Headed Items
CONFIRMATION AND REAFFIRMATION OF MINUTES - FOR APPROVAL
(a) April Council Meeting Minutes - 11th April 2022
FILLING OF CASUAL VACANCY ON SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH S.19 OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2001 FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLOR S. MCENEANEY
REPORTS OF AREA COMMITTEES - FOR NOTING
a) Rathfarnham/Templeogue/Firhouse/Bohernabreena Area Committee
Dealing with Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management
b) Clondalkin Area Committee
Dealing with Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management
c) Tallaght Area Committee
Dealing with Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management
d) Lucan/Palmerstown/North Clondalkin Area Committee
Dealing with Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management
STANDING COMMITTEES ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE & FINANCE - FOR APPROVAL
(No Reports)
STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES - FOR NOTING
(No Reports)
REPORTS REQUESTED BY AREA COMMITTEES - FOR NOTING
(No Reports)
Questions
Does the Chief Executive acknowledge that the creation of new Tree Preservation Orders is a valid mechanism for enhanced preservation status for specific trees and will a public consultation take place in regards to the Council's Tree Preservation Orders policy?
To ask the Chief Executive to confirm when will the review of the existing Tree Preservation Orders be carried out and will the review set out formally the stated reasons which could apply to Tree Preservation Orders under Section 205 (1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended)?
To ask the Chief Executive, where planning permission is granted for a development to build to sell and the developer subsequently opts to retain the units and rent them, what if any impact does this have on the Council's entitlements under Part V - noting the Council's preference is to acquire properties rather than leasing them
Following on from the motion passed by the Council in December with regards to the Halloween Event for youths in Tallaght Stadium. Can the Chief Executive provide an update on what actions has been taken since?
Would the Chief Executive inform this Council as to the number of applicants who are twelve years or longer on the Waiting List and how many of those applicants are waiting for suitable four bed accommodation?
To ask the Chief Executive what is the average waiting time for HAP applications to be approved?
To ask the Chief Executive what is the average time a family spends in a hotel/homeless hub before an offer is made for a social house and what time on the social housing list would a family have before entering such homelessness accommodation?
To ask the Chief Executive for an update on what plans have been initiated by the Council in relation to the motion passed in December with regards to the Halloween Event for youths in Tallaght Stadium and what actions has been taken since?
To ask the Chief Executive how many Data Centres are in the County Council area and how it compares to other local authorities?
Can the Chief Executive give a report on the Tallaght District Heating System to include, the legal and commercial basis on which the holding company was established, what protections exist to maintain the company and infrastructure in public ownership - where any decisions regarding future changes in the ownership model lie?
Can the Chief Executive update on the status of the Noel Browne commemoration as agreed by Council. At last asking in November 2021 I was informed through Membersnet that the commemorative stone had been ordered. Can the Chief Executive please provide an image of commemorative piece?
To ask the Chief Executive the number of housing rent accounts in arrears currently, the number as a percentage of total, and the number of these accounts in arrears more than one year, three years and five years, and if a statement can be made on efforts to ensure better collection?
To ask the Chief Executive the average social housing rent charged per week in 2019 and now in 2022, and if a statement is available on differential rent re-assessments that took place during COVID-19 pandemic, with households' reduced incomes?
To ask the Chief Executive for an update report on previous motion (Item No: 69755) April 2021 - agreeing to pilot project mapping discarded nitrous oxide cartridges (AKA silver bullets) across the county and any subsequent actions now planned in response or deemed appropriate?
The rural areas and towns of South Dublin County qualify for rural development funding directly from Government through the Dept of Rural and Community Development. Over a billion euro of funding is currently allocated to implement the current 2021 to 2025 policy (Our Rural Future Rural Development Policy 2021-2025). Given that significant emphasis in the current policy is focused on town and village regeneration, what is SDCC strategy to maximize the percentage of program funding available for Brittas, Saggart, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Bohernabreena and Glenasmole?
To ask the Chief Executive to detail his endeavours to facilitate Ukrainian Refuges; will he confirm contacts he has had in respect of the issue and future plans in that regard and will he make a general statement?
To ask the Chief Executive how many Housing/Homeless applications the Council has received so far this year; will he detail actions being taken and will he make a statement?
To ask the Chief Executive to detail actions being taken to promote this Council's message with regard to Climate Change and will he present an update in that regard?
To ask the Chief Executive to confirm plans to further promote Exercise and Wellbeing throughout our County and will he make a statement?
To ask the Chief Executive to give details on the progress of the Tree Programme as agreed at Budget time and may we have a statement?
To ask the Chief Executive to furnish details of cases being pursued across the County under the Derelict Sites Act; may we have those details in respect of each Electorial area and may we have a statement?
To ask the Chief Executive has he considered producing a booklet in Ukrainian on available education classes , foodbanks, supports etc within SDCC for the Ukrainian refugees?
To ask the Chief Executive how the issue of wheelchair accessibility in Community Centres can be addresses and to ask would he make a statement on same?
To ask the Chief Executive how the issue dog fouling can be addressed within our county and he intends to address it?
To ask the Chief Executive how the issue of Litter can be addressed within our county, how he intends to address it, and the cost of both to SDCC?
To ask the Chief Executive how SDCC can provide housing and accommodation to Ukrainian refugees?
Headed Items
DECLARATION OF ROADS TO BE MADE PUBLIC ROADS
(No Reports)
PROPOSED DISPOSAL OF PROPERTIES/SITES - FOR APPROVAL
(a) Disposal of fee simple in 34 Páirc Mhuire, Saggart, Dublin
(a) Disposal of fee simple in 34 Páirc Mhuire, Saggart, Dublin
MANAGERS REPORT - FOR NOTING
SECTION 85 AGREEMENT WITH KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL TO CARRY OUT WORKS TO THE M4 UNDERPASS – FOR APPROVAL
DODDER PHASE 5 PART 8 COMMENCEMENT – FOR NOTING
CITY EDGE PLANNING FRAMEWORK - FOR NOTING
COMMENCEMENT OF THE LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY CONSULTATION – FOR NOTING
Correspondence
REPLIES & CORRESPONDENCE
Replies
(a) Reply from Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy re. Nitrous Oxide
(b) Reply from the British Embassy re. Bloody Sunday
(c) Reply from Minister for Education re. Operation Encompass
Correspondence
(d) Correspondence from Galway County Council re. Low-Cost fees for OAP's
(e) Correspondence from Wexford County Council re. Supervisory Body of Electrical Contractors
Motions
This County Council agrees to avoid the use of hostile architecture in the design of low walls and street furniture to tackle antisocial behaviour and agrees that, while antisocial behaviour remains a serious concern, that the correct manner to deal with such activity is through intervention, prevention and legal action.
That, due to the intense energy usage required, this Council calls for a nationwide ban on servers hosting unregulated digital currency exchanges. Following agreement of the motion that a letter issues to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and the Minister of Finance.
That this Council calls on the Minister of Social Protection to introduce a General Maintenance Collections Agency, given the continuous difficulties that single parents face collecting maintenance and the need to go to court to have court orders enforced when they are not abided by. This Agency is necessary in order to protect parents from having to chase these payments and in order to put an end to this form of financial abuse.
That this Council calls on the Taoiseach to immediately implement a set of measures to tackle the Cost of Living Crisis that is Devastating Families across the State from both Working and Middle Class Demographics, which has seen 70% increases in Heating Oil, 30% increase in Gas, 25% increase in Electricity, 8% Increase in Rents and €1,200 average increase in petrol prices for the average driver along with increases in Groceries and other Essential Goods. This has resulted in the Highest inflation rates in 20 years of more than 5,5% and that's without the Governments scandalous proposed increases in Carbon Tax at a time of crisis. These measures at the least should include: The introduction of a living wage, the introduction of a cost of living payment based on annual income, the scrapping of Carbon Tax Increases, a ban on Rent increases for 3 years, Increase in Fuel allowance criteria, Removal of VAT on Energy Bills during winter Months, the Establishment of a discretionary utility debt Fund. These measures should form a base for tackling the crisis for struggling Families across the State.
That this Council writes to Minister for Housing and Local Government, Darragh O'Brien, to support his Department's initiative of setting up a working group to examine the possibility of utilising the Housing Act of 2013 to allow for local authority rents to be withdrawn directly from social welfare payments where tenants in receipt of welfare are more than 3 months in arrears.
That this Council confirms its pride in, and continued support for, Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, and writes to the Taoiseach to declare these views
That this Council supports the decriminalisation of drug use, meaning that people will no longer be made criminals simply because of their use of a drug: that people's drug use should be dealt with as a public health issue rather than as a criminal issue and that the resources currently used to process the 72% of drug convictions that are for personal possession should be redirected to treatment and support services and to more effective policing of the drugs trade. We commit to sending this motion to the Minister for Justice and the Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy for their consideration and response.
An increase on Carbon Taxes of €7.50 was announced in Budget 2022, from €33.50 to €41.00 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted. The increase applies from 13 October 2021 for auto fuels and 1 May 2022 for all other fuels and is set to rise to €100 per tonne emitted by 2030. The carbon Tax is not tackling the environmental damage caused by the producers and profiteers of fossil fuel emissions, including the approximate 14 Data Centres, and major pharmaceutical companies listed in the South Dublin County Council area. It is another tax on workers and energy that hits the poorest and those on limited incomes hardest, and is exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis. It represents the opposite of a “just transition”.
This council calls for the scrapping of the carbon tax increases due from May 2022 and the reversal of 2021 increases. We call for immediate direct taxation of a national or local variety on big polluters, the implementation of increased price controls on energy for households, and a rapid shift to renewable energies under public ownership and communicates this motion to the Minister for Environment, Climate, Communication Transport, and The Minister for Local Government and Heritage.
This Council calls on central government to make the funding available ASAP to complete the necessary works on all boarded up/derelict houses owned by SDCC returning them to Council stock. Considering the emergency housing crisis the country finds itself in this matter needs to be considered a point of priority.
That this Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Taoiseach, The Minister of State for Local Government and the Minister of State for Electoral Reform requesting that legislated candidate gender quotas of 40% be introduced to apply to the local elections in 2024.
This Council calls on the Chief Executive to review and change the Councils current Housing Policy which only allows Social housing/HAP applicants to access the higher homeless rate of HAP 6 weeks before the applicant's Notice to Quit is enacted. Taking into account the length of time it is taking for families/couples/individual's to find private accommodation, this change will allow for the applicants to access the higher homeless rate of HAP from the date of issue of the NTQ to the Council.
That this council calls on the Government and Minister of Social Protection to introduce a pilot scheme for artists with disabilities, to co-exist for the duration of the Basic Income for Artists pilot scheme, which would remove the weekly earnings limit & means test from those in receipt of disability supports.
That this Council calls on the Chief Executive to ensure that any family that are referred /given temporary or emergency accommodation, through the SDCC Homeless Section, either in the County or the City, are placed in accommodation that is suitable to the needs of that family, that they have access to kitchen facilities, have access to bathrooms, have the basic access to the Internet to facilitate students in that family who are studying for their Junior or Leaving Cert or are attending 3rd level College and that the family are not required to leave the accommodation every day at 0.8am and "allowed" to return at 1700 hours and that he address this issue with the necessary authorities or agencies.