My Submission to An Bord Pleanala on the proposed Amusement Arcade in Finglas Village

The Secretary,

An Bord Pleanala,

64 Marlborough Street,

Dublin 1

                                                                                                                                  16^th November 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

We wish to make an observation in relation to the An Bord Pleanala Case reference PL29N.24122 on the appeal against a decision by Dublin City Council to part refuse the planning application reference number 3032/12.

The basis of our objection is primarily to do with the inappropriateness of this use within Finglas Village and the concerns expressed to us by local residents about the proposal. We previously outlined these to Dublin City Council prior to their issuance of a split decision to refuse permission for the amusement arcade element of the proposal.

We wish to state that we support business development in Finglas Village and do not oppose the internet café element of the permission.

In relation to the appeal against the split decision of Dublin City Council we wish to make the following points;

   - The future development of Finglas Village should be based on making the village a vibrant and sustainable commercial centre. This involves the provision of a wide retail and service offering based on the needs of the local community and which promote Finglas village as a shopping destination.

     - The Dublin City Development Plan 2012 -2017 shares the above aim and it identifies Finglas Village as key district centre. While the stated internet café/amusement use is a permissible use under the Z4 zoning, we believe the proposed development is not conducive to the development of the village in line with the objectives of the district centre designation.

     - From our engagement with local residents on this issue, the belief in the area is that amusement arcades can give a negative perception to a main street.  Much work has been done in recent years by the Tolka Area Partnership, the City Council, local businesses and local interest groups, amongst others, to promote and develop Finglas Village. This work is based on a shared belief about how the village should develop based on a varied and complementary service offering. This valuable work is at an advanced stage and any proposal that has the possibility of detrimentally affecting this work by means of a negative perception of the main street should not be allowed.

     - Significantly, this potential for a negative perception is considered locally to possibly be a major impediment to the ability of Finglas Village to compete with the City Centre and Charlestown Shopping Centre as a retail destination.

     -  Finglas village already has six betting shops and we believe the amusement arcade aspect of the application is targeted at a market that is already very well provided for.

     - In the appeal documents submitted to An Bord Pleanala on the 24^th of October 2012 the applicant’s agent states that under the Z4 zoning, amusement arcades are ‘normally permitted’. Given that nature of this application, and the potential for a precedent to be established in the area, I think it is important to note that ‘permissible’ means that it is an allowed use but that does not equate to ‘normally permitted’ which we feel is an important distinction.

- We also note with concern two planning permissions for amusement arcades refused by Local Authorities then appealed to An Bord Pleanala (appeal references PL35 .240508 and PL06F.239466) resulting in recommendations issued by the An Bord Pleanala Inspectors reports for refusal for the amusement element of the applications, only to be granted on a temporary basis by the Board. In both instances, the planning policy in the locality was based on the principles of protecting and enhancing the amenities and character of the town/village centre. The same planning principles apply in Finglas Village and we respectfully request that the views expressed to us by local residents and interest groups be heard and permission, even on a temporary basis, not be allowed to proceed.

In summary, it is our belief that this proposal would not be complementary to the future development of Finglas Village and we therefore oppose the amusement arcade element of this planning application.

With best wishes,

John Lyons TD

Cllr John Redmond

Cllr Steve Wrenn

Cheque for €50 enclosed.                   

Response to the death of Savita Halappanavar

I have been contacted by a huge number of constituents in the last 24 hours as the details of the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar have emerged.

I share the serious concerns that so many people have expressed to me and I want to assure you that implementing the recommendations of the Expert Group report is a key issue for the Labour Party in Government.

As many people are aware, the Programme for Government negotiated by both Labour and Fine Gael on forming government contains the following commitment:

"We acknowledge the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights subsequent to the established ruling of the Irish Supreme Court on the X-case. We will establish an expert group to address this issue, drawing on appropriate medical and legal expertise with a view to making recommendations to Government on how this matter should be properly addressed."

I understand this report was presented to the Minister for Health on Tuesday and will be considered by the Cabinet shortly and I am assured the Government will act on foot of the report. I will work with my colleagues so that this is the case.

The shocking and tragic news of the death of Savita Halappanavar underlines the importance of acting on this matter. It also highlights the need to provide legal certainty and legal clarity, for situations like this, and I have no doubt that the Government will act on foot of the Group’s recommendations as a matter of urgency.

I am in agreement with Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore’s comments on this matter yesterday which stated:

"It's a heartbreaking case and I must say I was very upset reading it and hearing about it.  We need in this country to provide legal certainty, legal clarity, for a situation where a woman is requesting a termination of pregnancy in circumstances like this and that's why we decided to establish the Expert Group to look at the ABC case and to make recommendations to Government on what steps we can take to deal with that. That group has now completed its work, and has submitted its report to Minister for Health. We need to give our response to the Council of Europe by end of November, so I expect we will be considering the Expert Group report between now and end of  November and dealing with it then.  

"This issue has been with us now for 20 years and this is the first Government that has decided that were are going to deal with it.  We put place a process, an Expert Group chaired by Judge Ryan to address all of the issues, to make recommendations to us. That Expert  Group looked for an extension on the period of time they needed to consider the issues. It is a complex and sensitive area. They have now completed their work, submitted their report to Minister for Health and we will deal with it promptly.

"We need to provide legal clarity.....  Before this incredibly tragic and heartbreaking case we had already determined as a Government that we were going to deal with this by having the Expert Group and getting their recommendations."

I share the very strong feelings that have been expressed to me over the last 24 hours and I will be working with my party colleagues to act on the recommendations of the report as matter of priority.

Please feel free to call me on 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie if you would like to discuss this matter further.

Finglas Village Arcade decision appealed to An Bord Pleanala

Dublin City Council has notified me that an appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala in respect of the decision to refuse the amusement arcade at 11 Main Street Finglas. 

The original application (Dublin City Council reference 3032/12) was for an internet cafe/amusement arcade at this address.  The City Council's planners refused the amusement arcade element of the application saying it ‘would fail to contribute to the creation of a vibrant retail and commercial core in the gateway village….would seriously injure the amenities and depreciate the value of property in the vicinity and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area'.

Along with my colleagues Cllr John Redmond and Cllr Steve Wrenn, I made a strong objection to this amusement arcade and we will be making our views known to An Bord Pleanala on this appeal. 

A number of local residents and community groups also made objections to this amusement arcade and we were all pleased with the original refusal as it was in the best interests of Finglas Village.

If you would like to make a submission to An Bord Pleanala about this appeal it must be made before November 20^th. The appeal reference is 241225 and further details about the fees involved and how to make an appeal can found on the website www.pleanala.ie or by calling An Bord Pleanala on 858 8100.

Alternatively, you can contact me on 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie to speak with me about this appeal and I will make your views known in my submission. 

Public Meeting: Children's Rights Referendum

In advance of the Children’s Rights Referendum on Saturday November 10th, I am holding a public meeting to consider the importance of this proposed amendment to our constitution.


The details of the event are as follows:

Date: Thursday, November 1st at 7.30pm 

Venue: Setanta Hurling Club, Main Street, Ballymun (beside the library)

Speakers: Fergus Finlay, Chief Executive Barnardos & Eleanor McClorey, Chief Executive Young Ballymun

The format of the debate will include a brief presentation from both speakers, followed by a questions and answers session.

Both Eleanor McClorey and Fergus Finlay have worked in the areas of youth development and child protection for many years and their contribution will offer a unique insight into the relevance of this referendum.

All are welcome to attend and I very much hope to see you there on the night. Please feel free to pass on the details of the meeting to anyone else you feel would be interested in attending.

For further information on the public meeting, you can contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

For the wording of the referendum or more information on its importance for protecting children, you can visit www.childrensreferendum.ie

REMINDER: One Week until Digital TV Switch Over

Next Wednesday 24th October, the analogue TV signal will be switched off and if you have not switched to Saorview or another digitial TV provider your screen will go blank.

We've all no doubt seen or heard about the Switch Over on some form of media in recent months, but I know it is the case that some people may not fully be aware of the date. I would encourage people to talk to elderly neighbours in particular to make sure they're aware of the Switch Over next Wednesday.

You can find more information in the 'Going Digital' booklet below.

Open publication - Free publishing - More tv

If you have any other questions, please feel free to give me a call on 01 618 3280 or send me an email to john.lyons@oir.ie

Winter Solstice Art Competition 2012

Art Competition for Primary School Children to Win a Place in the Chamber Newgrange for the Winter Solstice

The competition is for Primary School children aged 10 and over, with the winning entrants being present for the Winter Solstice at Newgrange on December 21st 2012.

This is an extremely exciting opportunity and all you have to do is channel your creativity on the following theme: Newgrange – The Winter Solstice.

Winners will be present in the chamber with a parent/guardian for one of the most important events in the heritage calendar.

Closing date for receipt of entries is Friday 16th November 2012.

All entries should be posted/delivered to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, Donore, Co. Meath.

More information is available on the Heritage Ireland website. 

Have Your Say on "Cash for Gold" Industry

I welcome the extension of the deadline for submissions to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on the future of the “Cash for Gold” industry in Ireland.

Deputy Lyons continued: ‘According to the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter there are 124 cash for gold outlets across the country. Most of these have opened as a result of the huge increase in the price of gold in recent years which has also increased the value of any gold jewellery people might have in their home.

The rise in the price of gold has also raised concerns here about the need for regulation of these “Cash for Gold” outlets, particularly in relation to the issue of handling stolen property.

At present for instance, “Cash for Gold” outlets are not required to retain records while pawn brokers are. This is an obvious anomaly and has led to fears that there could be a link between these shops and home burglaries.

Public concern on this issue needs to be addressed and I am pleased that the Minister has asked the Justice, Defence and Equality committee to examine this issue and make recommendations on it to Government.

The Justice, Defence and Equality Committee has extended the period for the public to make submissions and I would urge anyone with concerns to make a submission to have their views heard.

Submissions will now be accepted by the Committee until Friday 31st October 2012 at 5.00 pm.

Submissions should be sent to the Clerk to the Committee at justiceanddefence@oir.ie or to the Clerk of the Justice, Defence and Equality Committee, Leinster House, Kildare Street Dublin 2."

For more information or any questions, please contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

Fuel Allowance – now is the time to apply

The Winter Fuel Scheme (Fuel Allowance) is intended to help those who are unable to provide for their own heating needs.

The scheme operates for 26 weeks from Monday 8th October 2012 to Friday 5th April 2013. 

Details on who can qualify for this payment is at: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW17/Pages/9HowdoIapply.aspx

The basic rate of Fuel Allowance is €20 per week.

You should apply for the Fuel Allowance now as the allowance will not be backdated. If you received Fuel Allowance last year and are still receiving the same Welfare payment (such as a state pension), you do not need to reapply again this year. It will be paid automatically with your next payment. 

How to apply:

· Application forms are available online at:

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/nfs1.pdf

· Applications are also available from your local Post Office

· You can also Text "Form FUEL" followed by your name and address to 51909

If you have any questions about applying for Fuel Allowance or your eligibility, please contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

Changes to 83 Bus Route

Dublin Bus have announced changes to the 83 bus route after consulting local residents over the last few months.

I am glad that Dublin Bus have taken on board the concerns of residents in the areaand are making these changes without further delay.


The key changes that Dublin Bus are making are:

·         Route 83 will operate via Tolka Estate at hourly intervals, every day.
·         Morning peak times will be adjusted to better meet the needs of peak time commuters.
·         On Sundays Route 83 will terminate at Charlestown Shopping Centre, no longer serving Harristown.


For further information, please see the leaflet from Dublin Bus below. If you have any further concerns about the level of service Dublin Bus are providing, please contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie and I can make representations to the head of Network Direct.

Open publication - Free publishing - More bus changes

New Road Safety Improvements Planned for Santry Avenue

Dublin City Council has informed me that funding has been provided for three new pedestrian crossing points on Santry Avenue.

The works will involve installing traffic lights and pedestrian crossing points at the entrance to the Northwood Estate, at the Aldi store and at the 17a bus stop. Also, a number of improvements will be made to some parts of footpaths along the road and a speed ramp and crossing point will be installed at the entrance to Shanliss Way.

Local residents have spoken to both Roisin Shortall TD and myself about their concerns about the lack of safe crossing points on this road and we have raised this issue with the City Council on a number of occasions.

Thankfully, funding has been provided for these works to start and they should be completed before the end of the year.

These are very welcome works that will make a big difference to all road users and local residents and I look forward to seeing them proceed as quickly as possible.

If you have any further queries about these works you can contact me on 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

Map of Planned Works:

Children's Rights Referendum Announced

The Children's Rights Referendum will be held on Saturday November 10th. I welcome, first of all, that it will be held on a Saturday as this ensures children will not have to be taken from school for the referendum to take place.

What's it about?
The Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution proposes changing our constitution based on the following key objectives:

o Protecting Children;
o Supporting Families;
o Removing Inequalities in Adoption;
o Recognising children in their own right.

The referendum is taking place, in particular, to make sure there are no inequalities between children when it comes to adoption.

Why is it Needed?
The purpose of the Amendment is to expressly recognise children in their own right within the Constitution.
This would mean that each child enjoys rights and deserves certain protections from the State by virtue of the fact that, as a child, they are vulnerable.

Putting dedicated provisions for children into the Constitution has long been called for by expert groups, including the:

· Kilkenny Incest Investigation (1993)
· Constitution Review Group (1996)
· All Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution (2006)
· Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children (2010)

Last year, there were about 30,000 child protection and welfare concerns reported to the welfare services, the vast majority of which are dealt with by way of supports to the parents and family. Of these 30,000, over 16,000 were child welfare concerns. Last year in Ireland there were 1500 cases of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. 

For these reasons above, I will be campaigning for a Yes vote on November 10th.

Information Campaign

For more information on the background to the referendum and to see the full wording of the Amendment, you can visit www.childrensreferendum.ie .

I will be putting up further thoughts on the referendum here throughout the campaign, but please free to contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie if you have any questions on specific issues.

UPDATE: Coultry Road Closure

Last week I wrote to residents in the area around Coultry Park about safety concerns to do with building work for new homes in Coultry 6 (off Coultry Road).

I formally asked BRL to put in further road safety measures (such as ramps and signage) during the building works for Coultry 6 and passed on residents' concerns about some aspects of the closures.

BRL delivered a letter to residents last Friday giving an update on these safety measures. I understand some residents did not receive BRL's previous letter, so I am including the text here for information purposes:

"Dear Resident

Residents have been advised by letter of a start on site date of the 3^rd September which included the closure of Coultry Rd and a traffic diversion along the Green and Drive which was due to take place on the 10^th September.  This traffic diversion is now scheduled to commence at the end of next week.

  

At the public meeting held on Wednesday 5th September, affected residents raised issues in relation to increased traffic volumes and indicated that they had already requested ramps from DCC to slow down the existing traffic due to a number of dangerous car speeding incidents along the Drive.

Discussion took place with the residents on traffic calming measures, ramps (sleeping policemen), directional signage etc. and locations were agreed and then marked out on drawing of the area.  Please see attached design which indicates where the ramps and signage will be placed. 

The Traffic Management Plan which will be put in place by the contractor, was outlined by BRL. Signage will be in place at Coultry Rd entrance off Main St and Santry Avenue advising through traffic -   ‘Coultry Rd closed, local access only’.

BRL will continue to examine road safety measures and look at additional measures if required.

If you require any further information on this or any other issue please contact  the Brl Communication team at 01 222 7362.

Regards

BRL Communications Team"

I have also formally asked BRL to ensure emergency services are fully informed of the new arrangements during the work for the new homes in the Coultry 6 development.

If you have any further concerns on the scheduled works, please give me a call on 01 618 3280 or email john.lyons@oir.ie

Santry Post Office Update

Re: Closure of Santry Post Office, Santry Avenue

Santry Post Office has been closed since August 7th and An Post have said that they want to close it permanently. 

Following contact with me from local residents and customers of Santry Post Office, I have made representations to An Post about its future. 

An Post have now said that they are seeking submissions from the local community and other interested parties before they reach a final decision on the office.

I am making a formal submission to An Post detailing the impact of this decision for local residents and businesses, as well as for the full and part-time staff who had been working at the post office.

If you would like to have your opinion heard, you can make a submission to An Post before 18th September. Please see the notice below for further information or get in touch with me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie if can give any further information.

An Post Notice:

"Customer Notice regarding Santry Post Office.

An Post is currently considering the permanent cessation of provision of Post Office services at Santry Post Office, Santry Avenue, which is currently closed on a temporary basis. 

However, before taking any decision, interested parties who wish to do so are invited to submit their views on the matter to the address below no later than 18^th September 2012. In coming to our decision we will take account of:

• Network coverage needs
• The level of business at the office
• Customer access to service elsewhere e.g. travel distances, etc
• Capacity of neighbouring offices to handle business if office closes

Following consideration of any views received the Company will then proceed to take a decision in this matter.

Fred Quinn

Operations Manager

An Post Retail Operations

Floor 3 B

GPO

Dublin 1"

Important Notice – Coultry Road Closure

I received the following notification from BRL this morning relating to the planned closure of a section of Coultry Road to allow works to start on the Coultry 6 housing scheme.

This is the letter issued to residents of Coultry;

Dear Resident,

I am writing to inform you that construction of the Coultry 6 Housing scheme is due to start on Monday 3rd September.  MDY Construction, the contractors for the scheme, will commence site preparation and hoarding of site.

The project entails the construction of 25 housing units, the completion of the west end of Coultry Park boundary and the finishing of the road network. It is scheduled as an 18 month works programme.

This work will necessitate a road closure of a section of Coultry Road for the duration of the construction of the Coultry 6 scheme. The alternative traffic route will be along Coultry Green and Coultry Drive. (Please see attached map)

If you require any further information on this or any other issue please contact  the Brl Communication team at 01 222 7362.

This is a map outlining the section of the road to be closed and the diversion route;

If any of you would like to speak with me about this, please feel free to get in touch on 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance 2012

Important Notice for any families applying for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for September 2012:


Automatic Payment

As was the case last year, about 110,000 people will receive the Back to School payment without having to reapply. If you are receiving the payment automatically you will receive a letter by the end of this week informing you of your entitlement. Payment will be issued on the week of 16 July.

Applying for the Allowance


If you do not receive a letter by the 20th June about the automatic payment, you must complete an application form and apply for the Back to School payment.

Forms will be available in your Local Social Welfare Offices, via SMS (text "Form BTSCFA" followed by your name and address to 51909) and also on www.welfare.ie from 20th June.

Do I qualify?

To qualify for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance you must;

·         be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment and

·         the payment must include an increase(s) in respect of a child/children, and

·         they must satisfy a means test.

The rates of payment are €150 for children between the age of 4 and 11 years and €250 for children between 12 and 22 years.

Further Information


For more info on the scheme you can lo-call 1890 662 244 or give me a call on 01 618 3280. You can also visit the section of the Social Welfare website here.

Dublin City Council Issue Weather Warning

Dublin City Council has received the weather alert below from Met Eireann:

“Met Éireann have updated the City Council with a rain forecast of between 25 and 35 millimetres up to 5 pm today. After that it will ease off with a possible 5 to 10 millimetres overnight.

The City’s rivers and streams and drainage network are being closely monitored by Dublin City Council staff and regular contact will be made with Met Éireann throughout that time period. Dublin City Council is also monitoring its rain gauges throughout the city. The tide gates on the River Dodder have been closed as a precautionary measure.”

You can also look up more information on protective measures for possible flooding on www.flooding.ie or www.flooding.ie/en/Whocanhelp/

If you have any other concerns about the weather of the City Council's response, please contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie 

Residents of Tolka Valley View are hosting a fundraiser this Friday 25th May in Bottom of the Hill pub, Finglas Village. All funds raised are going towards improvements in the estate, including improving some security issues.

It starts at 8pm and there will be live entertainment on the night. You can contact Elaine Burnett (from Respond Housing Assocation) on 087 211 2853 if you would like more information about the event.

6,000 New Springboard Places to Help People Get Back to Work

The Minister for Education and Skills today announced the details of 6,000 additional part–time higher education places under the Springboard programme for those who are unemployed and seeking to re-train or up-skill.

Since its launch as part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative last May, Springboard has already supported 5,000 people who had previously worked in areas such as construction and manufacturing to re- train to work in areas with high potential for job growth.  

Now with this announcement, a further 6,000 places will be provided to meet identified skills needs in areas such as ICT, Medical Devices, Entrepreneurship and the Green Economy. 

Courses are free, part-time, and are at certificate, degree and postgraduate level. 36 institutes of technology, universities and privately-run higher education colleges around the country will be offering 220 Springboard courses. A number of courses are starting in June but the majority will start in September. Most Springboard courses are one-year-or-less in duration.

You can view the full list of Springboard 2012 courses by clicking here. 

Eligibility:

To be eligible for a place on a Springboard course a person must be unemployed and actively seeking employment. The eligibility criteria for Springboard 2012 have been expanded to include people who were previously self-employed and people in receipt of an extended number of social welfare payments. Full details of eligible social welfare payments and other eligibility criteria are available on www.springboardcourses.ie

While participation on a Springboard course will not confer any entitlement to receive an income support payment from the Department of Social Protection, participants who are in receipt of a Department of Social Protection income support payment may be able to retain such payments subject to continuing to meet the eligibility conditions.

Policy Responses to Unemployment:

Springboard as an excellent example of a targeted policy response to the unemployment challenge. To add to the work being done in Springboard, I have been examining further policy responses, such as a youth guarantee, in recent meetings of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Education and Social Protection.

These meetings with employers, unions and academics have looked at the issues of youth and long term unemployment and a report by the committee will issue soon with recommendations to inform Government policy.  

One of the main points to come from the meetings was the need to activate every organ of the state to tackle unemployment. The state needs to be proactive and I believe Springboard provides a practical example of this as the Department has identified the skills needed and then provided the training places to meet them.

This form of state activation sets the standard of how we should respond to the unemployment crisis and I look forward to further similar policy responses that help get people back to work.

If you have any queries about the Springboard Programme or any other issue, please feel free to get in touch on 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

Tánaiste Canvasses for Yes vote in Dublin North West

Last Friday 4th of May, I welcomed the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore to Ballymun and Finglas as part of the Stability Treaty referendum campaign.


The visit, which was the Tánaiste's first visit to a constituency as part of the campaign, included discussions with local students, business people and residents on the importance of a Yes vote for the country.

The first part of the visit was to my old school Trinity Comprehensive, Ballymun to speak to staff and students about the importance of a Yes vote for Ireland's future.

In a questions and answers session with students, the Tánaiste said ‘voting Yes to stability is vital to Ireland's recovery and with this Ireland can have a bright future’. I also spoke to students and stating that  'voting Yes will ultimately help our economic recovery'.

The Tánaiste also praised the high standard of the questions from the students and the engagement they showed in linking the Treaty to their own lives and situations as students.

Next up was a visit to Nightline Courier Services, a local business based on the Jamestown Road which employs over 500 people nationally.

The Tánaiste and I met with staff and toured the facility with the business owners.  Nightline recently celebrated its 20th anniversary as a company and is the largest Irish-owned courier service, delivering both nationally and internationally.  Nightline CEO John Tuohy commented that ‘a Yes vote is a vote for business and investor confidence'. He also wished the Tánaiste and I well in our campaign in the coming weeks.

The final call was a canvass in Poppintree, Ballymum where the Tánaiste engaged with local residents about the importance of a Yes vote for the euro in their pockets.


The Tánaiste talked to people on the doors about why this Treaty matters to their lives. ‘The Euro is our currency and we need a stable euro for economic growth. 
A Yes vote also gives us an insurance policy where we could access emergency funds should we ever need them. Only a Yes vote gives us this certainty, a no vote is a step in the dark.'

It was an honour to welcome the Tánaiste to the constituency to start off his campaign for a Yes vote. We received a great reception and it was a very encouraging start to my campaign to secure a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum on Thursday May 31st.

If you would like more information on the Stability Treaty Referendum you can visit www.stabilitytreaty.ie

You can also call me on 01 618 3280 or email john.lyons@oir.ie if you have any specific questions on the importance of the Treaty. You can see more images of the Tánaiste's visit to Dublin North West and other campaign images here.

Ballymun Regeneration Update

Click on the image below to see my latest leaflet on the Ballymun Regeneration Programme. It includes information on an increase in the Social Regeneration budget to €8.5 million and clarification that all those housed in the old blocks in Ballymun will be rehoused within BRL's budget allocation.

Please get in touch with me on john.lyons@oir.ie or 01 618 3280 if I can answer any questions or provide further information.

Open publication - Free publishing - More ballymun

Selective Hearing From Sinn Fein - deliberate misquoting on their latest treaty leaflet.

Sinn Fein’s anti-Treaty leaflet quotes three economists (Karl Whelan, Colm McCarthy and Seamus Coffey) to bolster advocating a No vote. 

All three are in favour of the Treaty.

KARL WHELAN QUOTE

From the Sinn Fein leaflet:

 “…the economics of this treaty are pretty terrible…”

KARL WHELAN, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, UCD

What they don’t quote is that he went on to say:

 “On balance, the arguments favour Ireland signing up to it.”

COLM MCCARTHY QUOTE

From the Sinn Fein leaflet:

“As an exercise in addressing the Eurozone’s twin banking and sovereign debt crises, the fiscal compact makes no worthwhile contribution.”

COLM MCCARTHY, SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, UCD

What they  don’t quote:

Articles written by Colm McCarthy in recent weeks advocating a Yes vote include the following:

“Voting No is a leap in the dark that we can't afford”,

Colm McCarthy, 1 April 2012. Irish Independent article –headline.

“A Yes vote is the correct response, unavoidable and in the country's best interests”

Colm McCarthy, 18 February 2012, Irish Independent article -headline.

SEAMUS COFFEY QUOTE

From the Sinn Fein leaflet:

“Had the fiscal compact been in place since 1999 it could not and would not have prevented the crisis in Ireland.”

SEAMUS COFFEY, SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, UCC

What they don’t quote:

 “All in all there is little to be gained from rejecting the Treaty.”

Seamus Coffey , on his blog, on 15 March 2012,

Heavy Rainfall Forecast from Met Eireann and City Council Response

MET Eireann issued a rain advisory (not a severe weather alert) yesterday for the period from midnight on Wednesday 25^th April 2012 to 12 noon on Thursday 26^th April 2012.

This has been assessed by the City Council’s Emergency Management Team and following discussions with MET Eireann’s Forecast Division the latest forecasts for Dublin as forecast by MET Eireann is for 12-15mm of rain over this period and other international forecasts are suggesting 15-20mm of rain in this period.   

The risk of Pluvial flooding from thunderstorm activity is possible but it is not possible to predict in advance the time, location or severity of any such thunderstorm activity.

Areas at potential risk are:

·         Areas previously affected by flooding.

·         Basements.

·         Local Low lying areas.

Below is an update on the actions being taken by Dublin City Council in advance of the anticipated heavy rain due on Wednesday and Thursday next:

1.        Drainage Division are monitoring the weather and are in close contact with MET Éireann.

2.       Drainage Division are visiting and inspecting all river screens to ensure Drainage system can operate to         maximum efficiency.

3.       Waste Management Services staff, who operate o near continuous 24 hour city wide service, have been requested to take action as needed to also respond to any local flooding.

4.       The Traffic Control Centre are using the extensive CCTV system to identify any city wide problems.

5.      The Roads Department are also monitoring the network to mobilise as required.

6.       Dublin Fire Brigade are on hand to respond to requests for service.

7.       Additional Drainage staff are on standby should they be required.

8.       Since the location or timing of any flooding cannot be predicted in advance by MET Éireann putting the community on alert is the most effective response.

General guidance on how to reduce flood risk is contained in guidance booklets produced by Office of Public Works is available on www.opw.ie  and is also on the City Council’s website. www.dublincity.ie

Applications Open for More Choice Based Letting Homes

John with Councillor John Redmond, who was instrumental in getting the Choice Based Lettings Scheme established

The Choice Based Lettings scheme is a pilot programme for the Finglas area that anyone on the housing list can apply for. 

Dublin City Council have announced today that three more houses will now be offered to people on the housing list under the scheme

These houses are in Kippure Park, Fairlawn Road and Cloonlara Road. 

Applications can be made to the Finglas Area Office directly up until Friday 4th May 2012. 

For more information on the houses themselves or on how to apply visit this section of the Dublin City Council website. 

If you have any other questions on the scheme, or your housing situation in general, please contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

Funding Approved for Traffic Lights on St Margaret's Road (R104)

I welcome the announcement today that €75,000 in funding has been given by the National Transport Authority for traffic lights and other road safety improvements at the junction of the (R104) St. Margaret’s Road and the Jamestown Road.

The issue of speeding on this stretch of road from the Charlestown Shopping Centre to Ikea is well known to local residents and it has resulted in some serious accidents in recent months. 

This is why before Christmas I asked Fingal County Council to carry out a speed survey of cars on the road and assess any extra safety measures needed.

The speed survey report recommended a number of improvements including putting in traffic lights and pedestrian crossing points at the junction of the R104 St. Margaret’s Road and the Jamestown Road.

Fingal County Council then applied to the National Transport Authority to fund the works and I wrote in support of this application as well as raising it with the Minister of State with special responsibility for Public and Commuter Transport.

Thankfully this funding has now been approved and it will allow these works to being in the very near future to benefit residents in the Charlestown, Meakstown and Hampton Wood areas.

This funding comes as part of €11.7 million in transport funding for the Greater Dublin area in which Fingal will benefit from projects worth €1.4 million and Dublin City Council will benefit from €4.1 million of funding. The funding to the City Council includes €2 million for road surfacing improvements while will be welcomed by motorists across the city.

I will be following up this announcement with Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council to ensure these projects are started as quickly as possible.

If you would like more information on these plans or if you have concerns about other roads or junctions in the area, please call me on 01 618 3280 or email john.lyons@oir.ie 

Lanesborough Community Day - Saturday 21st April

There are two community events taking place this Saturday 21st April in Lanesborough Park.


Lanesborough Park Clean Up Day


The first is a Park Clean Up Day from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The last clean up day was a huge success so please come along if you would like to lend a hand. Bags, gloves and litter pickers will be provided on the morning by the Council and Community Gardaí will also be coming along if you would like to discuss any issues or concerns with them.

Meakstown Community Games


The clean up will be followed by the Meakstown Community Games, with organised games of soccer and rounders beginning at 1pm for local children.

The local Community Games volunteer committee has been working hard to get the games off the ground and the local games in the park will lead to a Meakstown Team in each sport to represent the area in Dublin and maybe national finals.

The games are open to all children and families in the area and pre-registration is advised. You can register bu contacting the games organiser Neil Dowling on meakstowncg@gmail.com or give me a call on 01 618 3280.

For more information on both the Park Clean Up Day and the Community Games events, please see my latest local leaflet below:

Open publication - Free publishing - More charlestown

Latest Leaflet - Working Hard To Keep People in their Homes

Open publication - Free publishing - More arrears

€30 million Sports Capital Funding to Benefit Disadvantaged Communities

Are you involved in a local club or sporting organisation? 

Are you looking to get funding for new facilities or equipment to increase local participation in your sport?

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport  announced today that disadvantaged communities will be a funding priority in the programmes new €30 million fund.

This is the first round of Sports Capital Funding in four years, and it will crucially offer sports clubs around the country access to vital funds. With funds of €30 million, the new focus of the sporting programme is to encourage more people to get involved in sporting activity.

I greatly welcome the funds emphasis on assisting sporting clubs in disadvantage communities. All evidence has shown that sporting participation is strongly linked to income and educational background, with those from better off backgrounds participating more. The lack of participation in disadvantaged areas is proven to have hugely negative effects on people in terms obesity and mental health. I am hopeful that with proper investment in disadvantaged areas, like Ballymun and Finglas, this can change.

Sport is not the only answer to this problem but it is a big start. This is why I will be encouraging every club in Dublin North West to get involved, and make sport an accessible option for everyone.

Applying for the funding:

The deadline for applications made online and those made in Irish (and hard copy of the signed application form and all supporting documentation) must reach the Department by 5pm on Friday 1st June 2012. 

Paper based applications (and all supporting documentation) must reach the Department by 5pm on Friday 11th May 2012. 

Address: 2012 Sports Capital Programme Applications

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

New Road

Killarney

Co. Kerry 

Further Information:

For further information on the process of applying for funding please visit the Department of Sport website here and the Sport Capital Programme 2012 Application here. 

Please also get in contact with me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie if I can get further information on the process or help in any other way.