Stoneybatter Matters – March 2025

GARDAI SEIZE E-MOTORBIKES, E-BIKES IN TARGETED OPERATION

As technology advances, new and differing modes of transport are becoming increasingly popular, especially for city based householders. As they do, issues with their power and speed, not to mention, their use on footpaths continues to be raised with me. I have been pursuing the matter with the Department of Transport and I have been advised that new regulations have been introduced which set out requirements for e-scooter construction, equipment and use while being operated in public places, including speed, location and age restrictions. In addition, the Road Traffic Act 2010 (Part 3) (Fixed Charge Offences) Regulations 2024 (SI 227 of 2024) provide for fixed charge penalties of €50 for certain e-scooter offences. Separately, we have seen these machines being used to facilitate criminal activity. The Gardaí have been working to tackle the issue. Just before Christmas, the Bridewell Community Garda Engagement Unit along with the Divisional Drug Unit launched Operation Meacán. This initiative is focused on tackling the use of electric motorbikes, e-scooters and e-bikes that are being used for criminal activity. Items seized during this day of action were:

• 6 high-powered electric motorbikes, ranging in value between €2000 and €10000)
• 6 e-bikes, ranging in value between €500 and €2000.
• 20 e-scooters, ranging in value between €200 and €700.
• 19 shotgun cartridges
• Designer goods valued at over €9000.
• €3410 in cash
• €575 worth of drugs

I continue to actively work with the Gardaí to have this issue addressed and will work to keep updated on further developments.

O’DEVANEY GARDENS REDEVELOPMENT AFFORDABLE & PUBLIC HOUSING – Update

As Co-Chair of the O’Devaney Gardens Community Consultative Forum, I wanted to share with you an update on the status of the redevelopment project and the delivery of new public and affordable housing. Between now and October 2026, 304 apartments and houses will be delivered, 165 of which will be for affordable purchase and the remaining 139 provided for public housing. The breakdown of these units is:

Further details of the construction programme for the redevelopment are available on www.RayMcAdam.com. There, you will also find information about the Dublin City Council Affordable Purchase Scheme and the criteria you must comply with, in order to be successful.

GARDAÍ CRIME PRVENTION CLINIC – SMITHFIELD BIKE MARKING INITIATIVE

In early February, Community Policing officers from the Bridewell held a Crime Prevention Clinic in Grangegorman where almost 40 bikes were marked with a unique property-owner identifier. One bike was marked every three minutes! Given the success of this initiative, a further BIKE MARKING CLINIC will be held by the Gardai in Smithfield Square, this coming Saturday, March 1^st between 12noon and 4pm.

CLEANING UP DUBLIN – KEEPING YOU UPDATED

As you know, I am continuing, as your local Councillor, to keep the pressure on Dublin City Council to improve our waste management services both in the City Centre and in residential neighbourhoods. In February, the Waste Management Section made a presentation to the Public Realm Strategic Policy Committee providing further specific information about the new staff that have been hired and the areas they are working in, increased enforcement activity, improved litter prevention and the objectives of the year ahead. You can view that presentation online at http://www.RayMcAdam.com. As a member of that Committee, I sought clarity from officials as to how communities like Stoneybatter will see an improvement in the level of cleanliness over the next twelve months as a result of the changes being made? I secured confirmation that the Litter Management Plan and Street Cleaning schedule review will be presented to the Committee in April. I will report further on this in the coming months. The Council has agreed to my suggestion that a new timesheet will be required of businesses to clean up outside their premises, similar to that which is employed by the hospitality sector for hourly sanitary facility checks be adopted. Finally, Waste Management services have agreed to locating Litter Wardens in the area to tackle the scourge of horse fouling on local streets and thereby utilise the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act, in terms of enforcement. Email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com if you have any questions or queries arising from the information outlined above. 

CROWDFUND DUBLIN – SPRING 2025

Dublin City Council working with community fundraising platform Spacehive, has launched an exciting opportunity for local residents to fundraise and deliver projects that matter to them called ‘Crowdfund Dublin City’. The Council has a fund of €300,000, and is looking to invest in projects that will enhance green spaces, create colourful, vibrant and inclusive public spaces, or support sustainable communities and environmental initiatives. Through the fund, community groups, social enterprises, local charities and individuals with community support could potentially receive a pledge of up to 50% of their crowdfunding target, capped at €5000. The Spring 2025 round is now open with a deadline of Wednesday, 30th April to have projects fully costed, any relevant permissions in place and the project page created on Spacehive page, which is accessed via https://www.spacehive.com/movement/dublincity/about.

ARBOUR HILL TRAFFIC CALMING PROPOSAL

The Transportation Department of Dublin City Council is continuing to examine how to make Arbour Hill safer for pedestrians and to slow down vehicular traffic. To this end, engineers are proposing to reduce the width of the road at the Garrison Church by installing build-outs and speed ramps. A formal design of the scheme has yet to be shared with me, but once it has, I will circulate it locally. It is envisaged by the engineers that these works could take place during the summer, but I will know more once a formal presentation is shared with me and Councillor colleagues. I am continuing to engage with the engineers so to how to improve road safety between Ard Righ Road and the junction with Manor Street. I will provide a further update on this across the coming weeks.

GREENING STONEYBATTER – REACTIVATED

After a prolonged delay, the Parks Department of Dublin City Council has reactivated the implementation of the Greening Stoneybatter strategy. This has started with the proposed tree planting along Moira Road, Ben Edair Road and Fitzwilliam Place North, at the junction outside The Barber’s pub. In total 11 trees will be planted along Ben Edair Road, and a new pedestrian crossing and tree planting will take place at the junction of Fitzwilliam Place North and Grangegorman Lower. Traffic Engineers and officials from the Parks Department are reviewing all of the feedback received regarding the Oxmantown Road greening proposals and a further report, I am advised, will be presented to Councillors this month. As I mentioned in the January edition of ‘Stoneybatter Matters’, the railings at Billy Edwards Park are to be upgraded and a new gate installed on the Manor Place / Oxmantown Road side of the park. If you would like more information on Greening Stoneybatter, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com.

2025 GRANGEGORMAN VIBRANT COMMUNITY FUND

Since 2014, the Grangegorman Development Agency has operated the Vibrant Community Fund to support community-based and community-focused initiatives locally. The purpose of this fund is to:

• Support ongoing community development in the area.
• Build positive relationships and foster good communications at community level.
• Facilitate a better understanding of the work and needs of local community groups.

Grants are awarded in each calendar year from a total annual Vibrant Community Fund of €10,000, subject to confirmation and availability of funding on an annual basis.  Grants are awarded from two separate streams (see eligibility criteria below) and all grants must be spent within the calendar year in which they have been awarded.

• Stream 1: Two grants of €2,500 each: a grant of €2,500 will be awarded to two eligible applicants for larger-scale community festivals, events and activities.
• Stream 2: Five grants of €1,000 each: a grant of €1,000 will be awarded to five eligible applicants for a range of smaller-scale activities, projects, events and initiatives.

The grant sizes/split are subject to GDA review ahead of opening the fund for applications each year the fund operates. The deadline for applications to be submitted to the GDA is March 24th at 5pm. You can complete the application form online via https://ggda.ie/vibrant-community-fund.

HSE MOBILE HEALTH UNIT

Running in parallel with An Garda Síochána’s Community Engagement programme across Stoneybatter and the north-west inner city, the HSE Mobile Health Unit will be located in the area across a number of Tuesday mornings between now and early April. The purpose of this initiative is to meet local residents and householders, discuss any health concerns you may have and to provide advice and information on referrals to appropriate supports and within the health service. The HSE Mobile Unit will be located:

• Tuesday, March 11^th;
  • 10.30am: St. Bricin’s Park, Arbour Hill.
  • 11.45am: Smithfield Square.

• Tuesday, March 18^th;
  • 10.30am: Aughrim Street, outside Manor Take Away.
  • 11.45am: Blackhall Housing Complex, Dublin 7.

You do not need to make an appointment to speak with HSE officials, just turn up and they will be only too happy to engage.