North Strand Matters – June 2023

NORTH STRAND FOOTPATH & ROADS UPGRADE

East Wall Road, between North Strand Road and Alfie Byrne Road will be resurfaced as will Bayview Avenue through funding I secured earlier this year. Footpath improvements to East Wall Road and Bayview Avenue will also take place. A contractor for these works is expected to be selected shortly with improvements to begin from the second half of July onwards.

CITY COUNCIL PARKS STRATEGY UNDER REVIEW

The City Council has launched a questionnaire as part of its review of the existing Parks Strategy 2019 – 2022. The survey asks a number of questions such as how often you visit your local park, what do you do there and whether you have any recommendations as to how the experience could be improved? Through the pandemic, our parks became even more of a life line for many people, especially young families and those with older loved ones. I would really encourage you to take part in the survey which is available online at https://consultation.dublincity.ie/parks/parks-questionnaire-2023/. I have asked the City Council to provide me with hard copies of the survey, which I can send to you if you would like to complete it.

NORTH STRAND STREETSCAPE & GREENING IMPROVEMENTS

Residents along the North Strand are effectively living within a building site at present. Regular water outages, traffic restrictions and difficulty in accessing their streets are being experienced by you. While these works continue, Dublin City Council needs to ensure basic services are provided locally, including better street cleaning, weed removal and the provision of more on-street litter bins. As Chair of the Dublin Central Area Committee, I have secured specific funding for the North Strand. I have asked the Greening Strategy team to work with local residents to agree on and deliver tree-planting and greening initiatives which this money can fund. 

FAIRVIEW PARK POLICING MATTERS

Policing here is not working. Having spoken with many North Strand families, I have reiterated to the Gardai, the need for a more proactive, targeted policing approach to the scourge of scrambler bikes in Fairview Park. Coupled with blatant drug misuse, anti-social behaviour and a general unkemptness, Fairview Park is fast becoming a no-go area for our families. The Gardai must increase their visibility in the park. The City Council must improve maintenance restrict access for scrambler bikes. As Chair of the Dublin Central Area Committee, I convened a meeting with local senior Garda officers yesterday where it was confirmed that police checkpoints will be put in place on the approaches to Fairview Park, including from East Wall Road.

TACKLING ILLEGAL DUMPING – NAMING & SHAMING OFFENDERS

This year, more than 190 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish has been removed from streets across the North Inner City. This figure highlights the scale of the problem facing our communities from those who simply do not care. 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. 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 STRAND WEED REMOVAL PROGRAMME

Dublin City Council has contracted Greentown Environmental Services, to undertake weed spraying across the North Strand. The contractor will be working throughout the night next week using quads and vinegar in knapsack sprayers. I understand that Greentown Environmental Services expect to have the area completed within ten days. It will take a further two weeks for the growth to die back. While a new weed removal machine had been purchased by the Area Office, it has been off the road for two weeks due to repairs. Local Public Domain crews will be using it again from this week and are meticulously working through a list of streets I have asked them to prioritise. Keep an eye out for its use on your street. Please contact me by the end of June if you feel the quality of weeding or weed removal has not been completed to a satisfactory level.

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 Minister Paschal Donohoe announced 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 closing date for new applications is 6th July 2023. If you have any questions or indeed require assistance in completing the application process, please TEXT me at 086 – 847 1720.

APPLICATIONS PROCESS FOR 2023 BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR ALLOWANCE

This payment is automatically paid to many families. If you are already in receipt, you do not need to apply. You will get a notification on MyWelfare if you have been paid. The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid during the week beginning 10th July. If you do not get a notification you can still apply for the payment until 30^th Sept 2023. The rates of payment for 2023 have been increased by €100 per child to €260 for children aged 4 – 11 and to €385 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education. If you would like more information on the qualifying criteria for this support, email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?

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

• Anyone over 18 and resident in Ireland can vote in the Local Elections.
• Irish Citizens and British Citizens living in Ireland can vote in General Elections.
• Irish Citizens and Citizens of the EU who live in Ireland can vote in European Elections.
• The electoral registration process has changed, and it is now easier to register to vote and to update your details.

Even if you are already registered, you now need to add your PPSN, date of birth and Eircode. 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.

UPDATING YOU ON THE CLONTARF TO CITY CENTRE WORKS SCHEDULE

I sought an update on the progress of works along North Strand Road at our monthly meeting earlier this week. I am advised that works are expected to continue until early 2024. The recent road closures at Ossory Road, Shamrock Terrace and Shamrock Place facilitated the installation of ducting, watermain, drainage and kerbing. Works between the Five Lamps, through the North Strand to Edge’s Corner in Fairview will switch to the outbound side of the road later this month. However, some work sites will still remain on the inbound side to complete finishing and paving works. Further temporary road closures will be sought by the contractor. I am working to secure a commitment that more advance notice of such closures is provided given the experiences shared with me by householders living in the inbound side of North Strand Road. I circulate regular updates by email of the works programme. If you would like to receive such updates, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

READYMIX SITE REDEVELOPMENT – Latest News

I continue to liaise with the Housing Department of Dublin City Council in order to keep you updated about the proposed redevelopment of the Readymix Site along East Wall Road. Effectively, construction works on site are now not expected to begin until the second half of next year. Planning permission was granted twelve months ago. I will keep you updated of developments in this regard.

SEAN McDERMOTT STREET SWIMMING POOL – Re-opening first week of July!

I can confirm that renovation works have been completed. It will, however, take a number of weeks to carry out a deep clean of the facility and to enable all services to get back on line, including filling and heating of the pool, plant restart, etc. The swimming pool will re-open to the public at the start of July. The Council is finalising a 3 year deal with Swim Ireland to operate the swimming pool. Such an arrangement will see Dublin City Council contributing to the day-to-day running costs of the facility. While at the same time, Swim Ireland will provide programmes, swimming lessons, membership, etc, the cost of which will mirror other Council facilities. It is proposed that Swim Ireland will operate the pool from September. I remember my first year as a Councillor where the very future of the pool was in doubt. But with the Co-operation of officials at the time, the subsequent establishment by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny of the NEIC Government Initiative, the Sean McDermott Street pool got a new lease of life and continued investment for the first time in years. This recent programme of repairs and upgrades are a continuation of that and I am thrilled that the Sean McDermott Street swimming pool will be open from early July and that local kids, schools, clubs and organisations will once again get the chance to make the most of this great local facility.

CHOICE BASED LETTINGS – UPDATE

The most recent round of Choice Based Lettings saw the City Council make 15 one- and two-bedroom properties available in Ballybough House, Charleville Mall, Courtney Place, Crinan Strand, Gardiner Street, Poplar Row, Shamrock Cottages, Spencer Dock and Williams Place Lower. Applications can be submitted up until June 30^th next at 5pm. Completed application forms must be returned to the Area Housing Office, Central Area Office, 51/53 Lower Sean Mac Dermott Street, Dublin 1, D01 HW44 or by E-mail at neic.cbl@dublincity.ie. Email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com if you have applied so that I can assist with your application.