The Incincerator and Dublin City Council
Sinn Féin’s Councillor Daithí Doolan, has slammed City Council officials for spending over €10m of public money on promoting an incinerator that is prohibited by the City Development Plan. Cllr. Doolan says: “I am totally outraged at the fact it has only come to light now, following a question I put the City Manager, that Council officials have spent over €10 million of taxpayers’ money on promoting an incinerator for the Poolbeg Peninsula which nobody wants. The €10.5m has paid for private consultants, newsletters, newspaper advertising, posters and information sessions. The fact is the proposed incinerator for Poolbeg Peninsula is excluded from the Dublin City Development Plan and this position has been endorsed by City Councillors. No amount of gloss or money can deny that fact.’’

Appointment Process for New Dublin City Manager
On 3rd July Dublin Councillors were asked to ratify the appointment of a new City Manager. However, according to the former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Dermot Lacey, Councillors will be faced with “A fait accompli. Unlike the vote recently for Lord Mayor, there will be only one candidate. Unlike the winner, who will serve as Lord Mayor for one year, the new Manager will be appointed to serve for seven years. Unlike the decision to elect the Lord Mayor, Councillors had no hand, act or part in who the new City Manager would be and unlike the outcome of last week, whether we vote Yes or No the Manager will be appointed in any event. So much for democratic Local Government.

“I have no axe to grind with the proposed new City Manager, Mr. John Tierney, and wish him every success in his new role. However, under our flawed and deeply undemocratic system of Local Government he will have huge powers to exercise in the name of the City Council and on behalf of the City of Dublin and Dubliners. On Thursday last, for example, we saw the interim City Manager finally lodge the planning application for the Poolbeg Incinerator against the wishes of the Council but with the full backing of the political and bureaucratic masters in the Custom House.”

€180,000 for Pearse House Sporting Facilities
Funding of €180,000 is being made available for the further development of sporting facilities in Pearse House as part of a major Government investment in community facilities. Chris Andrews says that this funding will allow the development of multi-purpose playing, community and sporting facilities at Pearse House, which will be of benefit to people of all ages. “The size of the allocation to Pearse House is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of local community workers and volunteers,” he says.

New Speed limits for Residential Areas
Labour Cllr. Kevin Humphreys welcomed the new 30km Speed Limit that came into effect on 9th of July, in the city centre and some residential areas on a pilot bases. “It has been shown in numerous studies that the reduction in speed prevents accidents and serious injuries to pedestrians. A no-nonsense approach must be taken by the Garda Síochána on those who breach the new speed limit. If one life is saved on our streets Dublin City Council will see this as a success.”

Pilot projects to start next month
Chris Andrews, welcomed the Government’s anti-graffiti pilot project which will commence in July. “This graffiti clean-up is long overdue as many areas are being ruined by this sort of visual litter,” stated Andrews. The pilot project aimed specifically at combating graffiti in Dublin City, Galway City and Bray, Co. Wicklow has been allocated a budget of €3m in 2006.

Thousands more for free GP Visits
People across the Southside of Dublin should check to see if they qualify for the GP Visit Card after a major expansion of the scheme, according to Chris Andrews. “This scheme has been grossly under-subscribed with just 3% of Dubliners entitled to free GP visits claiming their benefits. Under the expansion, cover is now being extended to allow thousands of extra people to benefit.”
Log on to www.medicalcard.ie where an easy to use ready reckoner is available which allows you to see if you should make an application

Lansdowne Road Stadium
Cllr. Kevin Humphreys has always supported Lansdowne Road remaining in Dublin 4. However, he says that the 28 conditions imposed in the Planning Permission don’t go far enough to address the concerns of the local residents, such as dust alleviation measures, overshadowing, number of concerts and the utilisation of the back pitch. Kevin Humphreys says: “To ensure the speedy completion of the stadium, I am calling on IRFU/FAI to meet with the local residents and deal with their concerns in a realistic manner which they’ve failed to do so far.”

City Council adopt radical new childcare policy
Cllr. Doolan welcomes the new childcare policy. “This childcare policy we are adopting puts City Council at the centre of childcare in Dublin. The policy is the product of months of hard work, consultation and investigation. As a member of the Mayor’s Commission on Childcare, I fully support the recommendations in this new policy. It is a radical move and one that will ensure that City Council rises to the challenge of meeting the needs of children and parents. I hope this document is replicated right across the island of Ireland.”