YOUR COMMUNITY UPDATE 

A chara,

The summer is starting to come into focus, and the buzz in the air is palpable! Easter has been and people are seeing a level of normality return to their lives. It has been a busy time locally and nationally. Recently, I was honoured to be selected by my colleagues on South Dublin County Council as Fianna Fáil Group Leader, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to drive positive impact for all our community. I want to pay tribute to my predecessor Cllr Ed O’Brien for all his work. We continue our weekly walkabouts and I look forward to meeting you in person very soon.

Shane

263 Affordable and Social Housing planned for Kishoge

Housing is one of the biggest issues facing families across our community. But it is a challenge we can overcome. I welcome council plans for Social, Affordable Rental and Affordable Purchase Housing project consisting of 263 new homes, new community facilities, three landscaped open spaces and associated site works on a site located on Lynches Lane to the West of the R136 Outer Ring Road in the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone. These houses represent the first delivery of much needed homes, and the plans are out for public consultation which you can view here.

Well done to Pobalscoil Iosolde!

I was so proud to be in Leinster House a few weeks back to watch students from Pobalscoil Iosolde present as part of the Youth Voices event, alongside fellow public representatives. The students presented the results of their work placement in the Houses of the Oireachtas, providing compelling and thought-provoking findings on mental health and the housing crisis. They did themselves and their community proud and have laid down a challenge to public representatives to heed their call and take action. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí!

Anti-social behaviour at Ballyowen Shopping Centre & Ballyowen Lane

I have been working with residents and community groups on addressing the persistent levels of anti-social behaviour near Ballyowen Shopping Centre and Ballyowen Lane. While there has been some progress in improving the public space at Ballyowen Lane, including Cluain Rí Park, there is much to do to address public safety. A public meeting for residents, businesses and Gardaí will be held to discuss this on Thursday 2nd June at 6:30pm in the Penny Hill. Please attend to make your voice heard. I am also raising the persistent anti-social behaviour near Glenvale with Gardaí.

Citizens’ Assembly on a Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin

I have been honoured to have been appointed as one of the 12 councillor members of the Citizens’ Assembly on a Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin. There are 80 members in total, including the chairperson Jim Gavin. Our remit is to provide a recommendation to Dáil and Seanad Éireann about what form and functions a Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin would have. I will be providing regular video updates on my social media, including my TikTok, so tune in if you’d like to learn more!

Making our parks safe and welcoming

We are lucky to have some great parks in Palmerstown-Fonthill. We need to continue to ensure that they are welcoming to all. I’ve asked the Council to undertake some necessary maintenance work at Hermitage Park playground, including cutting back the nettles in areas used by children and repairing the trampoline. I was delighted that my motion calling for installation of benches in Collinstown Park was carried. I’m hopeful these will be included in next year’s Public Realm Improvement Programme. If you see other things in our parks that need attention, let me know.

Progress for Balgaddy

Over a year ago, Balgaddy Residents Association and the Ronanstown Garda District Local Policing Forum approached the five Palmerstown Fonthill councillors to ask for their support in driving much needed progress for residents in Balgaddy. This has resulted in some progress, though there is more to come. Councillors now receive a quarterly update on work in Balgaddy ensuring that the Council can be made accountable. State agencies are now co-ordinating with one another to ensure that Balgaddy doesn’t fall between the cracks. This is because of the determination of local residents who want the best for their area. The journey has started and there is some distance to go. Well done to all who drive this forward. You can view the most recent Balgaddy update here.

Tree Maintenance

I am pleased, after much lobbying, that trees in Abbeywood, Abbeydale and Earlsfort are to be included in the Council’s new Tree Maintenance Programme which will commence next year. I will be pushing for these locations to be prioritised as work is long overdue in the estates. I am aware that there is further work to be done in Rochfort Downes and Hermitage Valley and I am pursuing having these included on the 2023-2025 Tree Maintenance Programme. Let me know if there are other areas that merit attention.

Lighting upgrade secured for North Clondalkin

I was pleased to learn that LED upgrades to street lights in St Ronan’s are to be included in next year’s upgrade works. Thanks to those residents who raised it with me. I also raised the need for replacement road signs for Wood Avens with the Council – signs have been delivered and are awaiting installation.

Green Flag for Waterstown Park

It was great to attend the raising of the Green Flag at Waterstown Park recently, by the Mayor Peter Kavanagh, as well as the presentation of the recent award won by the park at the LAMA awards. The beauty of Waterstown is rivalled by few places, and is testament to the hard work and commitment of the Palmerstown Meitheal/Tidy Towns, the Pink Ladies and Eddie and the local depot crew. We are lucky to have it on our doorstep. Maith sibh ar fad.

Active Travel for Palmerstown Schools

 The Active Travel School Zone project aims to engage schools, and their communities, within the County to improve safety outside the school gate to better support active travel modes on the journey to and from school. The project is supported by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and delivered by South Dublin County Council. As part of this scheme, there are improvement works planned outside St. Lorcan’s B.N.S. and St. Brigid’s G.N.S., The Oval, Palmerstown. You can view the details here, and submissions can be made until 27 May.

Road resurfacing at Robin Villas

I was pleased to see this long overdue road resurfacing take place at Robin Villas. This is something which I have been raising for quite some time.

Sports Development Grants now open for application!

The SDCC Sports Development Grants are now open for applications! If your club is interested in applying and wants to learn more, you can find further information here. These grants include a special grant for mobile floodlights and mobile goalposts for sports club, an initiative I secured in last year’s Council budget.

Job Alert! 

I am hoping to hire an intern who will work with me in my role as a councillor. A job description will go live in the coming weeks but if you would like to express an interest, please send me an email. This would be a great opportunity for someone who is interested in politics and wants to observe how the council works upfront.

Connect with me on social media!

Would you like to join Shane’s team?

If you would like to influence Fianna Fáil policy, make your voice heard and support my work in delivering strong local representation for our community, let me know and please consider joining Fianna Fáil and delivering for our local community.

WORKING WITH OUR DUBLIN MEP