements set out in planning application are to be undertaken.

Planning permission was granted on February 6th. If you would like more details on the permission statement, please contact me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

 

BRIDEWELL COMMUNITY POLICING – FULL COMPLEMENT

The Community Policing team based in the Bridewell Garda Station was boosted with the allocation of five additional officers and a new Community Policing Sergeant. This means our local Community Policing team now has a full complement of officers covering the entire policing district. These officers are in addition to the existing team will be out there engaging with householders and the local community as committed to under the 2019 Policing Plan for the North Inner City.

 

SEAN FOSTER PLACE – PROJECT UPDATE

Dublin City Council has selected its preferred contractor to undertake construction work to deliver 30 new homes on the former pop-up park along North King Street adjacent to the Beresford Street junction. Duggan Brothers Ltd. has been written to by the Housing Department of Dublin City Council with a view to them beginning on-site preparation works in early April. It is expected that construction works will be completed in late 2020 or early 2021. Before works begin on site, the contractor is also expected to share details of its works plan and contact details locally for the Site Foreman, in case issues arise during the construction phase.  

 

WHERE STANDS THE LIFFEY CYCLE ROUTE?

Dublin City Council has not yet received a recommendation from the National Transport Authority regarding the Liffey Cycle Route.  Officials in the Transportation Department have advised me that a recommendation is anticipated no later than the end of March 2019. As and when that recommendation is shared with Councillors, I will ensure that those details are circulated locally for your consideration and feedback.

 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN A CONSTRUCTION SKILLS COURSE?

The Construction Skills Course operated by the Eastside and Docklands Local Employment Service runs several times a year and each course lasts for three weeks. The central modules include:

• Health and Safety in the workplace

• Site Maintenance

• Brick Laying

• Insulation

 

Eastside and Docklands Local Employment Services (EDLES) works with a number of well-known industry partners to place the graduates in to full-time employment upon their successful completion of the course. To date, EDLES has a 75% placement rate for all successful graduates. If you are interested in training in the construction sector, contact Jim Hargis, Employment Services Manager, on 01-6771930.

 

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 http://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.

 

BUSCONNECTS – WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE MARKETS AREA?

The National Transport Authority (NTA) published details of the emerging preferred route for Ballymun to City Centre Core Bus Corridor last month. This proposed Core Bus Corridor commences on the Ballymun Road at the junction with Santry Avenue and Balbutcher Lane. It proceeds along St. Mobhi Road, Botanic Road, Prospect Road, Phibsborough Road, Constitution Hill and Church Street as far as Arran Quay, where it will join the Quays. Given what is bring proposed by the NTA between the North Circular Road and Arran Quay, I thought it best to detail each specific proposal, which includes:

• Due to width restrictions at Doyle’s Corner, the northbound bus lane will not be continuous.

• Two bus lanes and two general traffic lanes are proposed along Phibsborough Road, one of each in either direction.

• A no left turn at the junction of Church Street Upper and North King Street is proposed.

• It is proposed that traffic wishing to access North King Street will access Coleraine Street.

The NTA will be hosting a Community Information Event for those living along the proposed Core Bus Corridor on April 3rd next between 3pm and 8pm in the Ballymun Axis Arts Centre, Main Street, Dublin 9. A separate Community Forum meeting will be held on April 10th in the Ballymun Axis Arts Centre between 6.30pm and 8pm. Any resident or community group can attend. I want to hear your views on the proposals published to date by the NTA. Please share your feedback with me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

 

DRAFT DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL PARKING BYE LAWS 2019

Councillors agreed at the February City Council meeting to initiate a public consultation on the draft Parking Bye Laws for 2019. The proposed amendments include:

• Fees for Pay and Display Parking

As the current charging structure hasn’t been reviewed since October 2008, it is proposed to increase the charges in the Yellow Zone (Monday to Saturday) to €3.20/hour and in the Red Zone to €2.70/hour. This is an increase of 9% and 11% respectively. To encourage motorists to use the Parking Tag App, it is proposed to only increase the Yellow Zone Charge to €3.10/hour and the Red Zone Charge to €2.60/hour for Parking Tag users. It is also proposed to introduce a charge for Coach Parking in the City, in designated Coach Parking Bays. This rate is to be set at €9 per hour. All other charges will remain unchanged.

• Permit Quota for converted houses

It is proposed to lower the quota for dwellings not formally in multiple units to 1 permit per premises.

• Display of Residents Parking Permits and Visitors Permits

It is proposed to include for, when the technology allows, a virtual parking permit system for Residential and Visitors Permits.

• Drawing of Tariff Zones

It is proposed to widen certain boundaries of the Green, Red and Yellow Zone to reflect the change in demand in these areas.

Submissions should be made in writing to Mr. Dermot Stevenson, Parking Enforcement Officer, Environment and Transportation Department, Block 2, Floor 6, Civic Offices, Fishamble Street, Dublin 8. The deadline for submissions to be received by Dublin City Council is Friday, March 22nd at 4.30pm.

 

MARKETS COMMUNITY GRANTS 2019

I am happy to report that €41,125 worth of Community Grants will 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 Markets based groups set to benefit from these Grants in 2019 including Chancery House Community Organisation, Complex Youth Theatre, Blackhall Summer Project, Little Stars Creche and St. Michan’s House Residents Association among others. Full details will be available on http://www.RayMcAdam.com from Monday.

 

ESTATE RENEWAL PLAN – NEXT STEPS

As you know Dublin City Council, at the direction of our Fine Gael-led Government, has prepared plans for the refurbishment of City Council Housing complexes across the city. To date, plans have been advanced for Constitution Hill, Matt Talbot Court, Dunne Street and Dorset Street. I will be meeting officials next month to discuss what indicative plans have been prepared for St. Michan’s House, Chancery House, Kevin Barry House and Henrietta House. When those details have been shared with me, I will be in touch with households in each complex to update you.

 

FUNDING INCREASED FOR HOUSING ADAPTATION GRANTS

€8,456,552 has been made available by our Fine Gael-led Government to support home adaptations for older people and those with disability and mobility issues, locally. The funding, which has been increased by more than 12%, will enable older people and people with disabilities to remain living independently in their own homes for longer and will also facilitate early return from hospital. Grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability in carrying out necessary works to make a house more suitable for their needs, up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out and up to €6,000 for mobility aids to address mobility problems for a member of the household.