Stoneybatter Matters – May 2024

STONEYBATTER ROADS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME 2024

As YOUR local Councillor, I have been working with officials to secure funding to enable the Roads Maintenance Department to complete further road improvement works in the area. In total, €227,618 has been allocated this year towards the completion of road improvements in Stoneybatter. Upgrading of Blackhall Place has been included. The full resurfacing of Niall Street will also take place as will the upgrade of the road surface in St. Bricin’s Park, on foot of my work as YOUR local Councillor. A contractor will be selected across the coming weeks with the actual works set to take place in the second half of 2024.

STONEYBATTER AREA OF ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION – Update

The Dublin City Development Plan that came into effect in late 2022, makes provision for the designation of Areas of Architectural Conservation (ACA) across the city. An ACA is defined as a place, area, group of structures or townscape that is of special architectural, and historical importance or contributes to the appreciation of protected structures. At present, the city has 24 designated ACAs ranging from historic villages such as Chapelizod, to Georgian streets and squares such as North Great George’s Street, and Mountjoy Square. Another 16 locations have been identified in the Development Plan for possible designation, including Stoneybatter. No specific designation has yet been made; I have asked the Planning Department of Dublin City Council to prioritise the assessment of Stoneybatter. I believe there are many streets in the neighbourhood that warrant inclusion in an ACA, including Fingal Place, St. Joseph’s Road, and Aughrim Street among others. I expect to receive an update on the assessment process from the Chief Executive at our monthly meeting in May. If you have any questions, or suggestions in respect of this issue, please get in touch with me by email at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

ARBOUR HILL TRAFFIC CALMING DEMANDS

Over the last number of years, I have met residents, over their concerns about the traffic speeds and volume of vehicles that use Arbour Hill. The stretch between the Garrison Church and the junction with Manor Street, proving to be the area of most concern. I have been making the argument to Dublin City Council to prioritise this stretch for assessment and the introduction of traffic calming. Therefore, I wrote to the City Engineer demanding that he act, and that specific proposals be examined whereby local householders be engaged with. I have made suggestions and I have shared with the City Engineer other ideas that have been put to me by residents, some of whom I have met again in recent days. Speed surveys are currently being carried out and will be for the next couple of weeks. The City Engineer has also informed me that an engineer is being assigned to the task of advancing measures that can slow down traffic along Arbour Hill. The buildouts towards the Greek Orthodox Church and St. Bricin’s Park have helped to slow down traffic along with the installation of the planting along the perimeter wall of Collins Barracks but I am still advocating for the installation of a zebra crossing to be installed, to be further enhance pedestrian safety.

TACKLING ILLEGAL USE OF E-BIKES, SCRAMBLERS AND E-SCOOTERS

The Gardai, across April, have successfully targeted the illegal use of motorbikes and scramblers, as part of new legislation introduced by the Government. The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 has enabled the Gardai to seize 11 scrambler bikes, 2 E-Scooters, 10 Electric Bikes, 2 stolen High-Powered Motorbikes, and one Quad Bike. Some of the vehicles seized were being used to transport drugs as well as being used to commit dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour. These targeted operations are being led by Garda officers focused on effectively tackling criminality associated with the use of the machines. The Assistant Garda Commissioner with responsibility for Dublin has reassured me that this initiative will continue across the spring and into the summer in order to remove these vehicles involved with either criminal activity or dangerous driving. For more information on the Garda activity in respect of this problem, please get in touch with me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

ARBOUR PLACE (CHICKEN LANE) DERELICT LANDS

The City Council’s Forward Planning Unit is considering the potential to use its Compulsory Purchase Powers to acquire the underutilised and what many consider a derelict site along Arbour Place, otherwise known as Chicken Lane. Many of you have spoken to me over the years about the ownership of those lands and what could be done to clean them up. Therefore, the Planning Department and the Derelict Sites Section are completing due diligence on the matter. In the event that I am re-elected on June 7th next, I will work to keep you updated on this particular issue and what plans Dublin City Council may consider for the lands in question.

2024 COMMUNITY RECOGNITION FUND – Application process open!

Applications are still being accepted under the Government’s Community Recognition Fund, which last year saw €1,855,500 allocated to groups and organisations across the North Inner City. Among the projects that funding was provided last year were Bradog towards their Community Garden and the Aughrim Street Sports Centre in upgrading the heating system and the installation of a building management system. The 2024 scheme is open for applications, and they can be submitted up until May 31^st next. The Community Recognition Fund aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities. Minister Heather Humphreys has allocated €50m towards this year’s programme and applications can be submitted to Dublin City Council. The minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 with a maximum of €500,000 applying. If you are preparing an application, do not hesitate to get in touch with me as I am helping clubs, organisations and societies across the North Inner City at present on the matter.

BIKE BUNKER UPDATE

With so many Stoneybatter householders and residents applying for space within existing Bike Bunkers, I am continuing to press the City Council to expedite the plans to expand this scheme. Details of what has been agreed is available on www.RayMcAdam.com, but I can confirm that the procurement process to select a contractor to operate the scheme is in full swing with the tenders expected to go live very shortly. The sooner we have the contractor in place, the quicker we can roll out the delivery of new Bike Bunkers locally.

OXMANTOWN ROAD TRAFFIC CALMING PROPOSALS

In recent days, I circulated drawings of potential traffic calming interventions that have been prepared by Dublin City Council. While it is important to note that nothing has been finalised, I wanted to make sure that Oxmantown Road residents were aware of the proposals, which are available online at www.RayMcAdam.com for closer examination. The details were presented as part of the Greening Stoneybatter consultation in early February but as YOUR local Councillor, I wanted to make sure that householders on Oxo had the specific details in order to provide specific feedback. Thank you to those who have ready shared their views with me, which I have forwarded to the Transportation Department.

HSE ROLLS OUT MEASLES MMR VACCINE CATCH-UP PROGRAMME

As YOUR local Councillor and member of the HSE Regional Health Forum, I recently sought specific information from HSE officials about developing an awareness campaign against the threat posed by measles to children and young adults in particular. Given how highly infectious measles is and can be an acute and serious infection, the only protection against it is vaccination. Two doses of MMR vaccine are needed and if a child or young adult is not fully protected then MMR vaccines can be obtained from your GP or HSE Vaccination Clinic, details of which are available here – https://www2.hse.ie/services/mmr-vaccine/vaccination-clinics/. The campaign focuses on delivering the MMR vaccine to key groups, who may have missed their vaccines in the past, including children, young adults and health and care workers. For more information, check out my dedicated information page on www.RayMcAdam.com.

FREE BOOKS FOR JUNIOR CERT STUDENTS FROM SEPTEMBER

Free schoolbooks will be available for junior cycle students in public secondary schools and special schools from September. This landmark scheme will offer free schoolbooks, and core classroom resources for all students in Junior Cycle years, which will help parents and guardians with the pressures of back-to-school costs every year. The announcement also delivers on Fine Gael’s commitment to have a first-class education system, which was contained in the Fine Gael 2020 General Election manifesto. As with the primary scheme, schools have the flexibility to use funding to purchase classroom resources to meet the specific learning needs of students once the cost of schoolbooks and core classroom resources are met. This flexibility is particularly important for students with special educational needs.

O’DEVANEY GARDENS REDEVELOPMENT – MAY 2024 Update

I want to keep you updated of progress on the construction works taking place on the former O’Devaney Gardens lands. Across April, the contractor commenced work on Blocks 2 and 3 and have now progressed to the first level. Block 5 ground floor beams have progressed and are now 60% complete. During this month, the contractor will be progressing with the precast superstructure works at Block 2 and Block 3 up to level 2. Further concrete pours and sub-structure works in Block 5 will continue. Concrete pours are planned across May, which may result in later working hours that has been the case to date. These pours will be weather dependent, and the Community Consultative Forum has been provided with indicative dates for these works. If you would like further details, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

STONEYBATTER WEED REMOVAL PROGRAMME 2024

76kms of footpath will be treated this year by Dublin City Council to kill the weeds on our streets. This year’s programme will involve a combination of spraying with New Way Spray, the Weed-hex machine as well as by manual labour. The New Way Spray will be used four times, which represents a doubling of the weed spraying that is usually undertaken. The first spray has now taken place with the remaining three planned across June, August and September. In recent days, I have already requested that more weed removal works be carried out on a number of streets. Please WhatsApp me on 086 – 847 1720 or email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com if additional work is required on your street.

TRAFFIC TRAVELLING ALONG KIRWAN STREET IN WRONG DIRECTION

Kirwan Street householders have been highlighting the problem of vehicles going up Kirwan Street in the wrong direction, I have highlighted this at Council level repeatedly in recent weeks. When I called to homes along Kirwan Street recently, at least two cars went up the street in the wrong direction. As I have said to the Engineers, I’m not convinced signage will be sufficient. In response, they agreed to go back and see what alternative measures could be taken. I’ll update you and Kirwan Street & Cottages householders in the coming days on this.