LEAVE MALONE ALONE
Despite the fact that the new Luas Cross City Extension is estimated to cost €370 million, a number of DCC councillors were more concerned over the relocation of Molly Malone. The new location for the infamous statue has yet to be confirmed. The Red and Green Luas lines will be linked together, adding over 13 new stops including St. Stephen’s Green West, Broombridge and Maynooth. The project started construction at the end of May. See www.rpa.ie for more information.
FLOODING PREP
Labour’s Dermot Lacey requested information from the City Manager relating to the regular flooding of Merrion Cricket Club. Lacey said he had met with DCC engineers and local councillors to discuss flooding at the cricket grounds during prolonged periods of rainfall. “This is a regular event and appears to be associated with the combination of high river levels and surcharging of the Rathmines/Pembroke sewer and other local drainage systems,” said Lacey. He also raised the question about updating lighting in Herbert Park just off the Merrion Road.
DOCKLAND’S DARKNESS
Fine Gael’s Kieran Binchy and Labour’s Maria Parodi both raised concerns that the lighting around the Docklands has greatly diminished or is ineffective in its current capacity and is in need of updating. The Council has yet to come up with an effective strategy to deal with the lighting problems.
STELLA MARIS ROWING CLUB
Dermot Lacey requested an update on the plan to transfer the adjoining land in Ringsend to Stella Maris Rowing Club. The Council replied regarding the possible granting of a licence to sections of the site by saying, “the Housing and Residential Services are currently finalising details.”
BOILER SERVICE
Labour Councillor Gerry Ashe raised the issue of home heating servicing by the City Council after a number of residents in Dublin 4 and in O’Carroll Villas in Dublin 2, complained that their boilers had not been serviced for up to three years.
The City Council said they had “commenced a new boiler service since March 1st and boiler servicing schedules are usually carried out on a monthly basis.”
ON YOUR BIKE
Dublin Bike Scheme is to be expanded. The city-wide expansion was announced by Dublin’s Lord Mayor Naoise Ó Muirí. The proposed expansion provides for 58 additional stations, 950 additional bikes and 2,000 new bike stands. Many of the new points will be situated around the Docklands area with routes from the city to the South Coast. According to the City Council’s website, the current scheme consists of 44 bike stations, 550 bikes and 1,087 stands and is valued at €33.391 million. In Dublin 4, the Donnybrook to Stillorgan stretch drew huge criticism regarding un-level surfaces caused by road works and inadequate sign markings.
New wind farm for Dublin Bay?
Public consultations are currently underway for construction of a wind farm in Dublin Bay. The new wind farm called Dublin Array would be situated on the Kish and Bray Banks off the coast of Dublin and Wicklow. Saorgus Energy lodged a planning application to the Department of the Environment. The application proposes the construction of 145 turbines, which would be visible from coastal areas.
“If this wind farm goes ahead it will have serious adverse effects on all your readers in respect of views of Dublin Bay,” said Marie Boland, a resident from Sandymount.
As legally required, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared on behalf of the developers and lodged with the application. The EIS was made available for public consultation from 9th April to 1st June 2013. Final date for submissions is 11th June 2013. The plans are available at the RDS or online at dublinarray.com.
