DCC Flooding Update

Since the flooding on the 24^th of October I have been following up with Dublin City Council regarding specific flooding events in our area.  At the DCC Engineering Strategic Policy Meeting held on December 15^th I addressed the issue and the RTE 1 news covered some of my comments.  You can watch the full meeting by clicking HERE. It was a long meeting but you can skip to my comments by using the index (1:47) or read my initial contribution below.

Areas in Dublin Central have been repeatedly flooded over the past decade dating from the Tolka flooding in 2002, 2005 and more recently 2008, 2009 and now again in 2011.

Accepting that the Manager says that no location in the city is free from flood risk and that the report identifies a minimum of 142 locations that were flooded on the 24^th of October I find the report to be too high level, too strategic and all to vague. It is significantly lacking in detail, solutions and timelines for action.

I have specific questions about East Wall, Glendhu park, Ashington, Cabra west, Cabra East, Phibsborough, Drumcondra, Glasnevin, East Wall, Ballybough, North Strand.  I have put those questions directly on email, I have raised those issues as questions to the City Manager,  I have put questions to area committee and city council meetings for written reply. 

The reports I have received are high-level and strategic in nature.   I have received replies that don't convey to me or residents that any real progress is being made.  At its worse I would consider the replies to have been a waste of what we are told are limited resources.

This forum of the SPC is not suitable for addressing local issues.  

The city council is refining its message on what it cannot do.  It cannot meet with residents. It cannot provide sandbags. It cannot solve the problem. The network is inadequate,insufficient resources are available,  it is the OPW, the DoE or some other bodies responsiblity etc.  More than anything, no pun intended, the overall effect of this approach is leaving me with a sinking feeling.

Over €120million has been spent over the last decade, the Tolka.  Another €100million will be made over the next decade. While this is less it is still very welcome and every effort must be made to ensure that Dublin City gets its fair share of those funds.

From a homeowners perspective in Dublin City today they do not feel that DCC is being responsive.   Clearly our approach is not working and we need to recognise this and address it.  Clearly there is a plethora of organisations dedicated to protect funding streams and hopefully the Government that has promised much change and greater efficiencies and economies will maybe take this issue of flooding and streamline the various organisations and channel all flooding and drainage activities in one body.

Dublin City Council has significant resources when it comes to long term strategic flooding and drainage expertise however we need to bridge the gap between that strategic long-term approach and the  real life events of ordinary homeowners and business owners in the city. 

We  have to do something to move DCC from appearing  like it is hiding behind big words, dense reports , legislation and convoluted procedures and instead move to establish a clear channel of communications between the city council and residents and business owners. 

Dublin City Council is the planning authority. Dublin City Council is the drainage provider.  Dublin City Council must take the lead on this issue. Dublin City Council needs to take action to establish a Dublin City Flood Forum now.

Finally, I wish to propose to this SPC that dealing with these matters at the SPC is wholly inappropriate and we should call on DCC to establish without any further delay Dublin City Flooding Forum.    DCC should make an application for funding for a Dublin City flooding fund immediately.

Fully accepting that mother nature will always have the power to overwhelm our efforts we need to be more proactive and the City Council needs to take a partnership approach with home and business owners in the city to protect their properties.

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Cabra Garda Station

Over the past couple of months I have made representations, as Chairperson of the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee, to the Garda Chief Superintendent regarding the need to retain Cabra Garda Station as a fully functioning station for our area.

While it is extremely regrettable that the Minister for Justice has decided to close Whitehall Garda Station and I am seeking a reversal of this decision (click HERE for more), I do welcome the fact that Cabra Garda Station is to be retained. It is disappointing however that the Government has decided to change the public opening hours of the station. The key change is that, between 10pm and 8am the general public will not have access to the station.  This means that during the night the station desk will not be open to the public - however the station will remain fully active. The Chief has assured me that the Garda presence and their operations will remain unchanged at night the only difference is that instead of the Gardai being in the station they will be out in the community. He has assured me that there will be no change in community policing due to this decision.

I will continue to monitor this situation and work to ensure that there is no further reduction to the Garda resources that I have worked hard to secure for our area. If you have any feedback on this issue please email me.

Mary

Chillax Cabra

Chillax, Cabra's Youth Café, ran by young people in Cabra for young people in Cabra, will be open on the following dates between now and Christmas 28th Oct, 4th Nov, 18th Nov and 9th Dec 2011. Chillax opens at 7.30pm in the Bogies/John Paul II Sports and Community Center and all young people from Cabra are welcome. Mary.

Flood Prevention Cabra

Dublin City Council has arranged an information session for residents regarding the proposed swales for Cabra in Killala and Drumcliffe to be held on Tuesday 28th June 2011 between 5-6.30pm with a presentation by Mr Gerard O'Connell, Project Design Engineer, at 5.00pm in Cabra Library, Navan Road, Dublin 7. Mary

Cabra For Youth Volunteers

You may know that I am a founding member of "Cabra for Youth", the dedicated Youth Services for the Cabra Area. At Cabra For Youth we have six full time, fully qualified staff providing one to one and group programmes for young people aged between 10 and 21yrs. The service is expanding all the time and we are currently inviting applications for volunteers. We have an ad on Volunteering Ireland for a Youth work Volunteer and a Youth Café Volunteer, so click HERE for more details.

Mary

Blackhorse Avenue Traffic

Further to my last update on road improvements on Blackhorse Avenue (click HERE for more), I continue to follow up with Dublin City Council. The latest they advise is that the roadworks at Blackhorse Avenue will be largely completed (except final surfacing layer) by Friday 15th July 2011. The contractor will be off-site during the Annual Builders Holiday (last two weeks in July i.e. Monday 18th – Friday 29th July, both dates inclusive). Immediately on return, the Contractor will carry out the final surfacing layer on the road, and have completed same by the end of the first week in August. 

The source of the water on Blackhorse Avenue, immediately east of the Cabra Gate entrance has been discovered. It is reputedly known as “Murphy’s Well”. In the near term, the Roads Maintenance Division of Dublin City Council will place a temporary surface ditch to accommodate run-off during the currently on-going roadworks. In the longer term and following completion of the current roadworks, the plan is to place an underground pipe to take away the well run-off to a nearby public sewer.

Finally, once the roadworks on Blackhorse Avenue have been completed, speed surveys will be conducted on this section of Blackhorse Avenue to determine if additional traffic calming measures including road markings are necessary. 

I have also asked DCC to consider 1) re-surfacing Blackhorse Avenue down near the Military Cemetery and 2) traffic calming on the full length of the road and the junction at the Ashtown Gate entrance to the park. The Ashtown junction is in Fingal County Councils area and the matter has been referred to Fingal for a response.

As ever, I'll keep you posted. Happy Easter, Mary.

Dublin Bus 11 Route Retained

The Dublin Bus Network review is continuing across the city and the arrival of “real time” information at local bus stops is making the service even more attractive. New timetables have been introduced on the 37, 38 and 39 routes as and from April 17, 2011. Following on from my previous representations Dublin Bus today confirmed to me that in response to feedback from the general public Route 11 is being retained. Its current route alignment will remain unchanged on the Northside and it will continue to serve the Clonskeagh entrance of UCD, Kilmacud Road and then continue onto Sandyford Industrial Estate. For all the latest information please go to www.dublinbus.ie

Green Bin Easter Monday

Please note that any Green Bin collection due on Mon 25th April (Easter Monday) will take place on Sat 23rd instead. All other collections as normal. See www.greenbin.ie.

For opening times of Bring Centres and Recycling Centres, click HERE. For more information contact DCC Cabra Area Office on (01) 2227400. All the best, Mary.

Tai Chai in Cabra

Senior Citizens, why not try out Tai Chi. These are gentle non-impact exercise classes which will improve flexibility and good health. Sample Class next Tuesday, 19th April at St Finbarrs GAA Club. All seniors welcome. For more information please contact Cabra Community Development Project on 085-1519972. Grand stretch in the evening, Mary.

Graduates, Snr Developers

Asset Control, a global provider of data technology for financial institutions, is to create 50 new jobs in Dublin with the expansion of its financial technology operation. Opportunities open to a mix of graduates and senior developers. Click HERE for more on the announcement. 

The company will shortly post specific opportunities HERE (none showing at present), but in the meantime get ahead of the queue by calling their Human Resources department at +31 (0)512 389 100 or emailing your CV to careers@asset-control.com. 

Best of luck, Mary.

Dublin Port Masterplan

Dublin Port Company has commenced a wide-ranging public consultation process to devise a Masterplan for the long-term development of Dublin Port. Click HERE to read the masterplan.

Dublin Port welcomes submissions from interested parties during the consultation process leading to the development of the Masterplan. The consultation period will run until end May.

All the best, Mary.

LinkedIn Dublin

LinkedIn, the most popular professional network across the globe, is to create 100 new jobs in Dublin. Click HERE for more on the announcement. To search for opportunities at LinkedIn click HERE and search under jobs in Ireland. Best of luck, Mary.

Policing Forum

Please note that the date for the next Navan Road and Pelletstown Area Policing Forum is the 12th May 2011 in the Navan Road Parish Centre at 7.00pm. If you are concerned about any policing or community issue in the area this is a good forum to raise the issue. Community Gardai, Dublin City Council and your elected representatives will be in attendance. All are welcome, Mary.

Eastpoint Jobs Fair

Following the huge success of EastPoint’s inaugural Jobs Fair in 2010, the second annual event is now taking place tomorrow, 25th March 2011. Recruitment agencies will also be onsite recruiting for one of the largest online companies in the world. The majority of roles are full time permanent with a small number of fixed term contract positions available. Also in attendance will be leading educational institutions and professional bodies offering post-grad courses and professional qualifications. Click HERE for all the info and best of luck, Mary.

Opportunities at 3

Irish mobile operator 3 plans to create 50 new positions to support continuing growth and investment. For more on the announcement click HERE. To apply click HERE. 


Also in the news are Insurance brokers First Ireland. They have announced plans to create 15 sales jobs over the next 12 months. Click HERE to apply. 


All the best, Mary.

St Patricks Day Operations

Chief Superintendent Pat Leahy has confirmed that there is a substantial Garda Operation in place for St Patricks Day. A pro-active approach is being adopted to ensure a fun and peaceful celebration on O'Connell Street and in the City Center in general. The Gardai have agreement with business owners that "off licences" in the city center will not open until after 4pm and Gardai will be actively confiscating alcohol on the streets. Lets hope the rain and snow holds off and the sun shines on the parade.

Have a Happy St Patrick's Day, Mary.

Summer jobs on Dollyer

Dublin City Council is currently inviting applications for Lifeguard on Dollymount Beach and for relief attendants for Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres. Suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which vacancies may be filled will find further information on qualifications/experience required, job specification and standard job application form HERE. Completed application forms should be submitted not later than 5.00 p.m. on Friday 18th March 2011.

Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship

UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, in partnership with Bord Bia, has announced a third intake to the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship.

This intensive 12-month action learning programme gives successful candidates the combined opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with some of Ireland’s most respected food companies and also gain a postgraduate qualification. Participants’ time will be split between working in foreign locations, supported by Bord Bia, and studying for an MSc in Marketing Practice at UCD Smurfit School.

This is a fully-funded programme, including all tuition fees, and participants will receive a bursary to the value of €22,800.

Applications are welcome from all graduates with a minimum of 2 years work experience. Some placements will require fluency in a second language (French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Polish, Korean or Chinese).

For more information please click on www.smurfitschool.ie/bordbia


The closing date for receipt of applications is 09.00 on Monday 14th March.

Navan Road Gridlock

Major traffic delays on the Navan Road is being caused by extra traffic diverted due to important roadworks on Blackhorse Avenue (click HERE for more). While nobody doubts the need for repairs to the awful state of Blackhorse Avenue, the gridlock on the Navan Road is just too much !  DCC's traffic engineers plan is to have these diversions in place until July 15th - this is unacceptable.  I have been on to the Traffic Department at DCC and to the Area Manager and asked for an immediate review of the situation and re-think on the plan. As soon as I get an update I will give you an update.  Now, back to the canvass !  Mary

Opportunities at Google

It's great to see Google committing to buy more property in Dublin and to further recruitment. Click HERE for more on the announcement. 

The Fianna Fail government has taken on board genuine criticism in recent times but it is worth reflecting on some of the positives to come out of this period too. Investments by Google, Facebook and Intel are perfect examples of how government policy substantially improved employment opportunities in Ireland. And I'd be seriously worried about any CEO's appetite for Foreign Direct Investment should Sinn Fein get to influence future government policy. Remember this is the party which proposes a high tax environment and has shown deep scepticism about European integration. All of which is especially relevant in constituencies like Dublin Central where the final seat will ultimately determine if Sinn Fein get to hold the balance of power at a national level.

Either way, if you have multi-lingual skills then click HERE for opportunities at Google. For a wide range of other opportunities, click HERE. I recall making a similar first step in business over 15 years ago, so you never know. 

All the best, Mary!