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.

Inner City Policing Forum

The date for the next North west Inner City Policing Forum has been changed to the 20th April 2011 in Jameson Distillery at 7.15pm. 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.

Liberty Hall Project

Please see below the copy of a media statement issued just now by SIPTU in relation to the Liberty Hall Project. As the statement makes clear, SIPTU remains fully committed to this project and will be re-applying for planning permission within three months. All the best, 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!

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 15

Out an about in the North Inner City. Happy with the reaction I am getting. People are struggling but appreciate where I'm coming from. 
Good to see Michael Martin's proposal that that TD's elected to the 31^st Dáil will be required to waive their ministerial severance payments. Click HERE for more.
All the best, Mary.

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.

Dominick Street Regen

Work on the regeneration of Dominic Street and the provision of social housing must be a priority for whoever is next in government. The people in this area and the city as a whole needs this area to be redeveloped. Dublin City Council has submitted its planning application to An Bord Pleanala and public information sessions have been held locally. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 10 February from 5-7pm (rather than from 4-8pm as previously stated) and held at Dominick Street Lower Community Centre (situated behind the flats on the west side of Dominick Street). This is an ideal opportunity to meet the Project Manager, Joe Farrell and members of the design team who will clarify any issues you might have.

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.

O'Deveaney Gardens Regen

Work on the regeneration of O'Devaney Gardens and the provision of social housing is progressing well. Dublin City Council has submitted its planning application to An Bord Pleanala and public information sessions have been held locally. These information meetings are a great opportunity to get clarification on the planning application and to have any questions you have answered. The next info session is on 8 Feb. 2011 from 5 - 8.30 pm at Aughrim Street Parish Church on Prussia Street, Dub. 7. You can also view the application at An Bord Pleanala, at the public counter of the Planning Department or on the Council's website : www.dublincity.ie and click on Planning and Economic Development.

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.

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

Smithfield Enhancement Scheme

It is great to see the work progressing in Smithfield and Dublin City Council has confirmed to me that phase 2 of the Smithfield Quarter Enhancement

Scheme is due to commence on the Monday 24^th January 2011. 

1. Phase 1 of the Smithfield Quarter Enhancement Works is now almost complete.
2. Phase 2 work includes reconstruction of historic paving setts, provision of raised platform south of the Luas, provision of landscaped terraced area (south of the reconstructed car park), provision of canopy public lighting, removal of existing trees and provision of new semi mature trees, provision of play equipment and landscaped areas, extension to existing facilities building and associated site development works including repaving and provision of feature lighting, drainage and service utilities.
3. During the work local traffic diversions will be in place.
4. From the 24^th January all parking will be removed north of the Luas from Haymarket on the west side of Smithfield to the Luas. Additionally there will be a significant reduction in the number of parking spaces available south of the Luas between the Luas and Arran Street.
5. Local access will be maintained throughout the work.
6. From the 7^th February to the 1^st April, Arran Street shall be closed. Parking shall be removed in this area as required.
7. Access to Coke Lane shall be maintained.
8. Following the completion of Arran Street there will be further temporary closures of Smithfield Terrace and Phoenix Street. Further details of these closures shall be provided closer to the relevant dates.
9. During the Arran Street closure, northbound traffic shall be diverted via Lincoln Lane (except large vehicles) which shall be diverted via Church Street.
10. Traffic may access Coke Lane via Stable Lane and Church Street New via Bow Street.
11. Southbound Traffic from Smithfield Terrace and Coke Lane to be diverted via Phoenix Street North to Bow Street to North King Street to Queen Street to Arran Quay.
12. Phase 2 of the Smithfield Quarter Enhancement Scheme is expected to be completed by late summer 2011. 

If you have any queries regarding the arrangements in place for the phase 2 of the scheme, please contact Mr Liam O’Donnell, Wills Bros Ltd on 087 2671495 or Charles Downey, Dublin City Council on 01-2223066.

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