Merry Christmas

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas. I won't be posting cards this year; instead, I am putting up this ecard and making a donation to a charity.


John

Traffic Speed Survey on St Margaret's Road

I have been working with Fingal County Council in recent weeks and months about problems of speeding on St Margaret's Road (R104) which borders the estates of Hampton Wood, Lanesborough, Cityside, Mayeston and Creston. 

Residents from these areas have contacted me about the speed of traffic on the R104 (St Margaret's Road) on several occasions. 

A particular concern, and under Fingal Co Co's remit, is the stretch from Charlestown Shopping Centre to IKEA. I know there have been several crashes on this stretch of road, and this is a particular concern for residents coming on and off the road from estates and pedestrians crossing the road for bus services.

At the end of November I was informed that the Council would carry out a speed survey on the St Margaret's Road and I am glad that this will now be carried out by the Traffic Unit over several days between now and then end of the year.

Once this survey has been completed I will be keeping in contact with Fingal County Council to submit recommendations to improve the safety of the road for all local residents.

If you have any concerns about traffic measures or speeding in your area please give me a call on 01 618 3280 or send me an email to john.lyons@oir.ie

Community Grants Scheme 2012

The deadline for the Community Grants Scheme for 2012 is 30th January 2012 at 5pm.

This is to support the important work done by local community groups through a grant scheme. You can apply for grants for a broad range of activities. The amount you get depends on the number of people involved and other factors.

Among the things typically supported are:

• Summer Projects
• Community Festivals
• Resident & Community Associations
• Environmental clean-ups
• Sporting occasions

The application form will be online shortly on http://www.dublincity.ie/Community/pages/applyforacommunitygrant.aspx

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE RETURNED TO:

The Office of the Director of Community and Enterprise

Block 4, Floor 1e

Civic Offices, Wood Quay.

Dublin 8

Keep Your Presents Under Wraps this Christmas

The Finglas Safety Forum has kindly put together some helpful tips to help avoid any unfortunate instances over the festive season:

• Try not to ‘hide’ or store larger items in the shed or garage – these are obvious places for a thief to look. If you do have to do this, make sure they are very secure.
• Ensure you make a note of serial numbers, reference numbers and/or identification marks before expensive gifts are wrapped for Christmas.
• Empty boxes and packaging left outside will advertise the fact that these goods are available inside! Dispose of packaging carefully.
• When out of the house make sure all your doors and windows are locked. After dark, make it look as though someone is at home by leaving lights on or a radio playing. If you’re going to be out for a longer period, say over night, use timing switches on lights around the house. If away over the holiday, make sure that you arrange for a neighbour to check your property.
• If you see anything suspicious, contact Finglas Garda Station immediately on 01-6667500 or alternatively 999. You may prevent a crime from happening.

For further information on Finglas Safety Forum, please visit www.finglassafetyforum.ie

Meakstown Update

Open publication - Free publishing

Christmas Market and Tree Lighting Ceremonies

The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies are taking place TODAY in Ballymun Plaza at 4pm and in Finglas Village SC car park at 6pm.

There will be a mini Christmas Market in Finglas Village SC from 2pm to 5.30pm selling Christmas gifts. There will also be carol singing and Santa will also be in attendance! I am delighted that Dublin City Council have acted on my recommendations to have a Christmas market in Finglas. It is an excellent addition to the village and I hope this is something that can be expanded on and grow by next year.

The Ballymun ceremony will coincide with the arrival of Santa on his sleigh and entertainment will be provided the Trinity Comprehensive choir, Poppintree Youth Project and BRYR.

Unfortunately I am unable to attend due to Dáil business, but I encourage all those who are free to attend.

Great festive cheer for all the family!

330,000 low earners rightly taken out of USC net

Today's announcement that approximately 330,000 low income earners will be taken out of the Universal Social Charge net, coupled with the reintroduction of the minimum wage, are evidence that since the election, Labour has acted decisively to help low income earners.

The exemption level for the USC has been raised from €4,004 to €10,036, to help low income earners, many of whom are part-time and seasonal workers. I have outlined the inherent unfairness in the USC before, and I am very pleased that those on the lowest incomes have now been taken out the USC net.

I also welcome the announcement of the raising of mortgage interest relief to 30%, for first time buyers who bought homes between 2004 and 2008.This move will help those who bought at the height of the boom, many of whom are experiencing negative equity and difficulties with their mortgages. Many of these people have contacted me about their circumstances since being elected and today's announcement will be welcomed by them.

Another move I welcome is the extension of the betting levy to online and phone operators, to bring in an estimated €20 million annually. This has been Labour policy for a number of years and as well as bringing in additional income, it should mean that the Horse and Greyhound Fund will be self-financing, which was the intention when the fund was first introduced.

These measures and others relating to extra training and job supports announced in the budget, signal Labour's intention to support the unemployed and low income earners, as we restore our public finances and rebuild our economy.

Labour ensures difficult expenditure decisions are fair and balanced

I have stated that even accounting for the current financial challenges facing the country, Labour has ensured that fairness and balance are evident in today's Budget statement on expenditure.

In Social Protection, weekly payment rates have been maintained, there are no changes in state pension rates and payments to carers have been preserved. These people are the most vulnerable in our society and we have protected their payments.

In education, funding has been prioritised and targeted to areas of educational disadvantage to address imbalances within the system. The pupil teacher ratio for primary schools has been maintained and there are no cuts in the numbers of Special Needs Assistants and Resource Teachers. At second level, DEIS band 1 schools have been completely protected and given a more favourable staffing allocation. Labour has shown that educational disadvantage can still be tackled even at a time of reduced funding and increased pressures on the system.

These core areas of interest for the Labour party have been prioritised and protected, even while very difficult decisions have been made elsewhere.

Minister Howlin made a telling point today that the calls for simplistic solutions to our challenges are wearing thin. We entered Government with the objectives of getting people back to work and restoring our financial sovereignty. This is what we are doing and suggestions that this can be done without unpalatable measures being taken are misleading and disingenuous.

I recently called for budgetary decision making to be done on the basis of equality, to ensure those who are most vulnerable are least impacted. This request has been heeded as this budget statement on expenditure, although tough, has protected those on the lowest incomes, prioritised education funding to disadvantaged areas and outlined new measures to help the unemployed.

This is what Labour entered Government to do and we will continue to ensure that fairness and balance are at the heart of Government decision making.

Dublin City Council Arts Office Seeks Interns

Dublin City Council Arts Office is currently seeking interns for 2012. The internships are designed to extend interns' knowledge and understanding of how a Local Authority Arts Office works. Duties may include assisting in programming, PR & marketing updating databases, updating websites, archiving, and general administrative support for the arts office programmes which include:

• The Dublin Writers Festival (June)
• Bealtaine Festival (May) and arts programme for older people
• The Northside Music Festival (August)
• Opera in the Open series (August)
• Neighbourhood Arts Programmes
• Arts in Education Programmes 

To apply, simply send a CV including at least two referees and cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position, what areas you are specifically interested in.

Send Applications to:

Ann Marie Lyons

The Arts Office

Dublin City Council

The LAB

Foley Street

Dublin 1

Applications will be short-listed and short listed applicants will be interviewed Deadline for applications: Wednesday 14^th December 2011

Enquires should be directed to: annmarie.lyons@dublincity.ie         

Meakstown Community Games 2012

I am very pleased to report that Meakstown is now registered for the Community Games in 2012. 

I recently met with a local resident, Neil Dowling, who is a youth worker, to discuss how to promote sports and leisure activities for young people in the relatively new communities close to Lanesborough Park. 

The idea is to get young people in Lanesborough, Charlestown, Melville, Cityside, Mayeston, Creston and surrounding areas - along with their families  - to be more involved in sports and community activities. 

Neil has registered Meakstown for next year’s Community Games and is hoping to enter a number of competitions for local young people. 

Community spirit at the recent Lanesborough Park Clean-Up Day

Background

The Community Games provide sporting and leisure opportunities for children and young people in a fun and positive way. This excellent initiative from Neil will add to the choice of sports for young people in the area and get them involved next year before more events next summer. 

Call for Volunteers!

The success of this will be down to the numbers of adult volunteers who get involved. I have already secured the support of Fingal County Council, Community Gardaí and local sporting organisations and will be having a provisional meeting in the new year.

We still very much need the help from local residents! Volunteers can have a history of involvement with sports or none at all.

If you would like to help with organisation of events, please contact Neil at meakstowncg@gmail.com 

Alternatively, you can contact me at 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie and I can give you more information and pass your details on to the planning committee. 

My Pre-Budget Leaflet for Dublin North-West

Open publication - Free publishing - More achievements

Your Business Day - Dublin City Enterprise Board

Are you looking to set up your own business?

Are you looking for advice on your business direction or any funding options?

The Dublin City Enterprise Board are hosting a Your Business Day on Friday 9th December in the Science Gallery, Pearse St, Trinity College.

The event is completely free and opening to anyone looking for advice on funding, planning or other aspects of setting up a business.

For one-on-one meetings booking is required and some spots are already booked out - more information here

The event is also a great opportunity to network with other professionals and get the contacts you need to help your business succeed.

The City Enterprise Board also offer free one-on-one mentoring at their advice clinics all year round. Further information at: http://www.dceb.ie/Mentoring/Advice-Clinic

As always, please contact me on john.lyons@oir.ie or on 01 618 3280 if you have any questions on support organisations for setting up businesses or for getting back to employment.

When it comes to reform this Government starts at the top

I have welcomed yesterday's announcement by Brendan Howlin of a new higher reduction rate of 20% on public service pensions above €100,000, as a significant move that is progressive and equitable.

Pensions in excess of €60,000 are currently being adjusted by 12%.

Deputy Lyons stated: “Given the fiscal crisis inherited by this Government and the budgetary challenges it presents, it is an imperative for public to see that those who are able to bear most of the burden do so.

Though the numbers affected are relatively small, it is nonetheless right and proper to reduce these pensions, to reflect the challenges we face as a country. These measures follow on from decisions already taken by the Government in reducing the pay of ministers and in securing pay reductions from the semi state sector.

Last week I called for equality proofing to be at the heart of all budgetary decision making and today’s announcement is very much in line with this.

These decisions also show that when it comes to reforms and savings, this Government starts at the top.

Festival Training Programme for youth and community based festivals

The festival training programme for youth and community based festivals, now in its second year, is a FREE programme which provides artistic and practical training workshops/sessions. Bookings are now underway and while the closing date was last Monday, it is still possible to book in for some of the sessions.

On board this year to deliver the workshops are MACNAS, BUI BOLG and Makeupfablicious among others. It's brilliant to upskills yourself, learn something new that you can take back to your youth club or festival committee.

 

The programme is aimed at artists, youth workers, event organisers and those interested in learning more about how festivals work.

 

We have such an active arts & culture scene here in Ballymun and I'm keen that as many people as possible avail of this opportunity so that we can continue to deliver quality arts events!!

For more information and to apply go to http://www.dublincity.ie/RECREATIONANDCULTURE/ARTSOFFICE/PROGRAMMES/Pages/CurrentProgrammes.aspx

Women's Aid 'One in Five Women' Campaign

This year's One in Five Women Campaign is taking place from 25th November- 10th December - 16 days of action opposing violence against women.

Women's Aid, a leading national organisation which has been addressing the issue of domestic violence for over 35 years, is launching this campaign as part of the international 16 days of action. The launch day (25th Nov) is the UN Day Opposing Violence, and the last (10th Dec) is Human Rights Day. The campaign spans these days to highlight the link between violence against women and human rights.

The events taking place during this time is aimed at positive change to make women safer, and so those being affected by this issue might find the supports they need.

For more information on this campaign and Women's Aid, visit http://www.womensaid.ie/campaigns/ and for more details on the issue of domestic violence http://www.womensaid.ie/campaigns/2in2u

Finglas West News Winter 2011

Open publication - Free publishing - More finglas events

Equality proofing must be at the heart of budgetary decisions

I have today stated that budgetary decisions should be audited for their effect on all groups in society as the previous Government's budgetary measures impacted disproportionately on those on lower incomes.

According to TASC, previous budgetary decisions had a disproportionate impact on groups such as lone-parent households and single low-earners. These groups, they state, include households that are most at risk of poverty and are therefore least able to absorb further reductions in their income.

I firmly believe that the lesson of these past budgetary decisions should be that all decisions on issues like taxation and social welfare are subject to an assessment of the impact they will have on different groups across society. These cumulative changes should then be audited on the basis of the equality of these impacts.

Like all Deputies in the house, I have had numerous meetings with individuals and civil society groups in advance of the budget. These meetings bring home the importance of a fair approach to resolving our budgetary challenges.

With this in mind, we must frame budgetary decision making on the basis of equality, to ensure those who are most vulnerable are least impacted.

Finglas South News Winter 2011

Open publication - Free publishing - More finglas events

Choice Based Lettings Scheme Finglas Area

The following houses are available in the Finglas South Area under the Choice Based lettings Scheme:

11 Hazelcroft Gardens

7 Fairlawn Park

Applicants must register their interest for these two properties in the Finglas Area Office, Mellowes Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 before 5pm on the 25th of November 2011

·         by letter

·         by email northwestarea@dublincity.ie

·         by calling into the local area office Mellowes Road, Finglas, Dublin 11

Information on these Choice Based Lettings is available on the DCC website

If you have any further questions or queries, contact me on 01 6183280 or email john.lyons@oir.ie 

Dublin at Christmas

The Dublin at Christmas programme was launched yesterday by the Lord Mayor Andrew Montague and Richard Guiney, CEO Dublin BIDs .

The launch was done using social media only (for the first time).

The dedicated website for Christmas is now live see www.dublinatchristmas.ie. They also have a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dublin-at-Christmas/150853858294053 to keep everyone informed of all the great events and offers in Dublin’s city centre throughout the Christmas season!

Proposed Improvement Scheme to Seamus Ennis Road & Jamestown Road Junction

There are two meetings this weekend to view maps and comment on the plan regarding the proposed improvement scheme to the Seamus Ennis Road and Jamestown Road junction.

Dublin City Council now has funding approval from the National Transport Authority to carry out these works as part of the Finglas Village Regeneration Strategy, which aims to re-vitalise Finglas Village as an important urban village in Dublin City.

Meeting times are as follows:

Friday, 18th November 6-8pm in the Finglas Civic Centre, Mellowes Road, Finglas West

Saturday, 19th November 10.30am-12.30pm in the Finglas Civic Centre, Mellowes Road, Finglas West

For queries in relation to this, contact the Finglas Area Office on 2225496/2225412. Alternatively, contact me on 01-6183280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

OWN YOUR OWN HOME

There is currently up to 45% discount available to buy your home if you have been a Dublin City Council tenant for more than 10 years.

The deadline for applications is before 31st December 2011.


If you haven't been a tenant for over 10 years, you may still be eligible for a 30% discount.

Applications for this scheme must be received by June 2012.


For further details, contact 01 222 5449, go to www.dublincity.ie or Dublin City Council, Sales Section, Housing and Residential Services Department, Block 1, Ground Floor, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8

Innovative approach to IT training could create 25,000 by 2015

Speaking after a presentation to the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education by the organisation, Fast Track into Information Technology (FIT), I have stated that their innovative approach has the potential to prepare and up skill 25,000 unemployed people for IT positions by 2015.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting some of the board members of FIT in my own constituency and I was greatly impressed by their ability to give marketable IT skills to the unemployed.

Their approach is to select persons on aptitude rather than educational qualifications and this is particularly relevant for jobseekers and those most at risk of long term unemployment.

As of October, there were 179,773 people unemployed for one year of more. Of these, approximately 90,000 have a primary education or no formal education. Given the imperative of tackling unemployment, it is vital to support and promote initiatives that have shown to work.

Of those trained by FIT over the past decade, 74% have gone onto employment. This success is achieved through working closely with multinationals like Microsoft, IBM and Intel to constantly evaluate and tailor their courses to meet industry needs. This flexibility and responsiveness has seen them develop courses in areas such as cloud computing, smart grid technology and programming.

FIT then delivers their courses by working with SOLAS, the VEC's and local development agencies. This year alone, over 3,500 job seekers will receive training in courses designed by them and a further 2,000 will receive mentoring supports.

At today's committee, FIT outlined their vision of an expanded training and up skilling programme, to place 25,000 jobseekers into employment by 2015. I intend to follow up today's meeting with both Minister Burton and Minister Quinn, to advance this aim and to get these people back to work.

Ballymun Tidy Towns AGM

The Ballymun Tidy Towns AGM is to be held next Tuesday, 22nd November in the members' room, Ballymun Civic Centre.


It begins at 5.30pm and will last approximately 2 hours.


Hope to see you there!

Personal development crucial in reformed Junior Cert Proposals

Speaking following an Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education discussion on proposals to reform the Junior Certificate, and in particular enterprise education, I have stated that equal emphasis should be placed on approaches which emphasise a student's personal development.

Educating students in enterprise and innovation is extremely important to allow them compete in the employment market of tomorrow. Of equal importance, is developing personal skills that encourage creativity and self-expression, while also complementing education in other subjects.

As part of the reform proposals for the Junior Certificate there are proposals to develop short courses in subjects such as the arts and technology. This is a very welcome development and an opportunity for change as it affords the opportunity to broaden a student's educational experience.

A delegation from Dáil na nÓg made the point in today's committee, that there is great interest amongst students in a revised Junior Certificate that focuses on sports, arts-based activities and life skills.

Encouraging enterprise education, to meet the needs of our economy, is rightly considered a priority of the Junior Certificate reforms. It is important however, not to consider initiatives to expose students to new avenues of education as merely add-ons.

These reforms should be considered fundamental to students' educational experience by stimulating creativity, improving their self-esteem and preparing them for the jobs of the future.

€4.6m IN FUNDING FOR NEW HOMES IN BALLYMUN

On a great day for President Michael D Higgins, there has also been some great news for Ballymun. Minister Willie Penrose has given €4.6 million in funding to begin work on 25 new homes in Ballymun.

Following a visit to Ballymun with me yesterday, Minister for Housing Willie Penrose, announced this funding to start work on what is known as the Coultry 6 development.

These 25 homes will allow for further de tenanting of the original flats which is very welcome news for those waiting on new homes. They will also complete the redevelopment around Coultry Park, to take another step towards finishing the Ballymun Regeneration project.

I want to thank the Minister for coming to Ballymun to see first-hand the status of the redevelopment and to talk to those involved in on-going works. I was pleased to be able to show him around the remaining Sillogue blocks and the Sillogue 4 development, where works are underway to remove pyrite.

During yesterday’s visit the Minister also reaffirmed his commitment to completing the BRL project and this funding is evidence of his commitment. 

I will be working with the Minister to see the Ballymun Regeneration project completed for the people of Ballymun and to address housing issues across Dublin North West.

AIB u-turn, a victory for Govt and a victory for common sense

The decision by AIB to pass on this week's interest rate reduction to mortgage holders after all, is a very welcome development.

Yesterday's announcement by the bank that it was refusing to pass on the cut, was an affront to the people of Ireland, to whom AIB owes its very existence, and I criticised the bank at the time describing its attitude as showing shocking indifference to the difficulties facing its customers.

Today in the Dáil, the Govt, and Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore in particular, were accused of being impotent in the face of the bank's intransigence. Tonight it is clear that the Govt's approach to this has been spot on, and the pressure that the Tánaiste and Taoiseach put on the banks, directly at their meeting yesterday, and indirectly in the following 36 hours, has paid off handsomely. While the opposition were jumping up and down in the Dáil and in the media, the Govt was actually doing something about this problem and has ended up getting a great result for thousands of familes around the country.

Passing on this rate cut will alleviate some of the pressure on borrowers whose taxes bailed out AIB in the first place and may also mean that fewer households will find themselves facing the prospect of running into mortgage arrears problems.

It was about time that somebody put manners on banks like AIB, who gorged themselves on the property bubble, only to come running cap in hand to the Irish people when the bubble burst.

Prioritisation of building schools, a welcome boost for education

The announcement today by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin of that over €2bn will be invested in the construction and renovation of 220 schools across the country, is very much to be welcomed.

This Govt faces extremely difficult economic challenges, while the programme of Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012 – 2016, announced today puts some projects on the back-burner, the success that Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has had in ensuring that the pressing need to provide decent schools for our children has been prioritised, must be noted.

Thanks to Ministers Howlin and Quinn, we will now see the construction of 40 new schools at primary and second level and major extensions or new buildings to over 180 existing schools in developing areas.

This is a clear indication that Labour Ministers are having a significant impact in this Govt and that the Labour message of investment in education and the creation of jobs, is getting through.

Coming from a teaching background, and representing a disadvantaged area, I have no doubt that this announcement will be a welcome boost for the education sector and for families whose children stand to benefit from this in the years to come.

Council tenants still waiting too long for new windows

Speaking in response to a Dublin City Council question, I have expressed concern for tenants who have to wait at least 12 months for old windows and doors to be replaced.

There are currently 324 Dublin City Council households waiting for doors, windows and entrance screens to be replaced by the Council. At the moment, these households can expect to wait at least 12 months for necessary improvements to be made.

I am very concerned that many families who applied for double-glazed windows after last year's severe winter will still be waiting until the new year for them to be installed. This means many households will have to endure another winter without the winter protection they need.

Given the very cold winters we have experienced in the last 2 years, it is hugely important that all Council tenants can live in properly-heated homes with up-to-standard windows, doors and wall insulation.

I acknowledge of course the efforts the City Council has made in recent years to improve the waiting period by a third and I commend the local maintenance officers for working in very difficult circumstances to deal with the backlog.

I still believe that further improvements in waiting times are needed to ensure all council homes are brought up to standard. I will be raising the matter directly with the Dublin City Manager at a meeting on November 25th and I will explore all avenues to improve waiting times for Council tenants.

Dublin Bus Route Changes to Finglas South and Finglas West

Dublin Bus will be introducing service revisions for the Finglas South, Finglas West on Sunday 13th November.


Routes 40, 40a, 78 and 78a will be amalgamated and will operate as a revised Route 40. It will link Liffey Valley, Ballyfermot, Inchicore, St. James’ Hospital, Dame Street, O’Connell Street, The Mater Hospital, Temple Street Hospital, the soon to be completed National Children’s Hospital, Drumcondra, Phibsboro and Finglas. It will no longer operate via Mountjoy Square when travelling toward Finglas.

Route 40d will operate from Tyrrelstown to Parnell Street via Ballycoolin, Mellowes Road, Finglas Village, Hart’s Corner, Whitworth Road, Dorset Street, Drumcondra, Whitworth Road, Phibsboro and Finglas. It will operate via Parnell Square when operating towards Tyrrelstown

Route 40b will continue to connect Toberburr with Finglas and the City Centre.


Full details are available on http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/News-Centre/Travel-News/Routes-40a-40b-40d-51-and-78a-Timetable-Changes/


If you have any questions or queries on this matter, do not hesitate to contact me on john.lyons@oir.ie or 01 6183280

Lanesborough Park Clean Up Day

Open publication - Free publishing - More bottle banks

Lyons calls for clarification for parents on the role of the SNA

Following a recent meeting with officials from the Department of Education and Skills, I have asked that parents be invited to their child's school to discuss the role of the SNA.

At present, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have a booklet to provide parents/guardians of children with special educational needs information in helping parents make informed decisions concerning the education of their child.

It's not easy for any parent to make decisions regarding the educational needs for their children. For parents with children that have special educational needs, it is vital that they are aware of the resources that are available in the particular school their child is attending.

It is thus vital that these parents are given the opportunity to discuss with the school resources that are available and what their child can be provided with. From this, parents would have a clearer understanding of the role of the SNA and how their child might progress while in the particular school.

This increased communication between parents and the school would serve to increase awareness of the educational needs of the child and lead to a clearer understanding between parents and teachers, thus benefiting the progress of the child.

If you would like to discuss this matter with me, do not hesitate to call my office on 01-6183280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

Lyons calls for responsibility for a safe Halloween

I have called for all to act responsibly and safely this Halloween, to make sure it is an enjoyable event for all.

Public safety has to be the number one priority this year and I would ask everyone to behave responsibly and act safely. Parents should warn their children of the dangers of the misuse of fireworks and watch out for underage drinking.

I would also ask residents to be aware of the €1 million annual cost to Dublin City Council in dealing with Halloween related issues, such as litter and damage.

Last year, it cost the Council over €77,000 for bonfire clean-up operations alone. These costs are simply too high and use funds that could be better spent on events that benefit all residents of the community.

Halloween is an event for all to enjoy and I am proud to say that the Ballymun festival is the largest in the country, with Finglas providing an impressive festival to its residents also. All residents have a responsibility for the areas we live in and if we were a bit more cautious, we would have more money to spend on local events like these.

I urge all residents to be vigilant this year, and I wish them all a very enjoyable and safe Halloween.

Safer Ballymun Week November 7th-11th

Safer Ballymun Week makes a welcome return this year from Monday, November 7th, with a week full of activities for all the family.

Monday 7th November: Alcohol Awareness Challenge, 10am-12pm, Ballymun Civic Centre Atrium

Tuesday 8th November: Problem Solving Policing Workshop, 9.30am-1pm, Council Chambers, 1st Floor, Ballymun Civic Centre. Learn about a new approach to tackling anti-social behaviour problems in Ballymun. To register call 01 222 7870

Wednesday 9th November:
Garda Charity Cycle, 10am outside the Ballymun Garda Station
Community Action Day, 10am-1pm, Ballymun Plaza and Main Street. GAP, DCC Litter Wardens and local residents working together to combat littering.

Friday 11th November: Ballymun Garda Station Open Day, 10am-2pm. Units involved are the horse mounted, motorbike and mountain bike units.

Lyons welcomes works to remove pyrite from Ballymun homes

I have today welcomed the announcement of works to remove pyrite from approximately 124 almost complete homes in Ballymun, as a major step towards addressing housing issues in the area.

These homes, known as Slillogue 4, have not been able to be completed since pyrite was discovered in them three years ago. The presence of pyrite has delayed the de-tenanting of the housing blocks in Ballymun and the completion of the Ballymun Regeneration Programme.

The start of these works is very good news for those who have been waiting years for their new homes. I know many of these people and they have been frustrated by the delay in moving into their homes. The works will begin right away on November 1st and will take 18 to 24 months.

Since being elected I have met the Minister of State with responsibility for Housing & Planning, Willie Penrose, a number of times on housing issues including pyrite in Sillogue 4.

I am very pleased with the Minister's commitment to addressing the housing issues in Dublin North West and I will continue to work with him to address these issues over the coming years.


If you have any questions or queries on this matter, do not hesitate to contact me on 01 618 3280 or email john.lyons@oir.ie

Lyons welcomes new funding for local sports projects

I have today welcomed new funding for a number of community sports facilities, in Ballymun and Finglas, as part of the Sports Capital Grant Scheme.

The scheme, which is aimed at sports clubs, voluntary and community organisations, has allocated €138,861 to three community projects in Dublin North West, to significantly improve facilities for local residents.

I am delighted that this well-needed funding has been allocated to the Ballymun Leisure Centre, Poppintree Sports Centre and the Finglas Leisure Centre. This new funding has been made with a view to boost participation in local sports and it is welcome news for the people of Ballymun and Finglas.

This targeted measure for Local Authority sports facilities, is testament to the value placed in the importance of sports to communities. It is also an investment in the young people of Finglas and Ballymun who get great use out of these facilities.

These improvements, which include the construction of changing rooms and extra security fencing, are all vital to maintaining sports facilities in local communities.

This funding will help to maintain facilities that bring communities together and improve residents' quality of life. I look forward to when all of these improvements are complete.

Ballymun News Autumn 2011

Open publication - Free publishing - More app

Labour Delivers on Mortgage Arrears

I have been speaking to many people over the last few months who are in mortgage arrears, and the many difficulties they are facing because of this.


I would like to inform you of the actions we have taken as a means to implement real change for those in arrears. The mortgage arrears crisis is a human crisis, that is keeping thousands of families in a state of fear and distress, and which is acting as a drag on our economy.  It is now time to confront it.

Up to now, there were only two solutions to mortgage arrears: forbearance or foreclosure.  Labour has strongly supported the forbearance policy, insisting that families should where at all possible stay in their homes. 

People cannot, however, stay in Limbo forever – we now need to see solutions put forward other than the simple choice between forbearance and foreclosure. The Keane Report on Mortgage Arrears contains proposals for a set of targeted and tailored measures that will provide new options for families that find themselves in distress.

The targeted interventions include:

• Reform to the bankruptcy law and the introduction of a non-judicial debt settlement process to strengthen the hand of the borrower 
• At least 100 mortgage advisors to help home-owners who will be making difficult decisions, and to level the playing field with the banks.  The banks will pay for this service. 
• Two new mortgage-to-rent schemes, one involving housing associations and one involving Local Authorities 
• A ‘split mortgage’ scheme that will divide a mortgage into what a person can reasonably be expected to buy, and the residual that will be ‘warehoused’.

I look forward to when these proposals are legislated, which should be done urgently, in order to offer practical, meaningful supports to those in mortgage arrears.

If you would like to get in touch with me about this, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01 618 3280 or email john.lyons@oir.ie

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ireland

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ireland is a fantastic initiative which provides youth mentoring intervention that has demonstrated a real impact at both local and national level.


An internationally recognised mentoring programme with proven impact for 10-18 year olds, this is cost effective early interventon for  vulnerable young people at a local level.


Since 2006 BBBS has supported over 5,700 young people in Ireland providing improved outcomes for those at risk of crime, drug abuse and early school leaving.


They have school based and community based  programmes, supporting the delivery of national goals for youth physical and mental health and well-being.


For more information, visit their website.

Lyons welcomes agreement on school book costs

I have today welcomed the agreement reached by Minister Quinn with school book publishers to reduce the costs of books bought in bulk by schools for rental schemes, as a very positive development for schools and parents alike.

Under the agreement reached between the Minister and the book publishers, schools who buy in bulk for rental schemes will receive discounts in the range of 12.5 -17.5 per cent. A code of practice on textbook revisions will also lower the cost of providing these books.

In the past few months I have received a number of calls from parents concerned about the costs of the back to school period. Though many supports exist for families, this agreement shows that there is scope for savings to be made on back to school essentials. Consideration should now be given on how to find savings on other school essentials, to help parents with these costs.

I commend the Minister for his initiative in finding savings on school books. This agreement will translate into real savings for schools and I hope to see these savings passed onto families.

Deadline to register to vote for the Presidential election

The deadline for late applications to register to vote in the Presidential Election is next Monday, Oct 10th.


To see if you're on the register go to www.checktheregister.ie or check with your local authority, post office, Garda station or public library.

If you're eligible to vote but not registered, you still have time to apply for entry in the supplement to the Register of Electors.To apply, complete the RFA2 form - which can be downloaded from www.checktheregister.ie or obtained from City and County Councils - and send it to your local authority.

The application must be received by the final deadline of Monday, October 10th.

IT skills shortages show need for revised IT training in schools- Lyons

Speaking after discussing the potential of the digital gaming & IT industries, at the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education this week, I highlighted that to achieve the potential of these sectors, the provision of IT training and skills in our schools needs to be reviewed.

One sector of the economy which has seen strong growth in recent years is in the area of Information Technology. This growth is evident in the setting up and expansion of operations here, by major players such as Google, Facebook & Twitter.

As well as attracting these high profile names, Dublin has become a digital gaming hub and a service support centre for businesses dependent on internet technologies for their growth.

To facilitate the future growth of these sectors there must be a pool of technical and creative talent. In today's committee, skills shortages were identified, including an estimated 2,500 job vacancies for IT positions, as the greatest impediment to the development of these sectors.

I believe that as part of this we should now review the way IT skills are thought at primary and secondary level. In particular, we need to look at ways to give students a fluency in IT instead of the current approach of giving them a basic form of IT literacy.

We have a generation of students who technologically adept but our teaching of IT skills does not encourage students to explore their aptitude in these areas or promote careers in these growing industries.

We now need to look at innovative approaches such as using the proposed revised Junior Certificate curriculum to develop courses in IT that expose students to aspects of these industries such as programming and software development and I intend to make these suggestions to the Minister for Education and Skills.

Back to School Allowance - Claim Processing Update

As I mentioned previously, the Department of Social Protection received a record number of applications for the Back to School Clothing & Footwear Allowance.

The process identified 127,000 households (243,000) qualified under the scheme and were paid at the end of June. To date, a further 90,500 claims have been received, 72,000 which have been processed.

The Department is working to clear the remaining claims as quickly as possible and is currently working on claims received at the end of August.

If you have any questions or queries on this, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

Lanesborough Park Leaflet Autumn 2011

Open publication - Free publishing - More clean up

New Funding for Poppintree Community Sports Centre

I am very pleased to that the Poppintree Community Sports Centre on Balbutcher Lane North has been awarded further funding of €25,850 to provided additional fencing around parts of the Centre.

The Poppintree Community Centre is a wonderful resources for the local community with state-of-the-art sporting and leisure facilities, as well as providing the space for community and residents' groups to come together. I think it is a real hub for the community and one that should be maintained to the highest quality.

There have some problems I know with vandalism, particularly in the playground and outdoor all-weather football pitch on site. Today's new funding allows the Centre to be better secured, so it can continue to be a safe and welcoming environment for all local residents. 

This announcement comes as part of Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Michael Ring's additional capital funding to nine local authority-backed sports projects across the country.


Minister Ring is providing €441,223 in capital funding to local authorities for nine sporting projects.

For more information on the fantastic classes, programmes and facilities at the Poppintree Community Sports Centre, log on to http://www.dublincity.ie/RecreationandCulture/SportsFacilities/LeisureCentres/Locations/Pages/PoppintreeCommunitySportsCentre.aspx or email poppintreecommunitysportscentre@dublincity.ie