Stoneybatter Matters – January 2025

CLEANING UP DUBLIN – Keeping you updated!

Dublin City Council is ramping up its efforts to combat illegal dumping with the installation of CCTV cameras in targeted areas in the north inner city. These cameras will be operational by the end of January 2025 and mark a significant step in the council’s commitment to addressing waste management issues across the city. The installation of CCTV cameras is a vital step in our ongoing efforts to reduce illegal dumping and improve the cleanliness of Dublin. The Council is also working on broader waste management initiatives to ensure Dublin remains a welcoming and sustainable place for all residents and visitors. The council plans to expand CCTV surveillance to key waste collection points such as bring centres and bottle banks, where illegal dumping has become a recurring problem. This initiative is part of Dublin City Council’s broader waste management strategy, which includes measures such as banning plastic bin bags on city streets, increasing operational staff, deploying additional litter wardens, and upgrading waste management infrastructure. To date;

• 90 new Waste Operatives and Public Domain officers have been hired.
• Additional Litter Wardens have been recruited to support enforcement work in the city.
• A new Compact Sweeper Fleet has also been put in place.
• A Side Loader fleet is on order and the 16 vehicle Large Road Sweeper Fleet will be replaced this year.

The removal of the bag derogation in the commercial district is having a positive impact with a huge reduction in the numbers of bags on streets. Henry Street, Abbey Street, O’Connell Street will be included in Phase 2 of this initiative which will take place after Easter. Discussions between officials and Waste Collection Operators are continuing with a view to reducing the dependency of plastic bags for the disposal of household waste. On-street shared bins, large compactor waste facilities and waste disposal caddie system are among the suggestions being considered with the Stoneybatter area being considered as a potential location for the trialing of a pilot initiative. I will work to keep you updated across the coming year.

DRUMALEE MUGA – future Plans?

The Parks Department of Dublin City Council is currently examining the future use of the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) in Drumalee, opposite homes along Aughrim Street. This confirmation comes on foot of my asking the Council to upgrade and enhance the facility that has been situ since 2013. In addition to this work, officials from the Parks Department will be reaching out to local sports clubs and organisations in the coming weeks to discuss potential use of the MUGA. It is expected that an update will be provided to local Councillors at our February meeting, and I will share those details with you afterwards.

DEVELOPING VACANT INFIRMARY ROAD SITE FOR HOUSING

Dublin City Council’s housing officials have sought expressions of interest from Approved Housing Bodies with a view to developing the currently vacant site along Infirmary Road, between Montpelier Gardens and Montpelier Hill. The top of the site has been identified for community use, which I have details on in this newsletter. The bottom two-thirds of the site is now the subject of a draft plan prepared by Tuath Housing. No specifics have yet been shared with me, but I understand the City Council will be seeking a mixed tenure development providing between 80 and 100 homes on the site. Before any formal designs are advanced, the Council and Tuath would have to agree on establishing a Design Team and then undertaking a survey of the site. As and when more information is available to me, I will make sure to share it with you.

CHICKEN LANE CPO – Making sure you are kept up to date!

Since first raising the potential of Dublin City Council compulsory purchasing land along Chicken Lane, the Property Management Section has been pursuing the owners of the site in question. Prior to Christmas, in response to a statutory request, Dublin City Council received a reply “from an architect on behalf of the owner regarding plans for the site”. The Council is now engaging directly with the architect and the owner clarifying some of the information provided to date. While I welcome the engagement of the landowners with the Council, it is clear the only reason this is happening is because I have sought for the lands to be CPO’ed. I intend to keep the pressure up and to that end, I ask those who support the approach I have taken, to email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com detailing your support of CPO’ing the site, so that I can reiterate the community’s view as well. Section 14 of the Derelict Sites Act provides the legal avenue for Dublin City Council to acquire a derelict site through the CPO process, however, the landowner has the right to object to An Bord Pleanala. This is why I want to show officials just how much support exists locally for this compulsory purchase the lands along Chicken Lane. I hope this information is of assistance to you but please get in touch, if you have any specific questions or queries.

HANLON’S CORNER JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT SCHEME deferred!

The National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council Transportation Officials have decided NOT to proceed with the interim Hanlon’s Corner junction improvement scheme. Both bodies reviewed the proposed programme, following on from the granting of planning permission for the Blanchardstown to City Centre Core Bus Corridor last June that includes a full upgrade of the existing junction layout. The lack of certainty about this project has been frustrating in the extreme but given the confirmation provided to me, I wanted to share that information with you.

RECENT PLANNING PERMISSIONS APPROVED by Dublin City Council

Earlier this month, the City Council granted planning permission for two key long-term housing and community projects. These include:

• Stanley Street (Fire Maintenance Depot) site redevelopment for 167 homes, including 86x 1-bedroom apartments, 57x 2-bedroom apartments, 12x 3-bedroom apartments, 6x 1 bedroom duplexes and 6x 3 bedroom duplexes. Construction work is not expected to begin until early 2026 and once completed, an Approved Housing Body will manage the entire complex.
• New Community Facility on the site of the former Isolation Hospital Building on Infirmary Road. Construction work is expected to begin later this year with an indicative completion date of Autumn 2026.

EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD

Are you planning a holiday abroad this summer? If you are intending to go somewhere within the European Union, you should apply for a European Health Insurance Card, as it will let you get healthcare abroad for free, or at a reduced cost. You can apply online at https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/ehic/. If you have any difficulties in applying, please get in touch with me.

DALYMOUNT PARK REDEVELOPMENT – Update

I am regularly asked about the redevelopment of Dalymount Park and how it will have a positive impact on Dublin 7. Planning permission for a redeveloped Municipal Stadium and community facility was granted in February 2024. Just before Christmas, local Minister, Paschal Donohoe T.D. confirmed funding of €24.6m towards the project from the Government’s Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund. It is intended that the construction phase of the works will begin at the end of the new League of Ireland season in November. Once on site, it is anticipated that the construction period will be approximately 24 months in duration. If you would like more information on this important municipal project, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

OTHER LOCAL NEWS…

• I secured an update from City Council officials on the Bike Bunker procurement process this month. Those details are available online at www.RayMcAdam.com.
• The existing 46A and 145 bus routes are changing as part of Bus Connects. I have provided details of these changes and the new routes impacting Stoneybatter at www.RayMcAdam.com.
• Footpaths on Harold Road are being upgraded this week. The Council will shortly agree on the 2025 programme of road and footpath improvements, and I will communicate details once it has been finalised.
• Work to deliver projects as part of Greening Stoneybatterwill be advanced this year. These include the on-street tree planting that was due to take place in 2024 as well as upgrading the railing and the creation of a new gate at Billy Edwards Park.