News & Comment from

Cllr. Deirdre
Insolvency Service

30 Collins Avenue East, Killester, D5. e.mail heneydm@gmail.com Phone 8512031/6183793 Winter 2013

Heney
AN PIRT POBLACHTNACH

The Insolvency Service of Ireland is an independent statutory body which was set up last March following legislation passed in Dil and Seanad ireann. Their website www.isi.gov.ie gives good information on the 3 insolvency options available. The early months have been spent on getting organised, getting the infrastructure in place to operate and issuing guidelines etc. Applications are being taken since early September from Personal Insolvency Practitioners (PIPs) on behalf of insolvent persons. There has been some controversy regarding the guide issued on a reasonable standard of living and reasonable living expenses and more recently comments by a PIP on the needs of an insolvent professional person above those of a PAYE person. Hopefully the next few months will see this new body assisting many insolvent people back on the road to solvency.

Autumn Leaves

The City Council is improving the collection of leaves this Autumn/Winter. The Council knows the priority areas and these will be targeted by Council staff supported by voluntary effort from residents groups who assist. The priority areas such as Griffith Ave and parts of Raheny, Clontarf and Marino all have mature trees with heavy leaf fall, high pedestrian usage and at risk of flooding from blocked shores etc. Its a difficult and slow job, particularly when the leaves get wet and mulched up. Hopefully we will see an improvement.

Battle of Clontarf 1014

Next year is the Millennium of the Battle of Clontarf and Brian Boru. Many local groups will be celebrating the event in what will be a very special year for the people of Clontarf. Dublin City Council will commence their event schedule with the launch of a specially commissioned book by Prof. Sen Duffy on Brian Boru and the Battle in Clontarf Castle on the 23rd October. The Central Bank will issue a small gold limited edition collector coin, probably next May, to mark the Millennium of the Battle of Clontarf.

Website - I launched my website earlier in the year. I hope you find it helpful
in keeping up to date on my comments on all local and national issues. Website: www.deirdreheney.ie email: heneydm@gmail.com Home: 30 Collins Ave East, Killester, Dublin 5. Telephone: 6183793 or 8512031.

City of Neighbourhoods

Local North Central area awards in this City Council event, co-sponsored by Coolock Artane Credit Union, were recently presented. Winners included Rathmore Park; St. Annes Allotments; Harry Byrnes Pub and Raheny Tidy Village Group. Citywide, Raheny Tidy Village Group were overall winners in the residential competition. This is a major achievement. Harry Byrnes Pub won best shop front. Rathmore Park won the 1 150 houses category. Congratulations to the winners and well done to all who participated.

Water Charges

As previously advised, the Government have decided that water charges will apply to households from October 2014. The legislation has been put in place and a new State agency, Irish Water, will take over responsibility for provision of water supply. The installation of water meters is due to commence locally in early October with charges to apply from October 2014 and the first bill to arrive in January 2015. The next move is to decide on the quantity of the free allowance before charges apply. I believe this free allowance must be based on the number of people living in the dwelling and not a flat charge per house or based on house size.

CY Pitch & Putt

Talks continue regarding the future of the pitch and putt club. Lease and annual rental issues still in dispute.

Dublin Bike Scheme

Dublin City Councils bikes scheme has been a huge success over the last 4 years. Currently the scheme has 31,000 long term subscribers and the bikes are used between 5,000 to 7,000 times daily. It is now the intention to expand the scheme with an additional 58 new stations, 950 new bikes and some 2,000 new stands, mainly in the Heuston and Docklands areas. The expansion works are due to be completed by next July/ August.

Dublin City Council have given formal notice of their intention to add Raheny House ( excl. modern extensions) 476 Howth Road and former Edenmore House, St. Josephs Hospital, Raheny to the record of Protected Structures in the City Development Plan. Submissions/ observations can be made to the Conservation Office up to 23rd October after which a final decision will be made.

Raheny

Fianna Fil Recruitment

Clanmoyle Road

Plans on the proposed flood alleviation scheme are almost complete. Communication continues with those residents directly affected by the works. Clontarf Golf Club, Irish Rail, City Council (and their consultants) are all involved, as well as the OPW, which, as the funding authority, must approve final designs.

Fianna Fil has recently carried out a major recruitment drive in third level colleges around the country. Membership has soared by up to 200% in some colleges. If you would like to join Fianna Fil locally or help me in next years Local Elections, please contact me. Anyone over 16 is welcome to join. There is plenty of activity from political meetings to canvassing, newsletter distribution etc., and plenty of exercise too! Please call me if you can help.

St. Annes Park

Finance has been provided for: Resurfacing of tennis courts to commence late October, cost 85,000. Playground improvements to commence soon, cost 100,000. Restoration of Annie Lee Folly, cost 40,000 Above projects are being funded from the City Council Parks Department budget. The City Council has also given Trinity Sports & Leisure Club Donaghmede a grant of 15,000 towards swimming pool running costs

Planning Matters

The following are some local planning applications which can be viewed in Dublin City Council Civic Offices during normal office hours or at www.dublincity.ie 2898/13; permission granted for 5/6 storey nursing home of 147 bedrooms at Northern Cross development Malahide Road 3325/12; Bord Pleanla approval for development at Clongriffin of Mosque and Cultural Centre, 2 storey conference centre, 16 room primary school and 12 room secondary school, fitness centre, apartments & surface carpark. 3521/12; Bord Pleanla decision on approval conditions re 12x3 storey houses with entrance between 50 & 52 Dollymount Ave., Clontarf. 2653/13; permission granted for demolition of house at 18 Seafield Rd. West and construction of 3 detached 1 storey dormer dwellings. 2526/13; permission granted for extension to Howth Rd National School beside Presbyterian Church. 3088/13; application submitted for single storey office at St. Brigids Boys School, Killester. 2780/13; permission granted for demolition of existing extension and build new 2 storey incl classroom at Drumcondra NS Church Avenue. 2525/08; extension of time sought for previous permission for floodlights to Rugby & GAA pitch at St. Pauls College, Sybil Hill Rd. 2401/13; site bounded by Vernon Ave/ Belgrove Rd/Kincora Rd/St Josephs Sq/ Vernon Wood with new entrance from Vernon Ave, application for 17 houses additional information sought.

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Rosie Hackett Bridge

The process of naming the new bridge over the River Liffey for the new LUAS cross city line & other public transport linking Marlborough St on the North side to Hawkins St was completed at the September Council meeting. Councillors indicated their preferences for the final 5 shortlisted names as follows; Rosie Hackett 192 points; Kay Mills 176; Willie Bermingham167; Bram Stoker 92; Frank Duff 80; The other suggestions in the last 10 were Abbey Theatre, James Connolly, George Sigerson, WB Yeats, Ernest Walton. Rosie Hackett was a trade unionist and 1916 veteran who encouraged women to join the 1913 Lockout. This is the first bridge over the Liffey to be named after a woman. The Central Bank has issued a limited edition of a 15 silver proof coin commemorating the centenary of the 1913 Dublin Lockout (cost 44).

Local Elections

The Local Elections are due in May 2014. The Ministers committee has changed the boundaries of the Clontarf Ward from a 5 to a 6 seat ward. This brings in homes on Foxfield Road, Foxfield Heights, Cedar Walk , Rathmore Park, Howth Rd. all of St. Assams; Orchard Rd, Foxes Lane, Watermill Rd, all of Maywood, Bettyglen, Raheny Park, Avondale Park, The Village, The Glen, Main St. & that part of Station Rd up as far as the DART.

Adopt a Street

Over the Summer the City Council initiated a number of Adopt a Street schemes to set a new high standard of street cleaning with help from local business and residents. DCC provide Adopt a Street bibs, sweeping brushes, litter pickers, gloves, bags etc. and will arrange removal of any litter collected. The first scheme started on Killester Ave where residents and business working with DCC meet at 7pm Tuesdays for 20 minutes to keep the area clean. Other schemes include Killester (meet outside Beachcomber Mondays at 6pm) and also along the Clontarf Road on Wednesdays at 7pm. The current main focus is streets with high footfall. If you wish to get involved and Adopt your Street, you can contact me for further details.

Richmond Ave

The unfinished apartment development at numbers 21 and 27 29 Richmond Avenue remains an unsightly mess for local residents. I continue to pursue the issue with City Council officials who say the original planning approval has now expired and the site is regarded as abandoned. It has been examined by Dangerous Buildings Section, is on the Derelict Sites Register and the Unfinished Housing Register, has been issued with a warning notice but there has been no response from the site owner or financial institutions.

Drivers

Since the new plastic driving licences were introduced earlier in the year about 2,000 a day (400,000 in total) have been issued. Existing licences will be replaced with plastic as they expire. The Government have also published new road traffic legislation which will 1. Introduce the concept of novice drivers displaying an N plate for 2 years 2. Set the disqualification level for learner & novice at 6 penalty points 3. Allow roadside tests to check on drug taking 4. Increase penalty points to 3 & 5 (previously 2 & 4) for speeding, mobile phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts. Cllr. Deirdre Heney presenting the Lord Mayors Cup to this years Winner in Clontarf Golf Club

GoCar Car Club

Flood Forum

Dublin City Council has set up a Flood Forum which will provide support and information to communities that have been flooded or are considered to be at risk of flooding. The forum will work with communities and households in giving flood plan and property protection information. There is a range of flood protection products that can be of help. See my website for details and email or phone me for a copy of the flood protection guide.

Operating under the City Councils new bye laws, GoCar recently became the first car club operating 50 cars from 31 pay & display locations in the city. GoCar is a members only car sharing service allowing members to rent by the hour. There is a one off joining fee plus charge per hour and Kilometer for use. Members using GoCars are not charged for parking at pay & display parking spaces as this is covered by the permit fee paid by GoCar to the Council. Local locations include Raheny, Clontarf, Killester and Drumcondra but the 30 locations are well spread around the city. See www.gocar.ie. Car clubs like GoCar have been hugely successful in many European & US cities.