City Centre Matters – Spring 2023

SEAN McDERMOTT STREET SWIMMING POOL TO RE-OPEN IN JULY

Improvement works to the Sean McDermott Street swimming pool began in February and are ongoing with a finish date of early June. The scope of works that have been undertaken include:

• Re-tile damaged areas of the pool hall, deck and basin
• Recover the existing roof
• Repair the roof structural deck at the point of a leak, and repaint the roof trusses
• Some electrical and ventilation works are also included
• Some reconfiguration of the reception area including the provision more public space
• Recladding and decoration of the building façade to provide a more modern welcoming centre

Upon completion of construction work, a deep clean of the facility will be undertaken and to also get all services back on line, including filling and heating the pool, plant restart, etc. I understand the swimming pool will be re-open by early July. Regarding the future operation of the pool, the City Council has been liaising with Swim Ireland to possibly expand their previous role in operating the Sean McDermott Street swimming pool. If implemented, this approach would lead to a significant increase in public swimming hours for the community while facilitating previous users of the pool, including clubs and schools.

REFURBISHED DIAMOND PARK TO OPEN IN JUNE!

The newly renovated Diamond Park is set to open to the local community in early June. Cairn Construction are set to finish up on site shortly after starting works at the end of last year. This €2.3m project includes the delivery and installation of a new toddler playground, the provision of a new playground and feature play opportunities. New paving and multi-use sports area and lighting have also been installed. The refurbishment project was subject to a great deal of local public consultation and from what I have seen so far, I believe it is money well spent for our toddlers and younger kids as well as those interested in playing sports.

CHOICE BASED LETTINGS – UPDATE

The most recent round of Choice Based Lettings saw the City Council make 14 one- and two-bedroom properties available in Charleville Mall, Gardiner Street Flats, Liberty House, Poplar Row, North William Street, Rutland Street, Dunne Street, Marlborough Court and Spencer Dock. Applications were received up until April 7^th last with 800 applications being received by officials in the Sean McDermott Street Office. Those applications are currently being processed and officials expect to begin allocating those properties across the coming week or two. Email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com if you applied and I’ll follow up further on your behalf.

HARDWICKE STREET MATTERS

Following on from a number of meetings I have had with the newly established Residents Committee, I want to provide you with an update on some issues. The communal doors across Dermot O’Dwyer House and Rory O’Connor House are now being installed. I worked with Minister Paschal Donohoe and Cllr. Christy Burke to secure funding for these works. I am still pursuing the need for a Precinct Improvement Scheme to be implemented that incorporate replacement windows and balcony doors. The Dublin Central Area Committee, which I chair, unanimously backed my efforts. The road between complexes has now been cleaned. Housing Maintenance has also been ordered to inspect each of the balconies and shores and clear out any blockages. Further skutching, power hosing and weeding of all the communal areas, including stairwells and playgrounds. Finally, I also secured funding of €10,000 towards improving some of the play spaces for children in Dermot O’Dwyer House. Works will begin on these improvements later this year.

GLOUCESTER PLACE

The mesh has been erected on the new railings between Gloucester Place and the Church. This will now allow householders to mount trellises to which flowers and planters can be fixed as part of a greening strategy for the cul-de-sac.

KEEPING YOU UPDATED ON FORMER LAUNDRY BUILDING WORKS & FUTURE PLAN

The OPW has started works on-site to make the former Convent and Magdalene Laundry building on Sean McDermott Street safe and secure. At present works are being undertaken to survey and complete emergency repairs of the roof and building fabric. The clearance and repair of rainwater goods as well as environmental cleaning of the interior of the building. Contractors are also removing vegetation and clearing blocked drains and finalising a comprehensive survey of the buildings and site. As you know the Government has designated the site as The National Centre for Research and Remembrance, the development of which will be managed by the OPW but will follow the objectives already agreed upon by local Councillors, involving senior citizens housing, community facilities and an educational and early learning facility. I will be convening a meeting of the Working Group in the coming month to discuss the timeline for the completion of this project and the next steps in agreeing an outline Master Plan for the site. Get in touch with me if you have specific questions or queries arising from the details outlined above.

UPDATING YOU ON PORTLAND ROW DEPOT HOUSING PLAN

As I outlined previously, the City Council has been examining how existing depot sites can be better used for the delivery of new housing. With that in mind, Dublin City Council and the Approved Housing Body, Tuath Housing have been working together to prepare a scheme to deliver new and better housing on the site. A design team has been engaged and are in the process of carrying out on-site investigations. Completion of these investigations will allow for preliminary design of the scale and volume of housing that can be developed. I expect these designs to be completed in the coming weeks. Following this, a community consultative process will be established and as your local Councillor, I will work to ensure your views and feedback are incorporated into the final design for this much needed housing project.

€495,000 INVESTMENT IN #NORTHINNERCITY PROJECTS

As Chair of the Dublin Central Area Committee, I had the responsibility of securing agreement as to how the North Inner City Discretionary Budget of €495,000 would be spent this year. I am pleased to report that agreement was reached, and that this money is being allocated towards Council projects and supporting community initiatives. I can confirm that the following allocations have been made:

• €50,000 towards a precinct improvement initiative in Gardiner Street Flats and O’Brien Hall.
• €25,000 will be provided for the ongoing improvement works in Sean O Casey Avenue and across Summerhill
• Upgrading of CCTV networks across a number of City Council housing complexes with a contribution of €20,000
• Towards the purchase of additional CCTV to tackle illegal dumping.
• To undertake additional weed treatment on our local streets.

O’BRIEN HALL WINDOW REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME

I have secured agreement from the Housing Department of Dublin City Council to undertake a complete window and balcony door replacement programme in O’Brien Hall. Despite the fact that the complex is less than thirty years old, the windows in homes are in a very bad condition. Every home will be assessed and looked at individually. I expect these assessments to be completed by the end of September with a contractor to be selected to complete the works immediately thereafter. I’ll be meeting O’Brien Hall residents in the coming days to discuss this update as well as other issues of concerns to them.

NORTH INNER CITY GREENING PROJECTS 2023

As Chair of the Dublin Central Area Committee, I secured a comprehensive update on the planned works this year as part of the North Inner City Greening Strategy. The Diamond Park is set to open formally next month and the new James Joyce Park, off Sean McDermott Street will be complete by the end of May. The Parks Landscape Architect is working on preparing Ireland’s first Urban Tree Trail across the North Inner City. Throughout this year, the Council will undertake feasibility studies, complete initial designs and hold consultation sessions on Street Tree Greening interventions in collaboration with residents along Russell Street, Portland Street North, Portland Place, Campbell’s Row, Belvedere Avenue, Sherrard Street Lower and Sherrard Avenue. If you would like more information about these greening projects, please get in touch with me by email at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

IS YOUR CHILD GOING TO COLLEGE THIS SEPTEMBER? The Grant Scheme is open!

SUSI is now open to receive applications for the 2023/24 academic year. If you are applying there are a number of important changes to the SUSI Grant Scheme this year that were announced by Minister Paschal Donohoe as part of Budget 2023. These changes include:

• Increase in income limit from €55,240 to €62,000 for the 50% student contribution grant.
• Increase in the amount of Holiday Earnings which may be deducted from the total household income from €4,500 to €6,552.

The key dates to remember for applicants are:

• Priority closing date for renewal applications:             8 June 2023
• Priority closing date for new applications:                    6 July 2023

If you have any questions or indeed require assistance in completing the application process, please contact me by text on 086 – 847 1720 or by email at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

MENS’ SHED

Over the last number of months, I have been supporting efforts to establish a local Mens’ Shed group, similar to that in East Wall. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact me by TEXT at 086 847 1720.

NEIC COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEME 2023

It’s that time of year, the NEIC Community Grants Scheme 2023 is now live and applications are now being accepted. This year’s theme is “Physical Realm/Environment/Streetscape Improvements”, so get thinking, get creative, and get in touch with your ideas to make the NEIC a better place through the Community Grants Scheme. NEIC Community Grant 2023 Guidelines and NEIC Community Grant 2023 Application Form is available online at https://www.neic.ie/news/neic-community-grants-scheme-2023. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5PM FRIDAY 2ND JUNE 2023.

DUBLIN NORTH CENTRAL GARDA YOUTH AWARDS 2023

Nominations are now open for the annual Dublin North Central Garda Youth Awards. The awards celebrate outstanding young people between 13 and 21 years of age and recognise the good work being done by young people throughout the communities of the North Inner City. All nominees and group members should be between 13 and 21 years of age on December 31st 2022 and the Dublin North Central Garda Division covers Mountjoy, Fitzgibbon Street, Bridewell and Store Street Garda Stations. TEXT me on 086 – 847 1720 for an application form. The Closing date for entries is Friday, 2nd June 2023.