Agenda - December 2006 County Council Meeting

Back to Meetings
Date:
11/12/2006 00:00
Location:
Council Chamber
Standing Orders:
View

Headed Items

H-I (1)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

CONFIRMATION AND RE-AFFIRMATION OF MINUTES

a) Minutes of Meeting of South Dublin County Council, 13th November 2006.

(circulated herewith)

H-I (2)
Submitted by:
Marian Dunne
Responsibility:
Roads Department, Housing Administration, Planning Not is use

REPORTS OF AREA COMMITTEES

a) Terenure/Rathfarnham Area Committee (1) - 7th November 2006

Dealing with Roads, Planning, Development and Corporate Services.

(no report)

b) Terenure/Rathfarnham Area Committee (2) - 14th November 2006

Dealing with Community (1 Report - Grants )  Parks, Environment and Housing.

(circulated herewith)

c) Tallaght Area Committee (2) Special Meeting - 13th November 2006

Dealing with Planning (1 report - See Headed Item 6)

d) Tallaght  Area Commitee (1)  - 20th November 2006

Dealing with Environment, Parks, Community (1 Report - Grants) and Housing.

(circulated herewith)

e) Tallaght  Area Committee(2) - 27th November 2006

Dealing with Roads, Planning, Development and Corporate Services

(no report)

f) Lucan/Clondalkin Area Committee (1) - 22nd November 2006

Dealing with Development, Planning,  Corporate Services (1 report  - Local Government  Fund) and Roads

(circulated herewith)

g) Lucan/Clondalkin Area Committee (2) - 28th November 2006

Dealing with Environment , Parks, Community (1 report - Grants) and Housing

(circulated herewith)

 

H-I (3)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

STANDING COMMITTEES - ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

a) Draft Calendar of Meeting Dates

b) Filling of Vacancies on Strategic Policy Committees and other Bodies

(all circulated herewith)

 

H-I (4)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Pat Smith, Jim Walsh (Development Business), Mary Pyne, Philomena Poole, Frank Coffey, Tom Doherty, Catherine Whelan

STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES

a)Environment Strategic Policy Committee

(i) Report of Meeting held 8th November 2006

(ii) Minutes of Meeting held on 6th September 2006

(circulated herewith)

b) Transport Strategic Policy Committee

(i) Report of Meeting held on 9th November 2006

(circulated herewith)

(ii) Minutes of Meeting held on 14th September 2006

(circulated herewith)

c) Sports, Recreation, Community Development and Parks Strategic Policy Meeting

(i) Report of Meeting held on 15th November 2006

(ii) Minutes of Meeting held on 13th September 2006

(circulated herewith)

d) Housing and Social Development Strategic Policy Committee

(no quorum, no report)

e) Economic Development (including Planning and Development) Strategic Policy Committee

(i)Report of Meeting held on 22nd November 2006.

(ii) Minutes of Meeting held on 22nd September 2006.

(circulated herewith)

H-I (5)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:

REPORTS REQUESTED BY AREA COMMITTEES

(no report)

Questions

Qu (1)
Submitted by:
Councillor R. Dowds
Responsibility:
Neil O'Byrne
To ask the Manager to appoint someone in South Dublin County Council whose job is to define rural rights of way for inclusion in the South Dublin County Development Plan?
Qu (2)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Keating
Responsibility:
Paul Hogan
To ask the Manager to report on progress made in respect of my request at the May '06 Council Meeting for information regarding the allocation of schools in close proximity to overhead power lines, resulting from the Adamstown Variation Proposal involving the relocation of the northern part of the combined schools and leisure campus site, to an immediately adjoining site to the south-west of Adamstown.
Qu (3)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Keating
Responsibility:
Paul Fleming
To ask the Manager to report in detail on fines and prosecutions pursued for illegal dumping at Bottle Banks on an area by area basis for 2006?
Qu (4)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Keating
Responsibility:
Paul Fleming
To ask the Manager to report on what progress is being made with regularising the return on bins by domestic refuse bins to footpaths. More people are reporting that bins are being left on roads, often in the middle of roads in estates and this is causing a safety issue in many estates as well as an inconvenience, especially to senior citizens. Notwithstanding the valuable service being provided and taking into account the sometimes inclement weather, it is important that all domestic refuse bins should be returned to footpaths?
Qu (5)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Keating
Responsibility:
Gary Keogh
To ask the Manager to seek reports from the Postal Services on the reduced regularity of postal services in some areas arising from staff shortages as a result of absenteeism. Notwithstanding the benefits of regular meetings between Councillors and Postal Officials, the Postal Service in some parts of the County has noticeably dis-improved in very recent times.
Qu (6)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. King
Responsibility:
Mary Hayes
To ask the Manager, to report on progress made in relation to the Council's Homeless list in comparison to the list this time last year and can he/she make a statement on the matter?
Qu (7)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. King
Responsibility:
Jim Kilgarriff
To ask the Manager,  to report on the overall  cost to the parks department from clearing debris from fires from public open space in the past twelve months and to compare this to the previous twelve months and to state what plans there are to reduce this cost next year by proactively tackling the issues in conjunction with other Departments such as housing and environmental services?
Qu (8)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. King
Responsibility:
Gary Keogh
To ask the Manager, to state how many of the 16,000 "letter deletions" have been re-entered onto the electoral register to date since the draft register was published on 1st November 2006 as a result of forms being submitted to the Council and can the Manager break this figure down to Dublin South West and can the Manager make a statement on the matter?
Qu (9)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. King
Responsibility:
Mary Hayes
To ask the Manager, to report on the possibility of providing additional resources to tackling the issue of vacant/boarded up houses through out the County as the numbers of such units has increased significantly each year for the past three years despite the trojan work carried out on an ongoing basis by the staff of the various depots. This matter is raised fully understanding the various reasons for the delay in re-allocating units and that it is not necessary to state these reasons again?
Qu (10)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. McDermott
Responsibility:
Neil O'Byrne

To ask the Manager to outline what powers,if any, the Council has to acquire rights over a strip of land to allow a public right of way to be established?

Qu (11)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. McDermott
Responsibility:
Gary Keogh

To ask the Manager: 

(a) for a report on the rationale for making the edited Register of Electors available to commercial interests in order that it can be  used for direct marketing and other purposes?

(b) if he will provide a list of the commercial and other organisations which have been provided with a copy of the edited Register of   Electors?

 

 

 

(c) if he will report on the revenue which has been generated through this scheme (making the edited Register of Electors available to commercial interests) and the uses to which this revenue has been put ?  

(d) for a report on non-statutory uses to which the register has been put since 2004? 

Qu (12)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Murphy
Responsibility:
Maria O'Neill
To ask the Manager has he considered an extension of the role of dog wardens to include the capture of feral cats in order to have the cats neutered, as recommended by various animal rights groups?
Qu (13)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Murphy
Responsibility:
Michael Kenny

To ask the Manager what is the minimum step back required for a building in an area built up in the style of an old village. The distance requested being from the side or centre of the road?

Qu (14)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Jim Kilgarriff

To congratulate the Manager and staff for the approach taken in relation to this year's Halloween, leaving aside the "Hollowfest" staff on the ground were most helpful when called upon to collect bonfire material, and to ask the Manager

a. The number of Official Bonfires organised with the support of the council

b. The number of crews the Council had in operation over the period

c. The number of call-out made to the Council and the number responded to

d. The number of lorry loads of bonfire material collected by the Council

e. If the Council intends to sow grass on green areas burnt as a result of illegal bonfires

f. Have any fines been issued as a result of commercial premises or householders handing out material for bonfires, if so how many per electoral division?

 

Qu (15)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Jim Kilgarriff
To ask the Manager have any fines been issues for breaches of the drinking in public bye law, if so how many per electoral division?
Qu (16)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Mary O'Shaughnessy

To ask the Manager how many people are on the Affordable Housing list by electoral division or area?

Qu (17)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
John McLoughlin

To ask the Manager for a report on the operation of the traffic arrangements in place to facilitate the M50 roadworks and to indicate in his answer if pedestrians and cyclists are adequately provided for at relevant locations and to comment generally on the operation of the scheme?

Qu (18)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Paul Fleming

To ask the Manager

a. how many Litter Wardens operate 

b.  the number of litter related complaints/reports received by the Council

c. the number of fines issued

d. the number of fines collected/paid

per electoral area, to date for 2006?

Qu (19)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Billy Coman
To ask the Manager for a report on the measures being taken by the Council to provide indoor and outdoor recreational facilities for teenagers in the County and if he will make a statement on the matter?
Qu (20)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Jim Kilgarriff
To ask the Manager if he will advise on the total number of staff allocated to the Parks Department, including outdoor staff, in each of the years 2004,2005 and 2006?
Qu (21)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Billy Coman
To ask the Manager for a progress report on the County Arts Centre?
Qu (22)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Gary Keogh
To ask the Manager if all of the work recently carried out by Council staff and temporary staff on improving the accuracy has been funded by an additional financial allocation from the Department of the Environment, and if not can he give an estimate of the amount of the Council's own monies expended on the work?
Qu (23)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Lorna Maxwell
To compliment the Manager and all Council staff involved in the Connect Project and to ask if he can provide a brief report on the progress made to date?
Qu (24)
Submitted by:
Councillor K. Warren
Responsibility:
Gary Keogh

 

To ask the Manager to state how many houses and electors exist within the Dublin South West constituency, and to give a break down of this information in respect of the local electoral areas, all in the context of the recent changes made to the electoral register, and if he will make a statement on the matter? 

Qu (25)
Submitted by:
Councillor K. Warren
Responsibility:
Michael Kenny

To ask the Manager what the policy is of South Dublin County Council in respect of allowing public houses to be built in close proximity to new apartments and right beside a residential area, if he would recognise that high density apartment dwellings may be adversely affected in terms of noise pollution etc. from the presence of such pubs or bars, and if he will make a statement on the matter? 

Headed Items

H-I (6)
Submitted by:
Housing Administration
Responsibility:
Planning Not is use

PROPOSED VARIATION TO DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2004 - 2010 IN RESPECT OF LANDS AT SAGGART

H-I (7)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Roads Department

DECLARATION OF ROADS TO BE MADE PUBLIC ROADS

(no report)

H-I (8)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Housing Administration, Development, Econ. & Transport Planning Dept.

PROPOSED DISPOSAL OF PROPERTIES/SITES

a) Proposed Disposal  of Affordable Housing (18 Units).

b) Proposed Disposal of Land at Kilcronan for the provision of an ESB Substation.

c) LD 1187 – Proposed disposal of area of land between 10 & 11 Moorefield Lawns, Clondalkin to Michael & Eileen Harris

d) Proposed exchange of lands adjoining dwelling at ‘Willouise’, Bohernabreena Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 – John and Michelle Meade.  

 

e) Proposed exchange of Lands with Dublin City Council arising from Scheme of Transfer of Lands under Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1993.

 

(all circulated herewith)

H-I (9)
Submitted by:
Roads Department
Responsibility:
Seamus Fagan

REPORT ON PART 8 OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS 2001 -PROPOSED JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT OF BALLYMAICE LANE WITH BALLINASCORNEY ROAD (R114) 

(circulated herewith)

H-I (10)
Submitted by:
Parks Department
Responsibility:
Parks Department

PART 8 REPORT ON GRANGE CASTLE

(circulated herewith)

H-I (11)
Submitted by:
Brendan Hynes
Responsibility:
Brendan Hynes

REVISED APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM CLUID HOUSING ASSOCIATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6 OF THE HOUSING (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT, 1992 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 38 DWELLINGS AT BELGARD SQUARE WEST, TALLAGHT

(circulated herewith)

H-I (12)
Submitted by:
Parks Department
Responsibility:
Parks Department

5 YEAR PLAYGROUND PROGRAMME

(circulated herewith)

H-I (13)
Submitted by:
Planning Not is use
Responsibility:
Planning Not is use

 Clondalkin Towers Hotel - SD04A/0237 and S99A/0877 

(circulated herewith)

H-I (14)
Submitted by:
Finance Department
Responsibility:
Finance Department

PROPOSED RAISING OF LOANS - HOUSING PROJECTS

(circulated herewith)

H-I (15)
Submitted by:
Finance Department
Responsibility:
Finance Department

AUTHORISATION OF OVER-EXPENDITURE

(circulated herewith)

H-I (16)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Annual Contribution to the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee

(circulated herewith)

Correspondence

Cor (1)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Ministerial

Letter dated 2nd November 2006 form the Department of Transport in reply to South Dublin County Council's letter in relation to motion passed regarding traffic light sequencing.

Cor (2)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:

Other

Letter, dated 20th November 2006 from Mullingar Town Council calling on the Minister for Education and Science to regulate school book suppliers.

Cor (3)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Letters, dated 13th November 2006 from Offaly County Council in relation to motions passed regarding Disabled Persons Grants, and the Health Services

Motions

Mot (1)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Maloney
Responsibility:
Mary O'Shaughnessy

Mayor's Business

That this Council re-examine our policy on how builders/developers fulfill their Part V requirements, in relation to the provision of 3 or 4 bedroom houses.

Mot (2)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Maloney
Responsibility:
Michael Kenny

Mayor's Business

That this Council supports the restoration of  "Whitehall House" Kingswood, Tallaght  which was for a period the home of poet Katherine Tynan.  The elected members urge the IRFU to indicate when work will commence on the house,  which is in their ownership and is a protected structure (Ref: 179).

Mot (3)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Maloney
Responsibility:
Brendan Hynes

Mayor's Business

That this Council investigate the provision of sheltered accommodation for people with intellectual disabilities who reside within the County.

 

Mot (4)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Lahart
Responsibility:
Martin Judge
That the Council undertakes a review of the regulations governing the siting of planning application roadside public notices, particularly in light of obvious flaws relating to where a planning application may be lodged within an estate that directly affects residents to the rear of that house but located in a different estate.
Mot (5)
Submitted by:
Councillor S. O'Conchúir
Responsibility:
Neil O'Byrne
That this Council will adopt a policy of using the Irish Language in the naming of all new housing estate developments.
Mot (6)
Submitted by:
Councillor R. Dowds
Responsibility:
Paul Fleming

That this council approves the following change to the disposal of 'end of life' vehicles:-

a)  That the €50 charge be scrapped.

b)  That a sum of perhaps €200 be paid to people who bring a car to an 'end of life'  unit.

Mot (7)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. McDermott
Responsibility:
Martin Judge

That that the Members discuss the process to secure the integrity of the Council's planning files and call on the Manager to improve it in light of recent failures by the Council to fulfil its obligations in this regard. 

Mot (8)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Billy Coman

That this Council values the role and contribution of the Community Forum and Community Platform and will positively support them by holding at least one conference per annum dealing with issues of concern to the community and voluntary sector to which the executive from both organisations, as well as the elected members of the Council be invited and by  providing each organisation with a full time support worker and by including both organisations on the relevant invitation list for council events.

Mot (9)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Keating
Responsibility:
Gerry Fitzgibbon

That the Manager would report on the initial stages of the Review of the Water Leisure Strategy specifically regarding the provision of the outstanding Swimming Pools.  Would the Manager also set out in detail his intentions to ensure that the necessary funding is available in the case of government funding not being made available. 

 

Mot (10)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Billy Coman
That in the light of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Ireland has signed up, and which includes the right of the child to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child, and the onus  the National Children's Office, the National Children's Plan and the National Play Policy place on local authorities to provide for children exercising this right, this Council should appoint a Play Officer as it is required to do under the National Play Policy.
Mot (11)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Ardagh
Responsibility:
Michael Coleman

That the Manager review the criteria for animal rescue groups that entitles them to have fees waived: 

  • Confirmation of an organisation's status as a registered charity.
  • Confirmation of planning permission to operate a dog pound facility
  • Copy of a current General Dog Licence
  • Names of the nominated individuals, approved by the organisation to collect dogs on behalf of the organisation

as not every animal rescue group is a registered charity,  no rescue centres have permission to operate a dog pound as these are rescue centres and not every animal rescue have premises and many volunteers operate from their homes and will he give a report on the matter.

 

 

Mot (12)
Submitted by:
Sen. C. Keane
Responsibility:
Paul Fleming, Willie Sheils
That this Council recommends that South Dublin County Council reduce the use of fossil used fuel by switching to a renewable energy source.
Mot (13)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Ridge
Responsibility:
Paul Hogan

That this Council agree that apartment buildings in this Council should include the following - a concierge service, and coin operated washing and drying machines in a communal area which would do away with the need to dry clothes on balconies.

Mot (14)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Lahart
Responsibility:
Paul Fleming

That this Council, in order to combat the proliferation in illegal domestic clothing collections;

investigates the possibility of introducing bye-laws which oblige all collectors to clearly identify their company/organisation name , address, landline and other relevant company/organisation/charity number details, together with the relevant tax clearance details;

and inter alia introduces severe penalties for those collectors and residents who knowingly breach these regulations;

organises a publicity campaign to alert householders to any proposed changes

and examines best practise in this regard.

Mot (15)
Submitted by:
Councillor R. Dowds
Responsibility:
John Quinlivan
That South Dublin County Council adopt a policy whereby our County Council would purchase back houses in Council estates from elderly residents in return for them moving into rented sheltered accommodation.
Mot (16)
Submitted by:
Sen. C. Keane
Responsibility:
Paddy McNamara

That this Council agrees to draw up a policy as per  circular PD1 of 2006 from the Minister reminding planning authorities of their legal obligation imposed by section 180. The circular also stated that planning authorities must establish a policy for the completion and taking in charge of estates, and  (b) that it include a policy on management companies.

Mot (17)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Mary O'Shaughnessy
That in view of the enormous barriers facing young people in securing their own homes in South Dublin, due to rampant inflation in house prices in every part of the County and the failure of Government to adequately resource the provision of Social Housing and Affordable Housing, this Council re-affirms its commitment to realising in practice the delivery of 15% of all housing in the County as Social and Affordable Housing under the Part V process and calls on the Manager to refuse to negotiate any departure from this requirement with any developer in the County.
Mot (18)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. McDermott
Responsibility:
Willie Sheils, John McLoughlin, Christy Boylan, Des English
That this council, in accordance with new public sector procurement procedures (SI no. 329 / 2006), calls for the use of environmentally friendly cement in construction and within Local Area Plans.