These past few weeks have thrown up more challenges than anyone could have foreseen. The discovery of the new COVID-19 variant has been a cause for concern and the impact of Storm Barra added so much uncertainty. However, we can look towards the end of the year and a chance to relax over Christmas. At this time of year, taking care of our mental health is so important and I would encourage you to be kind to yourself. I hope to be out meeting and speaking to residents very soon in the New Year. In the meantime, have a happy and peaceful Christmas break!
Nollaig Shona!
Shane
Landmark Council Budget passed
During November, South Dublin County Council adopted its budget for 2022 – including the largest housing budget in the Council’s history. The budget as adopted reflects many of my priorities and will deliver real improvements for our communities. One which I’m very proud of a suggestion I made for is the commencement of a fund for mobile floodlights to light our pitches during the winter months. This will significantly enhance the capacity of our clubs to train over the winter months. I also secured extra funding for tree maintenance, grass cutting, laneway clean-up and graffiti removal. Other local highlights include funding to redevelop Quarryvale Park, permeability works in Balgaddy, drainage works on pitches in Lucan and a feasibility study on developing the 12th Lock in Lucan. You can see more of the highlights of the budgethereandhere.
Supporting Palmerstown and Lucan Tidy Towns
Congratulations to Palmerstown Tidy Towns on their excellent result in this year’s Tidy Towns Competition – an increase of 18 points. The Pink Ladies and Palmerstown Meitheal Tidy Towns do an outstanding job in keeping Palmerstown really well. However, more strategic support is needed from the Council in ensuring the Palmerstown Tidy Towns Strategic Plan is delivered. I proposed a motion, with other councillors, to ensure that South Dublin County Council lives up to its side of the bargain. Congratulations also to Lucan Tidy Towns on winning a bronze medal.
Funding secured for Lucan Demesne & King John’s Bridge
Iwelcomethe awarding of €342,000 to provide the upgrade of the entrances into Lucan Demesne from the new plaza area and the route into St. Catherine’s Park. This funding is part of the €15.5 million for 84 outdoor adventure projects announced recently. I am also pleased to see that the conservation works on King John’s Bridge in Griffeen Valley Park have been completed. I have been pressing for an update on when this work would be undertaken – you can learn about what work was completedhere.
Council Meeting Update
TheNovember meeting of South Dublin County Counciltook place early last month.You can view the full agenda hereand myvideo updateis just below. Points to note included the opening of the public consultation on some works for Lucan Village will open before the end of the year, including improvements to Lucan Demesne car parkingwhich is open now, work on the weir and works to the Village Green, public consultation on works to Corkagh Park and the decision of the Council to keep a piece of Council land in Council ownership for the provision of public housing.
Tree Maintenance
One of the largest issues raised with me on a consistent basis is the need to prune trees, maintain them so that they are suitable for housing estates and remove them if they are dead, diseased or dying.Tree maintenancein South Dublin is performed on an estate/area basis and follows a three year cycle (the current one being from 2020-2022). The list of estates on that cycle arehere. The Fianna Fáil group has consistently secured more funding for tree maintenance since the local elections, and as a result of this, despite COVID restrictions, progress is being seen in the programme. The most recent update was presented to councillors a few weeks back and can be seenhere. If you would like your estate to be considered on the next Tree Maintenance Programme, please get in touch.
BusConnects
TheBusConnects scheme for our area was rolled out on 28th November. By now, residents will have received abookletoutlining the new routes and frequencies. I am providingfeedbackto the National Transport Authority, Dublin Bus and Go Ahead! on the provision of the new services. If you have points, good or bad, which you would like to raise, please let me know. The90 minute farehas also been introduced recently, to increase movement between different modes of transport.
Area Committee Meeting Update
We also recently held theNovember meeting of the Lucan, Palmerstown and North Clondalkin Area Committeemeeting and you can view my video updatehere.The full agenda is here, where you can see the items I raised, including a quarterly update on Balgaddy and a commitment of completion of the 2020 footpath repairs programme in certain estates in Lucan.
Bin provision for North Clondalkin
Earlier this year, I got a commitment from South Dublin County Council that they would install new bins in North Clondalkin. This is something that has often been raised with me by residents, and there are large parts of the area that do not have adequate litter bin provision. Ihave followed up on thisand the bins will be installed before the end of the year, including one at the entrance to Collinstown Park.
Hedge-cutting & leaf-sweeping
South Dublin County Council’s hedge trimming schedule concludes in March in October. We haveseen good progressin making our footpaths and cycle lanes more accessible. Let me know if you spot any brambles or hedging which are causing obstruction. The leaf-sweeping crews are still visiting our area – get in touch if you would like me to request a visit to your road, by emailing smoynihan@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie.
Ballyowen Castle Community Centre
Ballyowen Castle Community Centre is looking for volunteers to join its board of management. The centre is located beside Centric Health at Ballyowen Shopping Centre in Lucan (beside the Lidl/Ben Dunne Gym building). No experience is necessary and it is hoped to organise an AGM in early January. If you’re interested, let me know and I’ll put you in touch!
Palmerstown Remembers by Candlelight
Palmerstown Community Council and Palmerstown Festival are holding a candlelight remembrance ceremony for all those in our community who have passed away over the past two years. It will take place on Sunday 12 December at 4pm in Glenaulin Park, and attendees are asked to wear a facemask.
Vacancies at South Dublin County Council
South Dublin County Council is hiring for a number of vacancies in different departments. You can view the full list of vacancieshere.
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