Stoneybatter Matters – January 2023

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE GRANGEGORMAN BRING CENTRE?

Since Christmas, local residents have been in touch with me expressing concern about rumours that the Bring Centre in Grangegorman is closing. As your local City Councillor, let me clarify the situation for you and what I am doing on your behalf and that of our local community about this issue.

The ownership of the existing site is due to return to TU Dublin, in order to allow works to the Clock Tower building and further developments proceed as part of the Grangegorman redevelopment. As is the City Council modus operandi, officials have left securing an alternative location for the Bring Centre to the last minute and as a result, rumours of the Bring Centre’s closure have spread.

Over the last three months, I have raised this issue at every opportunity open to me as Chair of the Dublin Central Area Committee, and just this week, I secured unanimous, cross-party support for the following motion:

“That this Area Committee seeks a commitment from the Waste Management Section that the Bring Centre in Grangegorman is not closed until a satisfactory alternative local site within Dublin 7 is secured and the existing facilities can be relocated there.”

On foot of this agreed motion, as Chair of the Dublin Central Committee, I wrote to the relevant Council officials reiterating the strength of feelings expressed at the Area Committee in support of my efforts and that Dublin City Council cannot for any length of time allow or permit the existing service provision for recycling of materials at the Grangegorman Bring Centre to be closed. Therefore, an alternative location must be secured and in place before the ownership of the existing site transfers to TU Dublin.

As your Stoneybatter City Councillor, I will continue to update you on this issue over the coming weeks and am happy to answer any questions or queries that you may have about this situation.

KEEPING YOU UPDATED ABOUT THE O’DEVANEY GARDENS REDEVELOPMENT

The first families are currently moving into their new homes in the completed first phase of the redevelopment of O’Devaney Gardens, which is great news! Many neighbours and residents across Stoneybatter and the wider Dublin 7 area have been in touch asking me where stands the rest of the redevelopment plan. Immediately prior to Christmas, I secured a debate at the City Council on this issue, and it was confirmed to me by senior Council officials that they expect Bartra to begin works on site by February 13^th next. Problems due to the delay in completing the first phase, building inflation costs and other factors have delayed works starting but Dublin City Council has now agreed a revised programme of works with Bartra, in line with planning permission, that will see the first 380 homes to be delivered, in a mix of Public, Affordable Purchase and Private within 30 months. Bartra have also offered a large number of new apartments for Cost Rental usage. These will be among the first Cost Rental homes to be delivered in Dublin City. Let me be very clear, however, should Bartra not begin works on site by mid-February, then this project will be compromised, and the continued support of the Council brought into focus. I know that many still have questions about what has been granted planning permission, and as always, I will endeavour to answer your questions to the best of my ability.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HSE’s WINTER VACCINES CAMPAIGN?

The HSE continues to urge people in Ireland and across the #NorthInnerCity to get their recommended winter vaccines for flu and COVID-19. This campaign brings flu and COVID-19 vaccines together for the people who need vaccines this winter – older people (this includes anyone aged 50+ who’s yet to get their COVID-19 booster, and people aged 65+ for their next COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine), healthcare workers, parents of children, people with long term conditions, and anyone who’s pregnant. Both flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available from participating GPs and Pharmacies and can be given at the same time. More information is available at www.RayMcAdam.com.

HANLON’S CORNER JUNCTION PROPOSALS – INFORMATION SESSION

Further to my previous updates, Dublin City Council, in partnership with the National Transport Authority has been working on how best to improve road, pedestrian and cyclist safety at Hanlon’s Corner. In my last update, I indicated that revised proposals would be subject of an online consultation and an information session would be organised in Stoneybatter for you to review these ideas and provide your feedback to the engineers involved. The proposals that the City Council is seeking your feedback on, include:

• Removal of the left turn slip lane from the North Circular Road (NCR) onto the Old Cabra Road. Left turning movements from NCR into Old Cabra Road will be retained.
• Installation of a protected cycle lanes on both sides of the road along the NCR western arm and along parts of the NCR eastern arm.
• Widening and protection of the cycle lane on Prussia Street approaching Hanlon’s Corner and introduction of a short section of southbound protected cycle lane on Prussia Street approaching Park shopping centre.
• Re-surfacing of the entire junction.

A detailed drawing of the proposed improvement works is available online at https://consultation.dublincity.ie/. The information session has been organised for Wednesday, January 25^th between 4pm and 7pm in the Holy Family Parish Centre on Prussia Street. The final date for you to provide written feedback on these proposals is February 1^st next. Please share a copy of your feedback with me by emailing me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

DUBLIN COUNCIL’S EV CHARGING STRATEGY NOW ADOPTED

As your Stoneybatter City Councillor, I am regularly contacted by residents eager to move to an electric vehicle but are concerned about the availability of EC charging points. Throughout the course of the last year or two, I have repeatedly sought clarity as to the Council’s thinking on the delivery of on-street charging points as the transition to electric vehicles as set out in the Government’s Climate Action Plan advances. The Chief Executive has always stressed the need to consider a range of solutions to address current and future mobility demand, not only in the city, but also across the wider Dublin Metropolitan Area. Accordingly, the Dublin Local Authority Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy is now complete and can be viewed here – https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/transportation/electric-vehicle-charging-information. More information is available at www.RayMcAdam.com and to say that the City Council’s implementation plan will include the identification of Council and community facilities that may allow scope for facilitating the siting of EV charge points.

KNOW WHERE YOU STRAND ON THE COWPER STREET GREEN SCHOOL ZONE

Dublin City Council in partnership with St. Gabriel’s National School on Cowper Street is finalising plans for a ‘Green School Zone’ along the street. As part of the initial consultations surrounding the Greening Stoneybatter plan, suggestions had been put forward advocating some tree planting along Cowper Street. Separately, the school sought support from the Council for the establishment of a Safe School Zone, a programme which has been rolled out city-wide and is being supported by Government. My party colleague, Hildegarde Naughton, when Transport Minister announced a further expansion of the initiative in December.  Bringing the tree planting and school zone initiatives together, Dublin City Council developed a ‘Green’ School Zone’ on Cowper Street, which was considered by the Dublin Central Area Committee, which I chair. The objective of this initiative is to increase safety on Cowper Street so that active travel (cycle, walk, wheel and scoot) to and from school is encouraged and to create an enhanced green environment where air quality in the neighbourhood is improved. While the design of the scheme has yet to be finalised, drawings were shared with me in recent days and I have uploaded those to www.RayMcAdam.com for your review and consideration. As with any project, local consultation is essential, so please take five minutes and check out the current designs and how the proposed ‘Green School Zone’ will re-shape Cowper Street and share with me your views. Please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

IMPROVING THE CROPPIES ACRE PARK

The Croppies Acre Park continues to be highly used by local residents and new parents in particular. However, many have been in touch with me about the need to further enhance this much-loved local amenity. As a result, I have been following up on the matter with the Parks Department of Dublin City Council about what additional improvements are planned as well what interaction there has been with An Garda Siochana to counteract problems and issues with anti-social and criminal behaviour in the park. Parks Department officials have confirmed that work has begun with the clearance of beds in the Croppies Acre, and they will proceed in early spring with the planting up of same. All cases of criminal and/or anti-social behaviour are reported to Gardai and other relevant statutory and voluntary agencies who local Parks officials cooperate with on an ongoing basis. I  am continuing to liaise with the Bridewell on the matter but if you use the Croppies Acre regularly and have experience of particular problems with anti-social or criminal behaviour there, please get in touch with me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOVERNMENT BACKED HOUSING PROJECTS IN THE #NORTHINNERCITY

As Chair of the Dublin Central Area Committee of the City Council, I sought an update from the Housing Department on the work to deliver new and better public and affordable housing schemes across the North Inner City and the wider Dublin Central constituency. The focus of this meeting was on the planned regeneration projects, the public private partnership initiatives and work being done by Approved Housing Bodies, like Cluid Housing, for example, to deliver increased the number of homes in the North Inner City and across Cabra Glasnevin. Officials talked us through the various stages of development each project are at, from a planning, tender and construction aspect. Full details of the presentation are available online at www.RayMcAdam.com.