Gaelscoil Bharra

Good news from Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra. Last night St Finbarrs GAA club agreed to sign over the land necessary to build a proper school.  I've been on to Dublin City Council to get them to expedite the legal handover. Its taken far too long to get to this point but I remain committed to the children, parents and teachers of Gaelscoil Bharra.


All the best, Mary.

Dublin’s Historic Houses

If you want to get a better appreciation of Dublin's historic homes, please read the following letter I received from the Irish Georgian Society today.

The Irish Georgian Society and Dublin City Council are partnering to present a 12-week lunchtime lecture series in March, April and May 2011.

A team of leading conservation experts, a number of them from Dublin City Council’s Heritage and Conservation Offices, have been assembled to deliver a lunchtime lecture series on the understanding and care of Dublin’s period houses.

Aimed at those with an interest in Dublin’s historic houses, the series will examine all periods and types of houses, from the modest Edwardian artisan dwellings to the substantial red bricks of the Victorian suburbs and the fine townhouses of our Georgian city squares. The lecture series will provide an appreciation of the significance of every aspect of Dublin’s historic houses and practical information on their card, conservation and maintenance. The lectures will be of particular interest to owners of Dublin’s many Protected Structures and buildings located within Architectural Conservation Areas but also the many non-protected traditionally built Dublin period houses.

A certificate of attendance will be issued to those who attend all the lectures. The lectures are approved for structured CPD by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (12 points) and Engineers Ireland.

Lectures, which will start on Wednesday 2nd March 2011 (from 1pm to 2pm) and continue for 12 weeks, and will take place in the Helen Roe Theatre, RSAI, 63 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

It is possible to attend all, one or as many of the lectures as you wish. The lectures are priced at €10 which you may pay at the door or book in advance for a special price of €100for all 12 lectures (half price for fulltime students with card). To book contact the Irish Georgian Society, 74 Merrion Square, D.2 (tel: 01 6767053/email: info@igs.ie/ web:http://www.igs.ie/)

Hope that some of you might be interested in attending. It would be greatly appreciated if you could forward information on the lecture series to any residents within your area who you think may be interested in attending.

Kind regards, Emmeline.

Emmeline Henderson
IGS Assistant Director & Conservation Manger
Irish Georgian Society
74 Merrion Square
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 6767053

Day 18

Attended the launch of Fianna Fail's manifesto, REAL PLAN, BETTER FUTURE. Its a plan well worth supporting. Hugh Lane Gallery was a good venue for the launch (and not just because it's in Dublin Central :-) After that back canvassing in Drumcondra and Cabra followed by RTE Drive Time debate in Smithfield with my fellow candidates. Back home for a bite to eat then off to City Council for monthly meeting. 

Day 19

Busy weekend. After a wind and rain swept Saturday canvassing The Markets, Glasnevin, Cabra and Navan Road I made my way to the City Sheriff to register as a candidate. I was the 17th candidate to register in the city and the first FF candidate. Surprised at the number of constituents who saw the piece in THE IRISH TIMES yesterday and Celia Larkin's article in THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT raised a few eyebrows among church goers on Aughrim Street and the Navan Road.

Day 21

Canvassing today in Cabra & the Navan Road. Great support from my team. Despite gale force winds people were willing to stop and talk at the shops and open their doors when we knocked.

Grangegorman Development

The Grangegorman Development Agency has awarded Hegarty Demolition Ltd. the contract for the Mental Health Replacement Facility Enabling Works. This work is due to begin on Monday 7th February and therefore an information meeting for residents will take place here in the Main Hall of the GDA offices on Tuesday 8th February at 3pm. The contractor will be in attendance to explain how they will go about the job and to answer queries in relation to it.

If you wish to attend the meeting please e-mail at ronan.doyle@ggda.ie or telephone ronan on 01 8676082 to confirm.

Employment Opportunities

As part of my continuing drive for job creation in our area, I'm delighted to announce that the Tolka Area Partnership have been awarded 40 places under the TUS programme for the benefit of local community, voluntary groups and organisations. The TÚS Programme provides for 19½ hours work per week for people who are in receipt of a Jobseekers payment for at least 12 months. If you are interested and want more info, have a look at the TÚS Community Work Placement Initiative on the 

Department of Social Protection website HERE or contact me and I'll be happy to help. The closing date is 4.30pm on Friday, 18 February 2011.

Beware Bogus Callers in Cabra

Beware Bogus callers to you door – and no, I am not referring to canvassers !

At recent meetings with the Gardai I have raised the issue of bogus callers and aggressive sales techniques from certain suppliers going to door to door in Cabra. There is an ongoing problem with strangers calling at local houses falsely claiming to represent well known utility providers. Sadly the purpose of these calls in some cases is to establish whether there is someone at home or in case of elderly residents to gain entry under false pretences and steal from the unsuspecting resident. At the last meeting of the Cabra Community Policing Forum a community representative raised concerns that Airtricity sales people were adopting an over enthusiastic approach when going door to door. Following a discussion we agreed that the Forum will write to the company and make them aware of the fact that there has been problems with bogus callers in the area and ask them to make their representaties aware of this and confine their calling times to during daylight hours. Please remember never let someone into your house unless you know them, always ask for identification from unknown callers. 

Click on http://www.maryfitzpatrick.ie/ for news in Dublin Central

Dublin Bus Network

I met last week with Dublin Bus to get an update on the changes they are making to the bus service in our area and specifically the changes they are making from this week to the service for Cabra. They told me that the aim of the Network Direct Project is to deliver 1) A simpler network that is easier to understand, 2) More frequent services, 3) More direct services and 4) Improved punctuality and reliability. Click HERE to get the full list on the proposals for the Cabra Area, including indicative timetable frequencies.

The consultation period is ongoing and Dublin Bus will hold a public consultation Roadshows in the Dublin City Council Library, Cabra on 10th Februrary from 2pm-8pm where members of the public will be able to meet with members of Dublin Bus to discuss any concerns that they may have. If you can’t make it along to the public information session you can e-mail in comments tonetworkdirect@dublinbus.ie.

The deadline for submissions is February 20th 2011. Please feel free to cc me on any submission you make.

Click on http://www.maryfitzpatrick.ie/ for news in Dublin Central

Grangegorman contracts

Hegarty Demolition were awarded two contracts recently for work on the Grangegorman campus. Any employment queries should be made directly to Hegarty Demolition, 17 Main Street,Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. Their telephone number is 01 4905058.

Click on http://www.maryfitzpatrick.ie/ for news in Dublin Central

Electrical and Battery Recycling

The wheels turn slowly at Dublin City Council.  Following on from the huge success of the free electrical waste collection on Blackhorse Avenue and the Navan Road last year, I asked DCC to arrange a free collection in Cabra, Phibsborough and Glasnevin.  They have just confirmed to me that on Saturday 5^th of February from 10.00 – 16.00 there will be a free collection at St Finbars GAA club in Cabra.  They will accept any household items with a plug or a battery e.g. kettles, dishwasher, TVs etc.  for more information please go towww.recyclefree.ie or click HERE for the flyer.  Well done to Finbars for hosting this important service for the community.  DCC is working on organising further collection days in the rest of the constituency. 

Click on www.maryfitzpatrick.ie for more on Dublin Central  

Precious Blood - update

Following my request earlier this month (click HERE for my last update), the area manager at Dublin City Council informed me yesterday that my request for the clean up on the waste ground beside the Precious Blood church was completed yesterday. It was too dark last night when I was coming home from the Youth Café Committee meeting to check if they fixed the railings yet and cut the grass but I will have a look later when I am canvassing in Cabra. 

Click on www.maryfitzpatrick.ie for more on Dublin Central

Precious Blood Church Repairs

At the January meeting of the Central Area Committee I asked the Area Manager to arrange to have the open green space at the Precious Blood Church, facing onto Fassaugh Avenue, cleaned-up and the railings repaired.  The Manager agreed to have the area attended to.  In December I asked Dublin City Council to repair the potholes on the  entrance road from Kilkiernan Road to The Precious Blood Church in Cabra west repaired.  Following my request Road Maintenance inspected the above location and found the defective area on private grounds.  The contact at Dublin City Council is :Ronan Connolly, Roads Maintenance.Tel:222 2576

Click on www.maryfitzpatrick.ie for all the latest news in Dublin Central

Gealscoil Bharra

Since I was first elected in 2004 I have worked with and for the pupils, teachers and parents of Gaelscoil Bharra to get them a purpose built school.  The school has been operating out of temporary port-a-kabin structures on the grounds of St Finbars GAA for more than 13years.  The children and teachers deserve a proper built school.  In late 2010 the school advised that they are hopeful that agreement can soon be reached for St Finbars GAA to handover the land (which they hold under a lease from Dublin City Council) to the Department of Education which will allow a school to be built.  At the December meeting of the Central Area Committee I asked the City Manager to provide a report detailing discussions between Dublin City Council /St. Finbars GAA/Gaelscoil Bharra and the Department of Education regarding the provision of a purpose built school.  Specifically, Dublin City Council should outline what actions will be required by Dublin City Council to facilitate the building of a purpose built school and the timescale involved with completion of these steps. Here is the response I received:

“The Council's Chief Valuer issued terms and conditions to the Department of Education and Skills for their consideration and these are subject to ongoing negotiations. The matter will be put before the elected members in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001 at the earliest opportunity assuming all matters have been agreed. Contact: Darren McClean, Property Management Section. Tel: 222 2852”

I will keep on top of this.

Click on www.maryfitzpatrick.ie for all the latest news in Dublin Central

Reilly’s Bridge bottle-neck

On Tuesday 21st of December 2010 Dublin City Council advertised its intention to apply to An Bord Pleanala for permission to build a fly-over bridge to replace the existing hump back bridge a.k.a. Reillys Bridge on the Ratoath Road.  The plans are available to inspect in the Cabra Library on the Navan Road and Dublin City Council offices on Woodquay.  The deadline for submissions was originally 6 weeks from the 21st of December 2010 but due to the Christmas period falling within the  6 week display period the display period has been extended by 2 weeks. You can inspect the plans at the Cabra Library on the Navan road or www.dublincity.ie. Please click here for more information or drop me an email. 

Click on www.maryfitzpatrick.ie for all the latest news in Dublin Central

Navan Road Bus Corridor

The Quality Bus Network Project Office is proposing to upgrade the Navan Road Bus Corridor from Cabra Cross to the Ashtown Roundabout. They are seeking planning permission through a Part 8 planning application. When they presented this proposal to the Central Area Committee I raised a number of issues with them and asked that they put the proposal on display locally in the Cabra Library as well as in Civic Offices on Woodquay and on the Dublin City Council website. The deadline for submissions from the general public has now closed. You can read my submission by clicking here. It is expected the QBN office will bring a report on this proposal to the Central Area Committee in the new year.

St Joseph's Development

The re-development of St Josephs is moving ahead work should commence on the new community village early in the new year. This development will deliver new residential and community facilities for the deaf and wider community. To read more about this exciting development please click here.

Reilly’s Bridge bottle-neck

Beginning of the End for Reilly’s Bridge bottle-neck: On Tuesday 21st of December 2010  Dublin City Council advertised its intention to apply to An Bord Pleanala for permission to build a fly-over bridge to replace the existing hump back bridge a.k.a. Reillys Bridge on the Ratoath Road.  The plans are available to inspect in the Cabra Library on the Navan Road and Dublin City Council offices on Woodquay.  The deadline for submissions is 6 weeks from the 21st of December 2010.  Please click here for more information or drop me an email.

Drumcliff, Killala Roads Treebay

12.10.2010: Mary has asked Dublin City Council to repair the footpath and tree bay between 35 Drumcliff Road and the junction with lower Killala Road, Dublin 7  

Response: The wooden surround to the existing tree has been provided by a local resident and is therefore not within our scope of works. The Parks and Landscape Services Division budget for footpath repairs has been exhausted for the current year. Contact: Carl Ryan, Roads Maintenance, 222 2557; Mark Jones, Parks Department, 222 3701; Senior Executive Officer, 222 2059.

Glendhu Park and Park Road Flood Relief

14th Sept 2010: Mary asked Dublin City Council to provide an update on flood relief work for Cabra and Drumcondra.

Response: The construction of the swales at Glendhu Park and Park Road are complete. The Parks Department have engaged a contractor to complete the landscaping work (topsoiling, sowing grass seed etc.). It is hoped that this work will commence shortly. A new footpath, the reconstruction of an existing footpath and the erection of new bollards should commence within the next few weeks. Work on upsizing a surface water pipe between 126 and 128 Carnlough Road has commenced and should be completed within the next three weeks. There are no flood relief works being undertaken in the Drumcondra area. Contact: Colm Fitzpatrick, Drainage Division, Tel: 222 2702