Dulux Let's Colour Community Project

Dulux have launched a new project which offers community groups and organisations the opportunity to brighten up their spaces and buildings.

Some great projects have already gone ahead in the Dublin area, such as the St Mary's Creche and Pre-Schoold in the Quays: http://www.letscolour.ie/127/

I have been informed that there have not been a large amount of entries from Dublin yet. I can think of several great projects in the constituency worthy of such a project.

If you're involved in a community group in Dublin North-West I would encourage you to apply for this project and avail of a wonderful opportunity to reinvent the space you use for your group!

For an application form and more info on the criteria, log on to http://www.letscolour.ie/

As always, feel free to give me a call on 01 618 3280 if I can give you more information on this or any other subject.

Weekly Clinic Times for Dublin North-West

Are you looking to meet me to discuss an issue or concern?

I hold regular clinics on Monday and Friday across the constituency.


Details of Clinics:

• Ballymun Area

Monday - 10am - Axis Theatre, Ballymun

• Charlestown/Meakstown Area (starting Monday 16th May)

Monday - 12 noon - The Deputy Mayor Pub, St. Margaret's Road, Meakstown

• Finglas Area (starting Friday 13th May)

Friday - 10am - Labour Party Office, Main Street, Finglas


If you need directions to these clinics or you are unable to attend at these times, please give me a call on 01 618 3280 or email me at john.lyons@oireachtas.ie and I will follow up any queries or concerns you may have.

**These clinics are from the dates mentioned, exclude Bank Holiday Mondays and do not apply for the month of August**



Thanks,

John

The Money Advice and Budget Service

The Money Advice and Budget Service (MABS) provides fantastic support to anyone experiencing problems with debt, personal finances or needing advice on money management.

The main office for the area is located on Main Street in Ballymun (on the second floor beside the new Garda Station). You can contact them on 01 8620059 or by email at ballymun@mabs.ie

For more information on the services they provide, log on to http://www.mabs.ie/ or give me a call on 01 618 3280 if you have any specific queries.

MABS have also launched a great website along with Citizens Information called http://www.keepingyourhome.ie/

It's a one-stop-shop for advice on any mortgage, rent or debt problems you may be experiencing.

As you may be aware, the Programme for Government includes a committment build on the great work MABS is currently going by converting it into a strengthened Personal Debt Management Agency with strong legal powers.

This new agency will further support families who make an honest effort to deal with their debts, including non-mortgage debt, providing protection from their creditors where appropriate, so that they have time to sort out their affairs.

Speaking on Criminal Justice Bill and Justice System Reform

I was delighted to speak on the Criminal Justice Bill in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday 18th April. It is clear that our prison system is facing big problems in terms of the space available, its quality and ultimately its cost to the country.

As I discussed in my speech in the Dáil chamber, we need to look at alternatives to the current system and to provide appropriate punishments for criminal behaviour, but also creating a system that brings more benefits to the wider community.

Listen to the full speech below:

Launching the LIFT Ballymun Youth Arts Festival 2011

 

It was a great pleasure to have been invited to open the annual celebration of youth creativity and culture that is the LIFT Ballymun Youth Arts Festival in the AXIS theatre.

Having lived all my life in the area, I know the great potential that exists in the youth of the communities of Dublin North West. For the past six years this festival has brought this positivity to the fore and, as I mentioned during my speech at the launch, it has helped the AXIS theatre become the heart of the community.

Sometimes teenagers and young adults are overlooked and are not given the credit they deserve but community festivals like this give the public a chance to see what our young people can achieve.

This year’s festival runs from 13th – 20th April 2011 and includes workshops, participation and performing opportunities for young people in a wide variety of art forms including Music, Rap, DJing, printmaking, Theatre, and much more.

I would encourage everybody to make a special effort to go along and enjoy eight days of events that will prove to be unforgettable for the participants, their families and everyone involved.



Some of the artwork on show at the "Starting For Myself" Art Exhibtion on the first day of the festival





Next Meeting of the Apartment Owners Network

The Apartment Owners Network are having their monthly meeting on this Thursday 14th April at 7pm in  the Dublin City Council head offices on Wood Quay. The meeting and membership to the network are open to anyone.  


AON: A forum for residents in new devlopments

I know there are many new estates in Dublin North-West who have been in touch with me regarding issues with management companies or developers.

The Apartment OwnersNetwork organises open meetings for residents of any housing estate or apartment complex and provides great information to people experiencing problems or who feel they need more support in dealing with such companies.

Some estates in the Dublin North-West area, such as Hampton Wood, St. Canice’s Square, Tolka Vale, are already members of the Network and I would encourage other residents' groups to get involved as well.


You will find more information on the Network or directions to the meeting here:

http://www.apartmentowners.ie/2011/04/april-meeting/

You can also sign up to their newsletter on their webpage if you can't make it along to the meeting this time around.

Dublin North-West needs a Community Response to Anti-Social Behaviour & illegal Dumping

In response to replies from Dublin City Council regarding questions on illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour in Dublin North West, I believe that greater cooperation between residents, the City Council and the Gardaí is needed to tackle these ongoing issues. 

As a recently elected TD for the area, I am fully aware of the challenges of illegal and anti-social behaviour communities in my constituency are facing. I believe that the nature of these challenges requires a community response as they cannot be addressed simply by the Gardaí or the City Council. 

Central to this community response are the local residents who must assist the Gardai and the City Council by reporting such behaviour in their area. They must also be willing to engage with and support community programmes such as those run by Safer Ballymun and the Finglas Safety Forum.

Authorities such as the City Council must however, make greater use of the assets at their disposal. Ballymun for instance has a sophisticated CCTV network covering most open spaces, yet according to figures from Dublin City Council, in 2010 13 fines were issued for illegal dumping in the Shangan Green area and of these; only four were paid with no convictions obtained in respect of unpaid fines. CCTV is not a cure all for addressing such behaviour; yet it will only have a deterrent effect if action is taken on foot of what is monitored by the network.

Our straightened public finances require us to do more with what we have in these challenging times. Everybody has a role to play in making our communities safer places to live in and I will be working with all groups across Dublin North West to address these issues over the coming years.

A Well-Balanced Community Model