STONEYBATTER MATTERS – July 2024

NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR DUBLIN 7

Seven years ago, I helped secure agreement from Dublin City Council (DCC) to redevelop the former Isolation Hospital site at the corner of Montpelier Gardens and Infirmary Road for community use. My objective was that the site would be refurbished as a community centre, with facilities for local children and youth clubs. DCC circulated indicative plans for the facility at the end of May, in the run-up to June’s Local Elections. I am underwhelmed by what the City Architects and Design Team have prepared. The initial local feedback was similar. I have uploaded the report presented to Councillors to www.RayMcAdam.com. Please take five minutes to review the plans and share with me your thoughts. The Housing Department is eager to advance the planning process later this year, so I would strongly encourage you to get back to me as soon as possible. Email your opinions to RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEME 2024

€386,500 is available for allocation this year through Dublin City Council’s Community Grants Scheme. This programme provides support to a wide variety of groups and organisations across the city annually that facilitate projects, events and activities to encourage social inclusion. The funding is divided into two application streams, that includes:

1. Community Grants (€300,000 with a maximum grant available of €1,500)
2. Informal Adult Education (€86,500 with a maximum grant available of €800)

The deadline for your application to be submitted is Friday 16^th August 2024 at 1pm. Full details are available online at https://citizenhub.dublincity.ie/grants. If you have any specific questions or queries, please email COMMUNITY@dublincity.ie. You can always get in touch with me by Email, WhatsApp or through any of my Social Media channels.

DELIVERING FOR DUBLIN

Following the Local Elections on June 7^th, I worked with Councillors from my own party in Fine Gael, and from the Greens, Fianna Fáil and Labour to secure an agreement as to how best we can, collectively deliver for Dubliners. We reached an agreement that pledges to go ‘back to basics’ over the next five years. We want to prioritise the caretaking of our city that we feel has been neglected over the last ten years by the various parties that have governed the Council. So, what does this mean for you? A programme of ongoing road maintenance, well-kept parks, safer and cleaner streets and active travel. The Dublin City Sports Plan will also be prioritised, making quality sports facilities available for everyone. There is lots to do, more than I have mentioned here – but I look forward to Delivering for Dublin on your behalf and that of everyone living in Stoneybatter. A full copy of the Delivering for Dublin agreement is available online at www.RayMcAdam.com.

STONEYBATTER ROADS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME 2024

Earlier this year, I announced details of the Roads Improvement programme for 2024 and confirmed that Niall Street and St. Bricin’s Park will be fully resurfaced. Outstanding parts of Blackhall Place will also be upgraded this year. Officials from the Roads Maintenance Department confirmed to me this year that they expect the road upgrade works to start in late August. Once I have specific details for both Niall Street and St. Bricin’s Park, I will share that information with householders directly.

STONEYBATTER WEED REMOVAL PROGRAMME 2024

I sought a comprehensive update on the weed removal works programme. Details of which are available online at www.RayMcAdam.com. The Public Domain Unit of Dublin City Council has indicated that two sprays of the vinegar-based solution have already taken place. I have to say, in all honesty, that the spraying so far has been hit and miss. The third and fourth sprays are scheduled for August and October. The list of streets locally to be included for those sprays are available on www.RayMcAdam.com. If you want information about your own street, please WhatsApp or TEXT me directly with your name and street to 086 – 847 1720.

STANLEY STREET REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The May meeting of the Dublin Central Area Committee initiated the planning process for the redevelopment of the existing Fire Brigade Maintenance Depot on Stanley Street. Details of the planning report are available on at https://shorturl.at/FqJtr. 168 homes are being proposed with the redevelopment ranging in height of between three and six storeys high. In total, there will be 87x 1-bedroom apartments, 56x 2-bedroom apartments and 13x 3-bedroom apartments. 12 duplexes are also planned, comprising 6x 1-bedroom homes and 6x 3-bedroom homes. The statutory consultation will begin shortly. Sign up to my Stoneybatter WhatsApp Channel for details of how you can take part in that process when it opens.

CLEANING UP STONEYBATTER

Recently there has been a considerable increase in illegal dumping and insufficient emptying of litter bins. I want to share with you some details about what actions are planned by the Council to help clean up Stoneybatter and the wider city. The CCTV, approved as part of the GDPR compliant scheme, is set to be installed by September. The City Council will be adopting a zero-tolerance approach to anyone found dumping and prosecutions will follow. 36 new general operatives have been appointed to the Waste Management and Public Realm Cleansing section. 18 new road sweeping machines and new wash vehicles have been purchased and will be utilised across the North Inner City. Interviews for 50 extra general operatives are now ongoing, most will serve the residential communities of Dublin Central. Separately, the Council is reviewing the derogation for the continued use of waste bags for the disposal of household rubbish. I am a strong proponent of the caddie system which is being trialled across the North Strand. Such a system enables every household to dispose of their brown, green and black bin waste in a way that is cleaner than the existing system. I also want to see more litter bins installed. But I want to make sure those bins that are already in place are emptied much more REGULARLY. For example, by 10am last Tuesday morning, bins across Stoneybatter had still not been emptied from the weekend, which is unacceptable. I had to speak with the Head of the Waste Management Department to sort this out. This should be part and parcel of the daily schedule. The schedule itself has not been meaningfully updated in years and it is another of the measures the new coalition I lead on the City Council will work to rectify.

SENIOR ALERT SCHEME

This scheme provides funding for a free personal alarm to help over 65s live securely and independently. Over the last five years over €22 million has been allocated under this Scheme. Please contact me if you require further information so that I can put you in touch with the local organisation administering this.

GDA PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION – PRUSSIA STREET GATEWAY

The Grangegorman Development Agency is hosting a Public Information session next Tuesday, July 23^rd in Park House, Floor 4, 191 North Circular Road to discuss plans for the new Prussia Street Gateway. A planning application is set to be lodged with Dublin City Council shortly and this session will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about the project. This proposal, if granted permission, will provide a key pedestrian and cyclist route to and from the Grangegorman campus onto Prussia Street. The information session will take place between 3.30pm and 7.30pm and you are encouraged to attend. Hopefully, I will see you there on Tuesday evening next.

O’DEVANEY GARDENS REDEVELOPMENT – JULY 2024 UPDATE

Sisk have completed the structure on Block 2 and have commenced preparation works for the external brickwork. Block 5 will progress up to level 03 for the most advanced section of the block, with the sub-structure works (ground beams and rising walls) to the rest of the block substantially complete by the end of July. The piling works on Blocks 6 and 10 have been largely completed and the storm-water drainage infrastructure has also been installed. This month’s Community Forum was advised that construction of the next tranche of 379 homes is ahead of schedule, these are homes that will be a mix of public, for purchase, cost-rental, and affordable purchase. All of the infrastructure and public realm works as part of the Enabling Contract are finished. SISK operators will also be calling to homes in the vicinity of the development site to organise the latest window cleaning programme which is set to begin next week. Please get in touch with me if you do not receive any contact from SISK or its operator.

FIXING THE PARKING PROBLEM IN DRUMALEE

I will be undertaking a door-to-door survey in the coming weeks to get your suggestions and feedback. The issue was discussed at the July meeting of the Dublin Central Area Committee last week, Traffic Engineers recommended that Permit Parking was the best course of action to rectify the problem. I am not convinced that alternatives have been properly assessed and that is why I will seek your thoughts on the matter, before presenting a suite of proposals for your consideration and possible implementation by Dublin City Council.

BUSCONNECTS – BLANCHARDSTOWN CORE BUS CORRIDOR

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for the Blanchardstown Core Bus Corridor as part of the BusConnects project. Full details of what this means for Stoneybatter and how the management of local traffic will change, please log onto https://shorturl.at/BkPO0. If you would like a hard copy of this information, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

STONEYBATTER POLICING MATTERS

As YOUR local Councillor, I remain concerned about the level of anti-social and criminal behaviour. Too many residents feel intimidated in their community. Drug dealing and drug use are occurring all too visibly. Householders have spoken to me about an increase of street prostitution again as well as the ongoing issues in Chicken Lane. I believe we need a twin track approach. Dealing with the source of these problems and dealing with those involved as part of a regular, ongoing and visible Garda initiative. As more officers are allocated to the Bridewell, you need to see more of them on your street and across Stoneybatter providing that reassurance and acting as a deterrent against crime and anti-social behaviour. Further to my update earlier this year about Garda numbers in the Bridewell, the Superintendent and Inspector Hunt are strengthening the local Community Response Unit. To ensure officers in this unit respond effectively to issues on the ground, please report any issue or matter of concern to the Bridewell at NC.Bridewell.CE@garda.ie or by phone on 01 666 8200.

STONEYBATTER MATTERS WhatsApp Channel

Don’t forget to sign up to my Stoneybatter Matters Channel, where I provide bitesize updates on all things Stoneybatter. You can register on the channel online at https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCrktoLikg8ZJKpUk1Z.