Confirmation and Re-affirmation of Minutes

Minutes of Lucan/Clondalkin Meeting (2) 29th October, 2008

• H-I 1

To ask the Manager for a progress report on the completion of the hand over of the Community Centre in Palmerstown, and if he can give a date by which the Centre will be open for use by the community?

• Q 1

Correspondence

No Business

New Works

No Business

Library News Events

• H-I 3

Application for Grants 

• H-I (4)

Cathaoirleach's Business.

That this Committee expresses in the strongest possible terms its outrage with this Government for reneging on its promise to provide funding for the Lucan Swimming Pool, incorporated in the new Lucan Sports and Leisure Centre. This is a facility that I and the Lucan community have identified many years ago, as required to enhance the quality of life of the people of Lucan and their families.

• M 1

Following my earlier representations, including my Motion to the September '08 Community Department Meeting, on the efforts of Five Lucan Soccer Clubs to provide All-Weather Facilities for its players, and the Government's recent omission of this project from funding, would the Manager report specifically, and list the reasons given, as to why the Department of Sport, Arts and Tourism did not include this project in those approved for funding.

• M 2

That the Council enter negotiations with Siac in relation to the library extension on behalf of the four local residents associations.

That the Manager presents a report on the old Swimming Pool, Clondalkin and could he please investigate whether or not an ice-rink would be viable in that location?

• M 4

That this Committee expresses in the strongest possible terms its outrage with the Council for reneging on its promise to provide funding for the Lucan Swimming Pool out of its own resources, given the verbal commitment given to the late Green Party Cllr Fintan McCarthy at the end of the Water Leisure Strategy meeting, as outlined on May 24th 2006 under 'swimming pool success' on the www.swimlucan.com website and reported in the Lucan Gazette at the time; given that this commitment was also confirmed in writing by the Council in response to a motion tabled by our ubiquitous colleague Cllr Derek Keating on the 10th of July 2006, as minuted in the official records; given that the Council failed to apply in a timely fashion when national funding was available, given that the Green Party ensured that this pool at the Sports and Leisure Centre at Griffeen Park is an objective (No. 21) in the County Development Plan; and calls on the Manager to stick to its original plan and schedule irrespective of whether or not the Swimming Pool Programme reopens.

That this Committee requests the Manager to bring forward a practical plan of action for the provision of a Library/Digital Hub in Palmerstown as this project has been next on the list after Lucan yet, has been overtaken by the expansion of the County Library at Tallaght.  The recent report on the needs of older people in North Clondalkin, sponsored by this Council, highlighted the fact that the number one priority for Palmerstown is a Library and this Library was promised to the community as a condition of the rezoning of the land (where the shopping centre now stands) from amenity to residential/shopping during the early 1980s.

• M 6

That this Committee repeats its call on the Government to provide specific funding to finance the operation of the Dual Purpose Sports Complexes in the County, including the Complexes at Collinstown Park and Palmerstown, at a level which will ensure that the Complexes are open to the full extent to meet demands of community organisations, sports clubs, individuals and other groups, and requests the Manager to provide an updated report on consultation with Government Ministers or Ministers of State on the matter.

• M 7

That a report be presented on the future development plans for Rowlagh Community Centre.

• M 8

That the Manager outline what progress has taken place to ensure that funding is provided by South Dublin County Council, in conjunction with the VEC, to allow two valuable sports and recreational facilities at Collinstown Park Community College, Clondalkin and Pobalscoil Isolde, Palmerstown remain open to the public and community groups during 2009; given that no guaranteed national funding stream appears to be available despite strenuous efforts from several sources; to commit to providing such finance by the expiry of the Dormant Accounts funding on 31st December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In keeping with the beautiful floral arrangements elsewhere in Clondalkin Village, could the Manager have floral displays hung from the lights on the Village end of New Road?

• Q 2

To ask the Manager to give a firm date for completion of the car park, entrance and other works at Waterstown Park that will help make this wonderful amenity available to the people of Palmerstown and the wider community?  It is now over thirty years since this park came into public ownership and it has lagged behind other parts in terms of availability to the community and consequently has been taken over mostly by individuals who engage in anti-social type of activity.

• Q 3

To ask the Manager if he will make a report on works carried out in 2008 under the Parks Works Programme, including a list of ongoing and completed works?

• Q 4

Correspondence

No Business

New Works

No Business

Cathaoirleach's Business

That the Manager would present a detailed report for discussion on his proposals to introduce public lighting in our parks, particularly parks used by residents for pedestrian access, especially at night time. I specifically refer to Hermitage Park, Lucan, adjacent to Hermitage Park Estate and Ballyowen Park Estate, where a resident from the general area specifically identified the lack of public lighting as presenting a difficulty for him when he was confronted and badly beaten by his attackers very recently while on his way home from work, between the bus stop and his home before 6.30pm one evening.

• M 10

That this Council initiate or/and strengthen By-Laws to stop fires being lit on green spaces for any reason.

• M 11

That this Committee appreciates the programme of works being carried out by the Parks Department in Waterstown Park, Palmerstown and requests the Manager to provide an updated report on the works, including information on when it is anticipated the works will be completed and the arrangements being made for the patrolling of the Park by Park Rangers.

• M 12

That this Committee requests the Manager responsible to fill in the ditch at Palmerstown Court as previously agreed following my repeated representations and without delay as it is a focus for anti-social behaviour and is a source of great annoyance and worry to local residents.

• M 13

That the Manager would provide a report on measures being implemented by the Council to combat anti-social behaviour and support the security of users and residents in parks in the Lucan area, including Hermitage Park, Ballyowen Park, Willsbrook Park and Griffeen Valley Park.

• M 14

To compliment the Council staff and especially the Litter Warden for their ongoing efforts to eliminate or reduce the graffiti across the territory of this area committee and to ask that the litter bins I requested (and were to be installed) in the Palmerstown area be put in place as quickly as possible?  It is unreasonable to expect local residents to have to pick up litter strewn outside their premises when there are no litter bins within a reasonable walking distance where people can deposit their litter.

• Q.5

To ask the Manager if he can provide a schedule for the roll out of the new chip system to the remaining areas and estates in Lucan and Palmerstown?

• Q.6

To ask the Manager if he can advise of the number of households in the Lucan Electoral Area which are currently in receipt of an allocation of free bin tags, and the number which were in receipt of free tags at this time last year, and if he can advise the procedures available to households which may become eligible to free tags when the household income drops due to a member/ members of the household becoming unemployed? 

• Q.7

Correspondence

No Business

New Works

No Business

Cathaoirleach's Business

No Business

That the Manager review the system of allocating estates for junk collections and create a rolling three year list so that residents associations and Councillors will have more certainty as to which areas will be due for collection. This should include a percentage set aside for estates that have been taken in charge for at least a year into the current system. It should also ensure a guaranteed collection every five years. This will enable transparency as to the process of area selection.

That this Committee calls for the reinstatement of the dust cart service back into Quarryvale and the Harelawn area and calls for this service to be extended to the Neilstown shopping area which is an eye sore of litter waste.

• M.17

That this Committee recommends that South Dublin County Council examines the sewer in the back garden at 51 Monksfield Lawns which serves houses 51-61 (odd numbers) and rectifies any faults which may be found.

• M 18

That the old Palmerstown Cemetery, Mill Lane, be restored and maintained as it has seriously become overgrown and the focus of anti-social activities which is scandalous given the historic and heritage significance of this religious settlement and  burial ground.

• M 19

To ask the Manager when the service roads for the maisonettes in Lindisfarne Lawn, Clondalkin will be installed?

• Q 8

To ask the Manager for an updated report on the allocation of social housing units in Adamstown?

• Q 9

Correspondence

No Business

New Works

No Business

Report on Housing Construction Programme

• HI (8)

Report on Implementation of Traveller Accommodation Programme

• H-I 9

Cathaoirleach’s Business.

That the Manager would give the local community in Lucan assurances, especially the community in St. Finian's Estate, Lucan, that what was the local shop in St. Finian's Estate will not be re-opened as a shop. The local community in St. Finian's has been subjected to year's of the most severe anti-social behaviour, much of which has emanated form this shop in years gone by. Would the Manager set out in detail his plans for the alternative proposals for these premises, and would the Manager agree to provide for inclusive local consultation with the St. Finian's Residents Association, details of personnel I can provide to the Manager.

• M 20

That this Committee requests South Dublin County Council to develop a housing strategy for North Clondalkin which contains a good social mix.

• M. 21

That this Committee calls on the Housing Manager to state what the delay is in housing applicants in the Kilcronan infill housing project and when will these units be allocated?

• M 22

That this Committee re-asserts the commitment of the Council to facilitate the provision of sheltered housing at Primrose Lane, Lucan and calls on the Manager and Director of Housing to again contact the land owners, their housing association and other appropriate Voluntary Housing Associations with a view to encouraging their interest in implementing a sheltered housing project, which will provide for supported housing for older people.

• M 23

That this Council will endeavor to liaise with tenant's and their representatives in relation to rent arrears and the possibility of evictions and to liaise with elected representatives on the Council as to the current situation in which we receive an email with the treat of evictions only to be notified that arrangements have been made at the 11th hour with the tenant.  Also to complete an exhausted procedure where face to face meetings be attended by representatives of the tenant and a health cert be acquired to same and that court cases be a very last resort before eviction.  Can a monetary committee be set be set up to identify tenant's entering serious arrears?      

That the Manager would report why the two recent .5% decreases in the European Central Bank rate has not been passed on to residents who purchased properties through Shared Ownership Scheme?

• M 25