Headed Items
CONFIRMATION AND RE-AFFIRMATION OF MINUTES
Minutes of Meeting of South Dublin County Council, 12th January 2015
REPORTS OF AREA COMMITTEES
a) Rathfarnham Area Committee - 13th January 2015
- Dealing with Environment, Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Transportation, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management
(no report)
b) Clondalkin Area Committee - 21st January 2015
- Dealing with Environment, Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Transportation (1 report - Naming of Newlands Flyover), Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management
(circulated herewith)
c) Tallaght Area Committee - 26th January 2015
- Dealing with Environment, Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Transportation, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management
(no report)
d) Lucan Area Committee - 27th January 2015
- Dealing with Environment, Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Transportation, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management
(no report)
STANDING COMMITTEES - ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE & FINANCE COMMITTEE - 22nd January 2015
a) Draft Calendar of Meeting Dates
(circulated herewith)
b) Report on Conferences / Seminars
(no report)
STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES
Report of Economic Development, Enterprise & Tourism Development SPC Meeting on 13th January 2015
REPORTS REQUESTED BY AREA COMMITTEES
(no reports)
Questions
To ask the Chief Executive for an update on An Taisce's proposals for Hedge cutting and gorse burning?
To ask the Chief Executive for an update on plans for Spring Clean week?
To ask the Chief Executive to advise this Council if he is aware of efforts, if any, by the IDA or others, to facilitate or encourage foreign Companies to locate in South Dublin County?
To ask the Chief Executive for a report on plan to be implemented during 2015 to improve the energy efficiency of the public lighting in the County?
To ask the Chief Executive to carry-out works in 2015, in conjunction with the NRA and/or its contractors, to improve the attractiveness of strategic junctions and exits from national primary roads in our County, for example, at key gateways leading to our County's Villages, Grange Castle International Business Park, etc?
To ask the Chief Executive to outline a timeframe for the installation of new 'welcome' signage at key gateways to Villages in our County?
To ask the Chief Executive to mount an information campaign, through the Local Enterprise Office, to better promote the ‘Online Trading Voucher Scheme’ among small businesses and retailers in our County?
To ask the Chief Executive to outline this Council’s plans to develop new allotments in 2015, including the locations under consideration?
Chun ceist a chur ar an príomhfheidhmeannach cad iad na pleananna ar son Seachtain na Gaeilge Átha Cliath Theas?
To ask the Chief Executive what are the plans for Seachtain na Gaeilge Átha Cliath Theas?
To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report on (a) the number of people on the housing list and (b) the provision and acquisition of social housing units by and on behalf of South Dublin County Council, on a year-by-year basis, and to make a statement on the plans to provide social housing units for this year and the years ahead.
To ask the Chief Executive, in respect of the Council's decision to promote and advance a policy of participatory budgeting, to outline the work undertaken to date to seek to introduce an element of this policy into the Council's Budget, and the plans to incorporate participatory budgeting in the 2016 Budget process?
To ask the Chief Executive to state if the Council has been allocated money for commemorating the Easter Rising for 2015 and 2016; and to report on the work undertaken to date to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising, the 150th Anniversary of the 1867 Fenian Rising (including the Battle of Tallaght) and other national and local anniversaries for this year and the remainder of the Council's term?
To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report on the work undertaken by the Council with regard to road gritting, storm damage work and other weather-related activity so far during the winter period, and to state how this compares to previous years?
To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report with regard to the allocation of social housing, the remit and the procedures around vetting, the basis on which homes are awarded, how a final decision is reached and the checks and balances within the process that ensure a fair and transparent system?
To ask the Chief Executive to report as to the number, and percentage, of Local Authority units that have been registered with Irish Water and the process by which they were registered?
To ask the Chief Executive to detail the number of fines, per electoral ward, issued in respect of "Cash for Cars" signs in the last 12 months?
To ask the Chief Executive if he would confirm the current status of the Council's anti social behaviour policy "A safe and peaceful place to live" published in January 2005 and honoured by the excellence through people awards of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland and will he also confirm that all regulations contained in that document are being implemented?
To ask the Chief Executive what plans he is making to commemorate the anniversary of the 1916 Rising throughout our county?
To ask the Chief Executive to confirm his proposals to promote the availability of The Business Support Grant Scheme and in reporting will he also state what funding is available this year in that regard?
To ask the Chief Executive to present a report on the operation of the Council's emergency Christmas services; will he confirm the number of calls received from the public in that regard and will he also confirm if he has any plans to change the system next Christmas?
To ask the Chief Executive to confirm if he plans any additional initiatives to encourage residents of the County to apply for inclusion on the voting registers in advance of the proposed referendums in May?
To ask the Chief Executive how many summonses have been issued by the Litter Warden during the past 12 months to individuals within housing estates/parks. How do these numbers compare with the previous 12 months. How many reports of littering have been received and are awaiting action to be taken?
To ask the Chief Executive what plans SDCC has to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year?
To ask the Chief Executive how much SDCC is currently paying for emergency housing accommodation, how many individuals/families are being assisted and how many more families/individuals are awaiting emergency housing accommodation?
To ask the Chief Executive how many housing estates are included in the road gritting schedule?
To ask the Chief Executive how many housing estates within the County operate a parking permit system, how many parking fines have been issued within these estates over the past five years and how many housing estates are scheduled to have the system in place within the next two years?
To ask the Chief Executive for a breakdown report of the Homeless Housing list for South Dublin County Council and to answer the following questions within that report 1) does everyone on list live in SDCC? 2) How many social house are needed to solve the housing issue? 3) what are the SDCC plans to deal with the Housing issue/shortfall? 4) How many additional houses will be provided in 2015 and over the term of the council? 5) what schemes are being considered to deal with the issue and how will they work?
To ask the Chief Executive for a report on council rents for 2014, this should include a breakdown of rents by each SDCC area? The breakdown of various payment brackets? Also include rent owed in each area? The last time there was a rent increase and how much it was? Where does the council rent go in terms of Budget? What is the formula for rents in SDCC? Is it a percentage of income? In that case, how can the council look for increase?
To ask the Chief Executive for a report and a breakdown of how many people have registered an interest in moving to Downsize accommodation within SDCC?
To ask the Chief Executive for a report on how many houses are currently boarded up in SDCC and a report into ownership and details for each area?
To ask the Chief Executive for a report on how many people are staying in hotels by area? How long each has been in hotel and provide a cost to the state of this accommodation?
Headed Items
DECLARATION OF ROADS TO BE PUBLIC ROADS
(H6 no report)
PROPOSED DISPOSAL OF PROPERTIES / SITES
b) Proposed disposal of freehold interest in plot of land at the rear of Raheen Cottage, Nangor Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 to Mr. Niall Nolan
a) Proposed Disposal of Affordable Dwellings
(no report)
MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT
(circulated herewith)
2015 ANNUAL SERVICE DELIVERY PLAN
(circulated herewith)
FILLING OF VACANCY ON THE DUBLIN 12 LOCAL DRUGS TASK FORCE FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLOR D. LOONEY FROM THE TASK FORCE (CLLR. F. WARFIELD)
(circulated herewith)
VARIATION IN COUNCILLOR MEMBERSHIP OF DUBLIN & DUN LAOGHAIRE EDUCATION & TRAINING BOARD
(circulated herewith)
EXTERNAL MEMBER NOMINATIONS TO STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES
(i) External Member Nominations to Economic Development, Enterprise & Tourism SPC
(ii) External Member Nomination to Housing SPC
(circulated herewith)
INDEXATION OF DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTION SCHEME
(circulated herewith)
REVISED APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE CAPITAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME FROM NORTH AND EAST HOUSING ASSOCIATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6 OF THE HOUSING (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT, 1992 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PROPERTY AT THE VESTRY (SERVITE PRIORY), KILTIPPER ROAD, TALLAGHT, DUBLIN 24
(circulated herewith)
ETHICS IN PUBLIC OFFICE
(circulated herewith)
Correspondence
Ministerial
Letter, dated 11/12/14, from Minister for the Environment in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding Request for a Review of the Litter Pollution Acts (M5/1014)
Ministerial
Letter, dated 12/12/14, from Minister for the Environment regarding SDCC's 2 x Questions asked in relation to National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks (Q37/1014, & Q40/1014)
Ministerial
(i) Letter, dated 17/12/14, from Minister for the Environment in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding the Gateway scheme (M2/1114);
(ii) Acknowledgement, dated 18/12/14, from Minister for Social Protection.
Ministerial
Letter, dated 17/12/14, from Minister for the Environment regarding Amending the Constitution to Prohibit Privatisation of Water Services (M19/1114)
Ministerial
Letter, dated 17/12/14, from Minister for Environment in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding Scrapping of Water Charge (M27/1114)
Ministerial
Letter, dated 05/01/15, from Minister for the Environment in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding Installation of Water Meters (M11/1114)
Ministerial
Letter, dated 07/01/15, from Minister for Environment in relation to SDCC's Suspensory Motion passed regarding EU Water Framework Directive (SM1/1214)
Ministerial
Letter, dated 07/01/15, from Minister for Environment in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding Funding for Women's Support Networks and Traveller Development Projects (M30/1214)
Ministerial
(i) Letter, dated 08/01/15, from the Insolvency Payments Unit of the Dept. of Social Protection, in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding Informal Insolvency (M3/1214);
(ii) Letter, dated 08/01/15, from Tánaiste & Minister for Social Protection acknowledging receipt of SDCC's letter in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding Informal Insolvency.
Ministerial
Letter, dated 13/01/15, from Minister for Skills, Research & Innovation in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding Opposition to the Annual Student Contribution - Apprentices (M9/1014)
Ministerial
(i) Letter, dated 13/01/15, from Minister for Environment in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding Water Charges (M28/1114);
(ii) Letter, dated 09/01/15, from Minister for Finance acknowledging SDCC's letter and referring to Minister for Environment.
Ministerial
Letter, dated 15/01/15, from Minister of State at Dept. of Justice & Equality in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding Discrimination against LGBT Persons, and the Employment Equality Act (M1/1114)
Ministerial
(i) Letter, dated 27/01/15, from Minister for Primary Care, Social Care (Disabilities & Older People) & Mental Health, Ms Kathleen Lynch, in response to SDCC's motion passed in relation to Funding for Teenline Ireland (M12/1214);
(ii) Letter, dated 20/01/15, from the National Director for Mental Health at the Health Service Executive in relation to SDCC's motion passed regarding TeenLine;
(iii) Letter, dated 15/01/15, from Office of the Director General of the Health Service referring SDCC's letter to the National Director for Mental Health;
(iv) Letter, dated 09/01/15, from Minister for Children & Youth Affairs referring SDCC's letter to Minister Reilly to Ms Kathleen Lynch, Minister of State.
Departmental
Circular LG 1/2015 AL 1/2015 regarding general policy guidelines issued by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on the making of integrated Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs) [Includes Guidelines]
Departmental
(i) Circular Housing 5/2015 Housing Allocation Schemes - Dublin
(ii) Ministerial Direction Housing Allocation Schemes - Dublin
Other
Letter, dated 05/01/15, from Carlow Co. Council in relation to their motion passed regarding Cash for Gold shops
Motions
Mayor's Business
South Dublin County Council, while welcoming the publication of a long overdue Gender Recognition Bill, calls on government to accept the changes proposed by Transgender rights group TENI, members of the Oireachtas, and others. This will ensure the new legislation respects the self-determination of Transgender people and is rooted firmly in a human rights approach and international best practice.
Mayor's Business
That this Council engages with the appropriate authorities in an effort to return the remains of the Manchester Martyrs - William Phillip Allen, Michael Larkin and Michael O’Brien, with a view to ensuring their burial in Glasnevin Cemetery prior to their 150th anniversary, where an unoccupied grave awaits.
That the Chief Executive provides a detailed report of Council spending between 2004 and 2009 per electoral area and between 2009 and 2014 per electoral area, outlining from highest contribution to lowest the income gained from the area directly through development levies, rates and other sources of income and outlining from highest to lowest the spend in real terms and per head of population on capital and current projects, grants and other quantifiable resource allocations; and furthermore, should one area be found to have received a significantly lower allocation than other electoral areas, that this Council resolves to redress this historic imbalance by means of budgeting for and fast-tracking one significant and major community and sporting project as agreed by Local Area Councillors, following public input through a consultation process. This should ideally give priority consideration to projects previously budgeted for by the Council, but scrapped due to funding considerations (eg a public swimming pool in the Lucan Electoral Area).
That this elected body calls on all corporate entities in this county to adhere to their responsibility in upholding human rights and international law in their corporate governance. Furthermore if this motion is passed by the elected members where international law is seemed to be non adhered to we the elected body shall ask for clarification regarding ethical guidelines and corporate responsibility.
That this Council undertakes a report in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Services concerning the escalation in urban fox numbers in residential areas of this county and presents a detailed report to this Council
That South Dublin County Council calls for the enactment of the Assisted Decision Making Bill 2013 in order to fulfil our requirements under Article 12 of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – Equal Recognition Before the Law.
That this Council calls on the Minister for Justice & Equality, to create further legislative measures to protect women who are the victim of domestic violence. Furthermore, for other relevant departments to commit to increasing funding for frontline services. Although, there has been significant changes over the past number of decades in relation to domestic violence in Ireland, women are still not protected enough in their homes. Ireland still has one of the highest rates in all of the countries in Europe for not meeting women’s needs when they seek assistance after the most serious incidents of violence by a partner. Assault is a crime under Irish law; however, Domestic Violence is often treated differently.
That this Council support the Motion calling for the removal of fluoride in the public water supply.
Ireland is the only Country in Europe and one of two in the world to permit the use of fluoride in the public water supply.
Putting fluoride in our drinking water cost over €4,000,000 per year and this money would be better put to use in social housing.
That this council calls on the Minister for Justice to assign additional resources, personnel and vehicles to all Garda Stations in the South Dublin County Council Area to allow for ongoing effective action to be taken in respect of serious crime which has been reported throughout the area in recent times.
That this council condemns the use of Gateway, Job Bridge, and other similar government "job activation" schemes as they endanger council jobs.
That the South Dublin County Council should initiate a civic pride week event that could be turned into a festive occasion and be held annually in spring. This event would include sports, community gardening, street clean-ups and musical activities.
That this council calls on the Minster for Finance to postpone the scheduled review of residential property valuations under the LPT in 2016.
To freeze all current valuations till 2020. Allowing house prices to stabilize particularly in the Dublin area.
To increase the power of local councils to raise or lower the LPT by allowing for a 30% adjustment instead of the current 15%, in the lifetime of a council.
That this council calls on the government to endorse and Launch the safer internet campaign iRights in Ireland.
Irights proposes 5 core protective online principals which have been drawn up based on translating the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child.
Principal 1 is the “right to remove” – By adopting iRights in Ireland, when a young person reaches the age of 18, they will have access to easily delete any content that they themselves have created when they were perhaps too immature to know better (80% of all employers check online sites for details on job candidates)
Principal 2 is the “right to know” – By adopting this principal, it means that information about how our data may be used is designed into the technology we use daily and explained to children clearly rather than hidden in endless pages of obscure terms & conditions (eg. We should be informed when Celebrities are being paid to endorse a product online)
Principal 3 is the right to “make informed and conscious choices” – Our children should understand that what happens online isn’t just down to their free will but is being manipulated through clever game design intent on making playing it addictive
Principal 4 is the “right to Safety & Support online” - That Our education policy values and supports access to internet safety for both Children and Parents
Principal 5 is the “right to digital literacy” – If our young people are to flourish in the future, they need to be able not just to use the internet and technology but also to understand how it all works. That means learning to code, application development and cloud computing. By endorsing iRights, our future technology learning strategy for our children will be developed.
Irights was developed in the UK and launched in December under the #weprotect Conference hosted by PM David Cameron in response to the need to address the rights of Children in the Online world.
By embracing irights in Ireland, all citizens could sign up to demand the rights of Irish children in our online world.
That this Council proposes to the Minister for Environment, Communities & Local Government that a review be carried-out of the legislation governing commercial rates, to afford local authorities more flexibility in devising locally-appropriate rate regimes, including to:
- Firstly, adopt a more progressive system of commercial rates with a both a general low level of ARV and a higher level applying to that part of a property valuation in excess of a certain amount; thereby allowing local authorities to target rates reductions for small and medium businesses;
- Secondly, identify a limited number of priority ‘Main Street’ commercial areas where a special, time-limited lower level of commercial rates could be applied to incentivise retailing and commerce and regenerate such areas in tandem with an approved plan.
That this Council puts in a height restriction on trees and bushes exceeding twelve feet for two reasons. Firstly they can restrict light and sunshine to neighbours’ homes thus restricting people’s enjoyment of their homes. Secondly on health and safety grounds were there is a boundary wall or not they can fall during stormy weather.
In the light of the ever-worsening graffiti problem in our county and nationwide, this council calls on the government to enact legislation which would restrict the sale of aerosol spray-paint cans to people over twenty one years of age.
That this Council calls on the Energy Regulator to review the taxes and levies set by them with a view to reducing the crippling energy costs for consumers in this County. Irish consumers have the fourth most expensive electricity in the EU and this is utterly unacceptable.
That this Council calls on the Minister to introduce the promised National Bin Charges Waiver Scheme as identified in the programme for Government without delay with a view to providing some relief to those Citizens the proposed scheme was purported to assist.
That following recent revelations about care in homes for people with an Intellectual disability, SDCC calls on the Government to instruct HIQA to carry out un-announced inspections and to ensure HIQA has the necessary powers to conduct investigations (covert or otherwise) into all services dealing with Vulnerable people and introduce legislation establishing a Personal Advocacy Service with statutory powers to ensure respectful, dignified and person-centred/personal-choice led care practices in all disability services.
That this Council writes to the Minister for Health seeking clarification as to why the H.S.E. is downgrading the ratio mix for the care of vulnerable patients from a 50:50 to a 40:60 basis. That we reiterate the questions posed by the INMO in this matter. On what evidence is a skill mix of 40:60 based on?
- What autonomy / authority does the person in charge (Director of Nursing) have in relation to staffing levels and skill mix?
- Why are the HSE proceeding with this overtly cost cutting exercise in one of the most vulnerable patient groups in the health service?
- What risk assessment was carried out in all areas prior to this instruction to cut staff in such numbers?
This Council, concerned at the manner in which new charges, levies and taxes have been introduced in recent years, many of them by stealth and in addition to and on top of, already unfair charges, levies and taxes which have the cumulative effect of significantly undermining the quality of life of the average family, calls on An Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, if they are sincere in their declared policy of broadening the Tax Base, to reverse the current policy of punitive tax expansion under the guise of broadening the Tax Base, and initiate a root and branch overhaul of the Irish Taxation System that eliminates double taxation in all its forms and introduce instead an integrated system of Local and National Taxation that will be fair, equitable and sustainable and that is capable of providing realistic funding for Local Government based on the services and facilities best delivered at local level, that promotes solidarity at National level, that is linked, as all taxes should be, on ability to pay, that is progressive and transparent. That the Chief Executive Officer write to An Taoiseach and Ministers concerned informing them of the decision of this Council and that the other County Council be forwarded a copy.
That this Council calls for a reduction in the VAT rate on NEW residential construction from 13.5% to 9% to reduce house prices and stimulate residential construction.
To request that the Chief Executive write to Minister Donohue to provide the following information with regard to Sports Capital Programme for the years 2008/2011/2012/2014
What was the highest single grant award for each year?
How many organisations applied for the grant?
How many applications where unsuccessful?
What was main/common reason for unsuccessful applications?
How much of the allocated Sports capital grants were not used?
What happens to the grants not used?
That this council applauds the work of council staff who have been working with communities and with GAA clubs in our county to encourage the participation of a large number of our citizens in the Operation Transformation initiative.
That this Council records its opposition to the current policy of water fluoridation in Ireland, based on documented research that shows a decrease dental caries in all western countries irrespective of whether the water is fluoridated or not, as well as research which shows the effect of fluoride to be topical not systemic (ie works at the location not through the body); calls on the Government to organise a national referendum on water fluoridation in the next 18 months, (possibly in tandem with another referendum), which will educate the public thoroughly on both sides of the debate and allow their voice to be heard on this important public health issue; and that a letter recording this resolution shall be forwarded directly to the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment and CC'd to all cabinet Ministers, requesting the matter to be discussed at cabinet level.