MARKETS MATTERS – October 2023

GRANGEGORMAN BRING CENTRE – PROTECTED!

Our Bring Centre in Grangegorman has been saved! IT IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE! I have had extensive engagement with Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council. The result is that the Waste Management Department will now not vacate the existing location for our Bring Centre in Grangegorman. He provided me with sufficient additional guarantees, meaning that the facility will only be relocated when “an alternative site is capable of delivering no less favourable services to those that are currently delivered”. Furthermore, the City Council will not “accept an alternative site that is not appropriately sized to accommodate the waste streams that are generated in the area” and is in line with the terms of the Grangegorman Strategic Development Zone Planning Scheme adopted by Councillors in 2009. This is obviously great news for Dublin 7 householders. I want to thank my colleagues, Cieran Perry, Nial Ring and my Fine Gael colleague, Councillor Colm O’Rourke for signing my Section 140 that ensured our Bring Centre would not be going anywhere. Finally, I want to thank you and other residents across Dublin 7 for the support you have given to my campaign. Together, we have secured a great win for our neighbourhood.

DRAFT MARKETS AREA PUBLIC REALM & TRAFFIC PLAN – I want to hear from you!

City Council officials presented details of this Plan to the October meeting of the Dublin Central Area Committee. The purpose of the plan is to support the upgrade of local streets, create new and better open spaces, guide how private development is advanced that will benefit visitors and local residents in the Markets area. The plan is quite extensive. It is available online at www.RayMcAdam.com. Alternatively, if you want a copy of the plan, email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com. In short, the City Council is proposing:

• Footpath upgrades including along Green Street, Beresford Street, George’s Hill, Anne Street North, Strand Street Little and Cuckoo Lane.
• Improvements to existing green spaces in Fr. Matthew Square, Ormond Square and Chancery Street.
• Implement a pedestrian zone on Little Mary Street after 11am
• Pedestrianize Cuckoo Lane and improve the connection with Parnell Street.
• Introduce one-way traffic systems along Mary’s Lane and George’s Hill.
• A streetscape improvement scheme for Mary’s Lane and Little Mary Street.
• Upgrade the existing Halston Street / Green Street / St. Michan’s Park
• Undertake a tree-planting programme along Greek Street
• Upgrade and widen the footpath along Halston Street
• Enhanced pedestrian route along Little Britain Street
• Improve Mary’s Abbey and Meeting House Lane.

This is not an exhaustive list of the proposals contained in the draft plan, but I wanted to provide you with a brief flavour of what is being proposed. Council officials have agreed to undertake a local consultation process, at my request, and this will take place between now and Christmas. Councillors will be presented with a report on the submissions made before final decisions are taken. In the meantime, I would like to hear your thoughts and feedback. Please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com or WhatsApp me at 086 – 847 1720. I look forward to hearing from you.

THE FRUIT & VEG MARKET REDEVELOPMENT

As YOUR local Councillor and Chair of the City Council’s Planning & Urban Form Committee, I am determined to see this project through to construction and completion. Planning permission has been granted which will see a Retail Food Market open and the conservation and refurbishment of the Market Building for future generations. Indeed, our City Development Plan contains numerous objectives to support Markets generally and the provision of a City Food Market. There have been challenges to the delivery of this project, not least the shut down during the pandemic and its impact on Markets internationally which required

a new procurement approach. That being said, as YOUR local Councillor for the last fifteen years, I worked with Minister Paschal Donohoe to help secure funding through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. This money is enabling the City Council to seek tenders from possible contractors by January to begin the conservation and refurbishment works. If you would like more information on this project, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL CHILDCARE COMMITTEE – Update

As Chair of the City Council’s Planning & Urban Form Strategic Policy Committee, I have been examining how, through the planning process, we can increase the availability of affordable childcare. To date, the sub-group I established to examine the issue has identified areas  that directly relate to national planning policy on childcare. As a result, I am liaising with Ministers Roderic O’Gorman and Darragh O’Brien in order to update existing Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Local Authorities. The most important aspect I am urging the Ministers to review and update is the need for new primary schools to be designed in a way that incorporates pre-school facilities.  This shared campus approach would be more sustainable for parents in allowing combined trips for young children; reducing stress for parents and traffic congestion and would also provide the opportunity to increase crèche provision in rapidly growing areas.  Side by side with the review of the childcare Guidelines I have also argued that consideration be given to updating Apartment Standard Guidelines. A key change, I believe, would be the decision to exclude schemes with a high number of one-bed and studio units from the requirement to provide childcare. As a policy-maker, City Councillor and parent availing pre-school facilities, I am deeply conscious of the pressures on the existing system and why the planning process can provide better opportunities for more affordable local childcare. If you would like more information on my work in this regard, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

DRAFT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 2024-2029: Consultation process open!

The Council’s draft climate action plan, Climate Neutral Dublin 2030, sets out the actions that will be taken by the City Council to prepare our city and people living here for the known impacts of climate change – flooding, sea level rise, extreme weather events, drought. Climate Neutral Dublin 2030 will set out how the City Council will mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and contribute the global effort to limit warming to below 1.5C. The publication of this plan is line with the requirements of Section 16 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. The plan has three targets that are interdependent:

• A 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in line with our National Climate Objective by 2030, while striving for neutrality before 2050 as per Dublin City’s participation in the EU Mission for 100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities (Net Zero Cities).
• A Climate Resilient City prepared for the known and unknown impacts of climate change.
• A Just Transition meaning that actions we take do not cause harm.

You can lodge your observations on the draft Climate Action Plan in writing to climateaction@dublincity.ie, which must be submitted by November 2nd next.

HALLOWEEN 2023

Dublin City Council and the Gardai have been working closely to finalise a plan for Halloween. Our local plan will focus on:

• Minimising anti-social behaviour and prevent bonfires.
• Organising a programme of Halloween community events
• Promoting a safe, family-friendly Halloween.

If you come across materials that could be used for illegal bonfires, please contact Litter.Central@dublincity.ie or phone 01 222 5302. Planning is well underway for a series of Halloween themed community activities in St. Michan’s House, Kevin Barry House and Hardwicke Street. Events will include magicians, children’s entertainers, jugglers and will be followed by a disco. MACRO will also be organising a Halloween event for older residents in the Bolton Street / Green Street area on Friday, October 27^th from 4pm. A children’s party will be hosted in the MACRO Building on October 31^st between 2pm and 5pm. As YOUR local Councillor, I worked to secure funding for these events.

KEVIN BARRY HOUSE Improvements

Over the course of the last twelve months, I have organised a series of meetings between Kevin Barry House residents and senior City Council officials. These have resulted in a number of improvements in the complex. New bin chambers in both blocks are being installed. I can also confirm that the Housing Department will be installing new Security Doors in both blocks.

UNAUTHORISED HORSE FAIRS IN SMITHFIELD SQUARE

Markets householders have been in touch with me in recent weeks expressing concern about the repeated holding on unauthorised Horse Fairs in Smithfield. These events that are taking place, contrary to the Smithfield Horse Fair Control Bye Laws that were adopted in 2013. I am particularly concerned about the welfare of horses and other animals that have been brought to these events. I have been liaising with the City Council’s City Centre Team and the Gardai in order to ensure that co-ordinated response including Revenue, the Departments of Agriculture, Social Protection and Customs is in place prevent further similar gatherings taking place. I expect to be able to share further information with you on this issue across the coming weeks.