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Report on Litter Management in Artane/Whitehall

Here is the report issued to the North Central Area Committee for March 2010:

A key objective of the Area office is to ensure a consistently high standard of cleanliness throughout the area and to promote and encourage prevention, reuse and recycling of waste and the management of litter.  

To facilitate the achievement of litter preservation and control, the Area office works closely with the Waste Management Division, and the Area has its own locally managed designated resources.

Proposals for Additional Masts on Supervalu, Lorcan Avenue

Meteor Mobile Communications Ltd. have applied for planning permission to erect three additional masts on the roof of SuperValu on Lorcan Avenue. Two of the masts will be enclosed in flag poles, another will be a dish on top of a flag pole. The poorly worded application states:

“For the attachment of 2 no. 8m flagpoles (with 1 no. antenna enclosed in each) and 1no. pole mounted dished to the rooftop together with associated equipment, timber cladding and cabinets as part of their 2G network and their new 3G broadband network.”

If you would like to object to this proposal, send your objections to: The Principal Planning Officer, Planning Department, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. You must state your reasons for objection, indicate that you are objecting to plan number: 2313/09 and you must submit €20 with your objection. The objection must be submitted before 19th March. You will receive an acknowledgement from Dublin City Council. Keep this acknowledgement in case there is an appeal to An Bórd Pleanála.

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Chanel College Development

Parnell's have put in a new planning application for development on the lands in Chanel College. Their previous application made a few weeks ago was rejected for technical reasons and a new submission was made on the 27th July 2009. The plan number is 3563/09.

Where can I find out more?

You may view the plans at the Civic Offices on Wood Quay. The office is open 9 am to 4.30 pm, Mon-Fri (open through lunch).

Andrew at the Count, photo by Matt Kavanagh, Irish Times

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Successful Campaign for Artane/Whitehall council seat

I'm thrilled to be elected again for the Artane/Whitehall Ward. I received 2535 votes and took the second seat. Thank you to everyone that supported me. I'm honoured that so many people put their trust in me and were prepared to vote for me.

I also want to thank my fantastic campaign team. Over 50 friends, supporters and family members came out and canvassed, leafleted and put up posters for me. It means a lot to me that you believed in me and were prepared to come out and work on my behalf.

Four other councillors were elected in the ward:

• Paddy Bourke (Labour)
• Larry O'Toole (Sinn Féin)
• Declan Flanagan (Fine Gael)
• Julia Carmichael (Fianna Fáil).

Santry Cross Apartments

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Successful Apartment Living in Dublin and across Ireland

19th February 2009

Apartment living has become commonplace in the last 10 years in Dublin and many issues have arisen for those living in apartments that require urgent attention. The most frequent complaints that I receive from people living in apartments relate to Management Companies and Management Agencies. Residents are often frustrated with the high cost of management fees, together with poor service quality and a complete lack of control for the residents.

The Law Reform Commission highlighted the following problems within some (but not all) apartment complexes:

• A general and widespread lack of transparency (and an understanding deficit) about the appropriate roles of those involved in apartment developments, including developers, unit owners (as members of owners’ management companies) and property managing agents;
• Developers holding onto effective control of apartment owners’ management companies even after virtually all apartments have been sold;
• Property managing agents having too much administrative control over owners’ management companies, causing confusion over their different functions;
• Annual general meetings of owners’ management companies being organised at short notice and at inconvenient times and locations;
• Increasing annual service charges not being properly explained and, therefore, not being paid by unit owners, leading to running-down of some apartment complexes;
• No long-term building investment fund (sinking fund) for apartment complexes;
• Apartment developments not being taken in charge by local authorities;
• Lack of clear arrangements for rescuing apartment complexes in trouble.

Speech to Labour Party Conference on SR Technics and Social Welfare

28th March 2009

For many people this recession brings real fear. Will they face a pay cut? Will they lose their job? Or worse still, will they lose their family home. But for others that fear has turned into a sickening reality.

SR Technics is one of many companies that is closing its doors. But in North Dublin, SR Technics is more than just a company. It is an entire industry. And many believe the government has not done enough to save these jobs.

But it's not just those that worked directly for SR Technics that have lost out. I met one man in Coolock that was a self-employed, skilled tradesman, with a long term contract with SR Technics. He too has lost his job.

After a delay of nine weeks he finally received a social welfare payment of €100 to top up the €300 his wife earns working in the local shop.

This couple have children, an income of €1,600 per month and a mortgage of €1,800 per month. They face a tough battle to save their family home.

If the mother in this family wasn't working, social welfare would pay the interest on their mortgage. But because she earns €300 per week, they get no such help. This family is being penalised for their hard work.

Labour would scrap this perverse rule that discourages families from working.

But this is the legacy of Fianna Fáil. This is the legacy of Bertie Ahern. This is the legacy of Brian Cowen. This is the legacy that Labour, under Eamon Gilmore, must end.

Updated Information on Closure of Lane at back of Shanvarna Road and Shanrath Road

19th March 2009

At Thursday’s meeting of the North West Area Committee (19th March), the Area Manager informed the local councillors that if the public right-of-way is removed from the lane, the owners of the grassed area in the lane would then be entitled to apply for planning permission to build on that piece of land. If the public right of way remains in the lane, the owners of that patch of land are not entitled to build on their land as the land is designated “public open space”. However, if the lane is closed to the public, the land will no longer be public open space, and could be built on. Removing the public right-of-way does not mean that the owners of the grassed area will definitely seek to build on the site, but it would be a possibility.

As a result of this new information, the local councillors have agreed to defer this decision so that the residents can be informed of the new information. We will consider the lane closure again at our next meeting on April 23rd. In my opinion, this is a decision for the residents of Shanvarna Road and Shanrath Road, so if you feel strongly about this issue, let me know what you think. You can ring me or text me on 087 908 0409, or email me at andrewmontague@eircom.net.

Flooding Report in Shanard, Shanliss and Shanowen

13th March 2008

Dublin City Council have produced a report into the flooding in Dublin last August. I’m publishing the section of the report dealing with Shanard, Shanliss and Shanowen:

Shanard Road Flooding

Approximately 8 houses on Shanard Road were directly affected by the flooding on August 9th 2008, from no.12-26. These houses are at a low level, relative to the road, and once the road flooded, the houses were quickly inundated. Residents also reported that rainwater flowed overland from Shanliss Road, which is at a higher level than Shanard Road, and gathered at the local low point in front of these houses.

Following the flooding, approximately 1,130m of the drainage network in the area was camera surveyed. Drainage Division are currently pressure cleaning the drainage network in the area.

The camera survey and subsequent pressure cleaning revealed that there is a significant problem with scale in the pipelines in this area. Scale occurs when minerals, which are naturally occurring in the soil, are dissolved, seep through joints in the pipes, and solidify within the pipe. It forms a hard, concrete-like deposit, which can then act as an obstruction, reducing the flow capacity of the pipeline.

Scale is not easily removed by pressure cleaning, and more aggressive methods are just as likely to damage the pipeline as clear the scale. The cleaning programme is ongoing at present, and will continue until the pipelines are completely clear.

The pipeline on Shanard Road has been completely cleared, along with a section on Shanowen Avenue. This should afford a considerable level of protection in any extreme rainfall event in the immediate future, carrying storm water away from the vulnerable low lying area to overland flow on Shanowen Avenue. For information, gullies on the affected roads were cleaned in March 2008, and again in August & September 2008 as a precaution.

Improvement Measures 

At present Drainage Division are studying possible measures to improve the capacity of the drainage network in the area. Increasing the capacity would allow the drainage network to accommodate more extreme storms than at present, reducing the likelihood of future property flooding.

• In addition to works on Shanard Road/Shanowen Avenue, a significant pressure cleaning programme will also take place on Shanliss Road, Shanowen Grove and Shanowen Road. This should increase the capacity of the drainage network on Shanliss Road, and reduce the amount of overland flow reaching Shanard Road in an extreme rainfall event.
• An abandoned overflow sewer on Shanard Road is being investigated. It may be possible to carry out works to restore this line to service, depending on the condition of the pipeline, its capacity, whether it has been cut-off/excavated, and whether it discharges at a suitable point.
• Should the overflow be returned to service, the extra capacity provided can be exploited by installing additional gullies.
• Drainage Division are examining the possibility of installing a ramp at the junction of Shanliss Road / Shanard Road to divert flow overland, away from Shanard Road, and will liaise with the Roads and Traffic Dept.

Drainage Division will continue to monitor the operation of the drainage network during extreme weather events in the area.

Shock Kilmardinny Decision

10th March 2009

An Bord Pleanála have given permission for the development of 48 apartments, 5 retail/office units, a training centre, a restaurant and a pub with an associated beer garden on the site of the Kilmardinny. The buildings will be up to four storeys in height.

This decision comes after years of campaigning by the local community against this development. It is particularly disappointing that An Bord Pleanála should back this proposal after Dublin City Council refused planning permission, and the board’s own inspector considered the proposal to be poor quality.

College Green, Dublin

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Bus Gate for College Green, Dublin

2nd March 2009

Dublin City Council is proposing a "Bus Gate" for College Green, essentially banning private cars from the area, allowing only buses, taxis and bikes around the entrance to Trinity College. City Centre Traders have lobbied hard against this proposal arguing the proposal will have an adverse impact on their income.

It is essential during this economic crisis that the City Council does nothing to undermine business in the City Centre and the Transport Committee of which I'm a member has quite rightly requested an economic impact analysis of the proposal. However, I believe this proposal will increase trade to this area of town. We have learned over many years that where bus lanes have been introduced, footfall increases - even when cars are restricted. This makes sense. One bus can carry over a hundred passengers, whereas a car can only carry five. A typical bus lane will carry five thousand people per hour, while a typical car lane will transport one thousand per hour. 

Access to this location is already severely restricted for private cars. Cars are not allowed access from Pearse Street to College Green and restrictions on O'Connell Street, mean very few cars can can get to College Green from D'Olier Street. Heading in the opposite direction, the right turn ban from George's Street on to Dame Street mean that very few cars can get on to Westmoreland Street. So this new proposal will not have as dramatic an effect as many believe. But it will improve journey times. Anyone travelling on a bus on O'Connell Street heading south towards College Green will know the delays on this street. Improving the traffic flow at College Green will lead to improvements on O'Connell Street. This will encourage more people to use the bus which in turn will lead to a bigger footfall than would otherwise occur.