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"