Clonliffe & Ballybough Matters – May 2023

ORCHARD ROAD DEPOT REDEVELOPMENT – Keeping you informed!

As you know Dublin City Council has engaged with FOLD Housing with a view to developing an Older Persons Housing complex on this site. Initial surveys have been undertaken and a public information meeting was held last July to provide some indicative drawings for the scope and scale of housing that could be delivered. The plan as originally presented to Councillors included the building of 37x one-bedroom apartments, constructed to universal design standards. I have continued to liaise with the Housing Department and the Area Office on Sean McDermott Street to monitor progress with these plans. I can now confirm that FOLD Housing has appointed Reddy Architects to lead the formal design and development of the Orchard Road Depot site. I am organising for an information evening to be held locally for you and other interested residents to view the detailed designs before any planning application is lodged with Dublin City Council. Issues including parking traffic management, access between the Depot site and Thomas Clarke House and the future use of the space behind the former Boxing Club have all been raised with FOLD Housing and I expect these issues will be addressed at the forthcoming meeting. If you have any further specific questions or queries about this project, please get in touch with me by email at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

CLONLIFFE / BALLYBOUGH WEEDING PROGRAMME

As Chair of the Dublin Central Area Committee, I have been liaising with the local Public Domain crew to ensure we have an effective weeding programme in place this spring. Over the coming weeks, crews will be removing weeds along Cian Park, Mabel Street, Whitworth Terrace and Russell Avenue. New machinery has been purchased in order to improve the effectiveness of weeding this year. If your street is not included on this list and you feel it should be, please get in touch with me by email at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

#BUSCONNECTS PLANNING APPLICATION – DRUMCONDRA ROAD & DORSET STREET

The National Transport Authority has now formally submitted its planning application for the Swords Bus Corridor along Drumcondra Road and Dorset Street as part of the BusConnects project. I want to briefly advise you on how what is being proposed will impact your neighbourhood:

• One inbound and one outbound traffic lane is to be removed between Clonliffe Road and Eccles Street.
• Footpath improvements in the vicinity of Drumcondra Train Station.
• Tree lined central reserve along Drumcondra Road between Clonliffe Road and Whitworth Road to be retained.
• New segregated cycle lanes along Drumcondra Road Upper, Drumcondra Road Lower and Dorset Street, between Clonliffe Road and Hardwicke Street.
• The Drumcondra Road / Clonliffe Road signalised junction is to be upgraded to improve pedestrian safety.

Full details of the planning application are available at www.swordsscheme.ie. Any submission you wish to make must be lodged in writing to An Bord Pleanála (Strategic Infrastructure Division), 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902 before Tuesday, July 18^th next. Your submission should be accompanied with the €50 fee, and can also be lodged online via https://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/observations.

CLONLIFFE ROAD & BALLYBOUGH TRAFFIC MATTERS

The Transportation Department of Dublin City Council is currently considering some requests across the Clonliffe Road and Ballybough area. These proposals include:

• The introduction of Pay & Display and Permit Parking along Clonliffe Road. A ballot was recently held with 94 votes being cast. 49 votes were in favour and 44 against.
• Engineers are considering the feasibility of installing a pedestrian crossing along Ballybough Road.
• A request from Elizabeth Street residents for the extension of the hours of operation for Pay & Display and Permit Parking is being finalised.
• Proposals to restrict and better manage parking along Orchard Road are also being considered by the Traffic Advisory Group.
• Restricting the volume of HGVs along Clonliffe Road itself is also being assessed.

If you would like more information on these requests or indeed, would like assistance in respect of advancing a similar proposal for your street, please get in touch with me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

ROYAL CANAL GREENWAY PHASE 3 – PROJECT UPDATE

Local T.D. and Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery & Reform Minister, Paschal Donohoe officially marked the beginning of construction of Phase 3 for the Royal Canal Greenway in February. This phase will provide 2.1km of cycling and walking facilities between Newcomen Bridge and Cross Guns Bridge. The contractor has now set up a site compound at the North

Richmond Industrial Estate. As you know the sheet pile works to strengthen the canal bank on the southside between Clarke’s Bridge and the Russell Street Bridge has begun. The construction of the pedestrian bridge abutments and installation of duct services across the canal, east of Lock 3 are planned to start shortly. The design of the ramp on Binn’s Bridge is underway in consultation with Waterways Ireland. If you would like to receive regular updates on the progress of works as part 3 of the Royal Canal Greenway, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com and I’ll arrange for that information to be shared with you.

TACKLING ILLEGAL DUMPING – NAMING & SHAMING OFFENDERS

This year, more than 106 tonnes of illegal dumped rubbish has been removed from streets across the North Inner City. This figure highlights the scale of the scourge facing our communities by those who simply do not care about their area and are hell bent on dumping rubbish wherever and whenever they like! This is not on! Government has approved legislation to enable Dublin City Council install CCTV to help identify those responsible. They should be publicly named and shamed for their actions. This approach worked in the past, before the Data Protection Commissioner decided it was better that we protect these individuals. Relevant codes of practice are now being prepared in order to allow Councils install and operate CCTV and other equipment. Such action obviously is only part of the solution, but it is a significant one. As your local Councillor, I am determined to advocate for this equipment to be in situ as quickly as possible.

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 summer. 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.

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:

The key dates to remember for applicants are:

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.

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.

NEIC COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEME 2023

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 NEIC Community Grants Scheme 2023. The theme for this year’s application process 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.

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?

New to the area? Just turning 18? Make sure you are registered to vote.

Even if you are registered, everyone is being asked to check and complete their details by adding their PPSN, date of birth and Eircode. Visit http://www.checktheregister.ie for more information.

€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:

• €40,000 towards the greening project along Elizabeth Street.
• €67,000 to support Community Initiatives and Festivals including Nollaig na mBan.
• Towards the purchase of additional CCTV to tackle illegal dumping.
• To undertake additional weed treatment on our local streets.
• €14,000 to purchase and install new street litter bins across the area.