I was honoured to have been re-elected to South Dublin County Council to represent my community at the local elections in June. I am very grateful to the 1,348 people who trusted me with their first preference vote and to everyone who indicated a preference. Thanks to my fantastic team and family for their incredible support. We have welcomed a new member to our family since I wrote to you last, and are enjoyinglife as a family of five.
Since June’s election, I have been selected by Fianna Fáil to contest the next general election in Dublin Mid-West. I relish this opportunity but want to assure you that I will continue to work as hard as I can for the community I represent. We are out and about on our walkabouts, and I look forward to seeing you soon!
As ever, if you would like to know more, please feel free to get in touch, or follow my work onFacebook,Instagram,TikTokandX.
Le gach dea-ghuí,
Shane
Budget 2025 update
Yesterday, my colleague Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Finance, presented Budget 2025 to Dáil Éireann. This Budget is one that understands the pressures faced by families up and down the country, puts money back in your pocket, and also makes adequate provision to plan for the future. It maintains spending in public services but also provides support for working families. You can read more about the measures announced in the Budgethere. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Sports Capital Grants success for Dublin Mid-West
I wasdelighted to see so many clubsacross Dublin Mid-West benefit from the funding announced under the Sports Capital Grants/Community Sports Facility Fund in September. Congratulations to Lucan Sarsfields, Round Towers GAA Club, St Francis’ FC, Clondalkin Rugby Club, Lucan BMX Club, Commercials GAA, Lucan Harriers, St Mary’s GFC, St Finian’s GAA and Beech Park and Slade Valley Gold Clubs on their successful applications. It was alsogreat to see South Dublin and Fingal County Councilssuccessful in achieving funding to upgrade local sports facilities. Thank you to all the volunteers who work for our clubs, and especially those who took the time to prepare and submit the necessary paperwork.
An Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD visits Lucan
It wasgreat to welcome An Tánaiste Micheál Martin TDto Lucan recently today where we spent time speaking and listening to local residents, community groups (including Lucan Tidy Towns) and businesses about important matters for them. I took the opportunity to raise a number of matters with the Tánaiste which have been raised with me, including a need for improved public transport in our area, continued support for our SMEs and a need to increase Garda presence on our streets. Thanks to everyone who took the time to speak with us.
Public Transport Update
I ampleased to have securedadditional departures on the C1 routes which commenced in the past week, and a promise of additional departures on the C2 for commuters in Lucan. However, this is only a start. We still need additional capacity at weekends, as well as increased reliability and later starting points. There is a broader issue here however. On door after door, day after day, I hear first-hand from commuters about how the public transport system isn’t working for them. Last Sunday in the Mail on Sunday, Iwrote a pieceoutlining some quick actions which the NTA could take to address the pressures on our public transport system across bus, train and Luas.
Policing
The summer has seen really positive engagement between local Gardaí and the communities which they serve, as made evident from the various Garda open days inLucan, Ballyfermot andClondalkinstations. A concern which is raised with me at door after door is the consistent need for more Garda visibility on our streets to improve the feeling of public safety in our area. I welcome the decision to open Rathcoole Garda station from 8am to 6pm during the week which will be welcome news to the community there. The Local Policing Forum for the Ronanstown Garda district will hold its public meeting (an opportunity to interact with local Garda leadership and South Dublin County Council) on 17 October at 7pm in Ballyowen Castle Community Centre.
Public Realm Improvements
I have been very pleased to see various improvements to our public realm take place over the past few weeks, following my request, In recent weeks, I was happy to seework take placein the area between Wood Avens and St Ronan’s to clear overgrowth and excessive shrubbery. This is a direct result of working with residents in Wood Avens who asked me to raise the issue, as well as joining a Deputation meeting earlier on this year. I have also been pleased to see potential drug dealing dens outsideAbbeywoodandColthurstcleared by Council staff, following my representations on behalf of residents. Well done to all residents associations who are organising clean-up days in their estates, most recently inEarlsfort. I have requested that overgrowth be cleared from footpaths at Ballydowd Grove and Beech Park and expecting this work very soon.
Pavilion Programme Planning Process underway
Fighting for provision of proper changing rooms and suitable storage facilities in our public parks is something I have fought for since being elected. I have consistently been pushing for progress on this for the past few years, as well as getting planning for units up and running in new locations by tabling questions at Council meetings and requesting updates. The pavilions are being delivered as a modular build programme to avoid the delays that were seen with the previous tendering process. Following my intervention, I am pleased that the design for Collinstown Pavilion has been revised to six changing rooms. The new projects have commenced their planning processes under Part 8, which went to public consultation and will end on 9 November. Planning has already been granted for units at Griffeen and Corkagh Park. You can see the proposalshere.
Road maintenance and safety
I have followed up on the promised repair works to the R148 junction by the Oval in Palmerstown. A contractor has been appointed and should be on site imminently – you can watch my full updatehere. I am pleased to see yellow boxes placed outside Foxborough Gardens, following my representations and extension of the yellow box on the Neilstown Road. There are also planning safety improvements at the N4 slip road near Kew Park Junction. The works aim to slow down traffic, improve visibility for drivers and cyclists, and make the junction safer for everyone. I have been requesting such works for some time and am happy to see progress on them. I am disappointed that road safety markings have not been refreshed on the routes to Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig and Coláiste Cois Life and I am now actively pursuing this.
Progress on school building
We are, at last, starting to see long overdue work commence on the construction of much needed new school buildings. I recentlyvisitedHoly Family Community School in Rathcoole, where I saw the construction work underway. Similarly, it has been good to see works start on the Griffeen Community College site, as well as on the campus of my old school, Coláiste Chilliain. There was welcome news for Scoil Nano Nagle recently, with the issue of the letter of intent for the delivery of additional mainstream & special education classrooms for children in the school. There is more to do, however including the advancement of new buildings for Divine Mercy JNS and SNS and St Thomas’ JNS and Scoil Áine Naofa. Fighting for expansion and improvement of our schools in Dublin Mid-West is a priority for me.
Housing Adaptation Grants
There was great news announced last week on changes to the Housing Adaptation Grant from my colleague Darragh O’Brien TD:
– grant limits to increase by 30%
– income thresholds to increase by 25%
– means test to be reformed
This is so welcome as I know how important these grants are to people. See my full updatehere.
Lucan Pool Update
On 6 September, I received an update on the progress of Lucan Pool. To the frustration of many, the contractor has advised a revised completion date of the end of November which is being reviewed by the Council. If this is borne out, then it is reasonable to assume that the pool will be open by the start of February. However, we await an update on the feasibility of this new date. I’m actively pushing the Council to ensure that the pricing is fair and affordable for Lucan residents. I’ll keep you informed with more updates as they come.
Out and About!
It has been a fantastic few months for various community events all across the area. Well done to the organisers of theLucanandClondalkinFestivals which attracted record crowds! I really enjoyed the family fun days inRathcoole,Saggart,Round Towers,BalgaddyandBallyowen– well done to the clubs, community centres and organisers. There were two super colour runs which were really well attended – theCorkagh ParkColour Dash and theSt Finian’s GAA colour run. It was great to mark 20 years sinceRally round the Round Tower, theLucan Harriers 5 mile runand there was a lovely spread put on for the Brittas Community Coffee morning. Well done to all the organisers of various Hospice Coffee mornings, including inPalmerstownandSaggart. Thanks to all the volunteers who took their time to organise their events – we are blessed to have so many of them in Dublin Mid-West.
Will you join my campaign team?
As we prepare for the next general election, I need your energy, enthusiasm and dedication on my team! If you are somebody who believes in making positive changes within our community and are willing to dedicate some time and effort, I would be grateful to have you on board. Regardless of your level of experience, your involvement can make a meaningful difference whether it is knocking on doors, delivering leaflets or hanging posters.Emailme now to sign up to be part of Team Shane. Thank you!
WORKING WITH OUR DUBLIN MEP
Councillor Shane Moynihan, c/o County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland
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