CLONLIFFE / BALLYBOUGH MATTERS – March 2019

CLONLIFFE / BALLYBOUGH 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 based groups set to benefit from these Grants in 2019 including Ballybough Community Group, Ballybough North Strand Local History Group, Barbara Ward Clonliffe & Croke Park Community Centre among others. Full details will be available on http://www.RayMcAdam.com from Monday.

 

ORCHARD ROAD DEPOT LANDS – REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE

When I called to homes on Orchard Road, Tolka Road and Clonliffe Road last month, numerous householders sought a further update from me with regards the possible redevelopment of the Orchard Road Depot site by Dublin City Council. In order to better inform householders, I sought an update from the Chief Executive as to:

• Whether the Council had yet undertake the preparation of site specific master plan?

• The number of homes that may be delivered and

• A timeline for the completion of the entire redevelopment project.

Officials have since responded to my enquiries, advising that:

• The Council is seeking to build either public or affordable housing on the Orchard Road Depot site.

• 32 homes are envisaged to be provided on the 0.264 hectares

• Site specific development briefs will be prepared from May 2019 onwards.

I hope this information is of assistance to you. However, if you require any additional information or further clarification, please come back to me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com and I will endeavour to secure those details for you.

 

CROKE VILLAS / BALLYBOUGH ROAD CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Construction work continues on 2 – 6 Ballybough Road in order to provide replacement homes for the remaining residents in Croke Villas. In total, 7 new homes will be provided. The roof structure has now been tiled and completed. Cladding to the front of these new units is under way and officials in the Housing Department of Dublin City Council have indicated to me that these works will be completed in September.

 

POPLAR ROW CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The Oaklee Housing project on the former vacant site on Poplar Row opposite Ballybough House is progressing. In total, 29 new homes will be built and it is expected that these construction works will be completed by the end of 2019.

 

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.

 

GARDA OPERATION TACKLING JOY-RIDING

As Chairman of the Dublin Central Policing Committee, I had my monthly meeting with the Garda Chief Superintendent for the North Inner City earlier this week. At that meeting, I reiterated the need for a focused police initiative to counteract the current problem with joy-riding and racing of scrambler and quad bikes on streets across Ballybough and the North Strand. I can now confirm that the Gardaí are putting in place a targeted Divisional Policing operation to tackle the problems householders have been experiencing in recent weeks. Already, the Gardaí have carried out two arrests and a number of vehicles seized. I want to assure you that as your LOCAL Councillor and Policing Committee Chair, I will be keeping the pressure on to ensure this Garda initiative is maintained for as long as necessary and that this dangerous activity is tackled effectively. This work will be supported by the 20 new Garda officers who will start in the Division in the coming days. The next meeting of the Dublin Central Policing Committee has been re-scheduled to take place at the end of March, after which I will update you further. In the interim, please TEXT me at 086 847 1720 if any further incidents of joy-riding and scrambler or quad bike racing occur on your street and avenue.

 

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.

 

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.

 

FITZGIBBON STREET GARDA STATION – DETAILED UPDATE PROVIDED

Further to the update I shared in my January edition of Clonliffe & Ballybough Matters, householders sought further information on the refurbishment works taking place as part of the new Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station. The enabling works currently underway will be completed shortly. The major construction project will include:

• A full internal refurbishment and repair of the existing four storey over-basement building at 24 – 28 Fitzgibbon Street and at 30 Fitzgibbon Street.

• New internal walls, doors, new wall, floor and ceiling finishes as well as new sanitary facilities and fixed furniture items.

• As the building is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Regional importance, a conservation approach will be a requisite of any building work.

• A new lift will be provided.

• The existing drainage system will be upgraded along with associated ancillary works.

• Landscaping works to the rear courtyard with car-parking facilities, including motorbikes, an oil tank and bin storage facilities.

• A new ramped access to the rear of the existing building is also to be provided.

Tenders for the main construction contract were published last week by the Office of Public Works. These works will ensure that the new station will be a victim oriented, community based entity which will include a community hub facility open to community groups. I hope this further information is of assistance to you. However, if you have any additional questions or queries arising from the details provided, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

 

CLONLIFFE / BALLYBOUGH TRAFFIC MATTERS

The Traffic Advisory Group of Dublin City Council has recommended, following the lodging of a petition by residents, that a ballot of Distillery Road households takes place to determine whether Pay & Display and Permit Parking is introduced on the street. A suggestion that Double Yellow Lines on Clonliffe Road be extended to be in line with the continuous white line is currently under examination by Traffic Engineers. A pedestrian crossing at the junction of Distillery Road and Clonliffe Road is also being considered. Double Yellow Lines have also been sought at the junction of Mabel Street and Elizabeth Street.