Councillor
William LAVELLE LUCAN NEWSLETTER
For Fairness, For Our Future, We Need a General Election! Unemployment, negative equity, rising interest rates, an uncertain future..for too many citizens this is what Ireland now means. And what is the current government’s response: • A mind-numbingly massive bail-out for the bankers, a bad debt write-off for the developers, yet no help for struggling mortgage-holders; • Doubling the national debt, but not a single new euro for a national stimulus plan, not a single new euro for education or job-creation; • Cutbacks for low and middle-income public servants, while reversing the cutbacks for the 600 best paid; • A two-tier health service while 57,000 public patient x-rays go unchecked in our own Tallaght Hospital. Enough is enough! We, the citizens of Ireland have seen our country ruined by a small elite. But when the chance comes, it is us, the people of Ireland, who can make change happen, We can choose a new leadership, built on FAIRNESS, looking to the FUTURE, standing up for ALL the people of Ireland: young and old, urban and rural, private-sector and publicsector... All the people, not just the vested interests!
As a young person, holding local public office, working for my community, I am proud to be a member of a Fine Gael party which is putting forward the most radical policy agenda Ireland has ever seen, including • Our €18bn NewERA stimulus plan to rebuild Ireland and create over 100,000 jobs; • Our ‘FairCare’ programme for universal health insurance, ending the two-tier system, providing free GP care for all; • Our ‘New Politics’ proposals to abolish the Seanad, reduce the Dáil, and make government accountable to seek to ensure that the bad governance that got us into this mess can never happen again.
Lavelle Puts Job Creation at Top of the Agenda Unemployment remains Ireland’s biggest single challenge. Here in Lucan there are nearly 4,000 residents unemployed, with approximately 600 of these aged under-25. The skills of a whole well-educated generation are being lost through unemployment. In recent months Fine Gael have pushed a number of detailed policies on job-creation while William has proposed a number of initiatives at council level to support local jobs including. •
A work-placement & training programme to augment the council’s capacity to deliver local services and improvement works. This would be particularly beneficial for young people seeking to finish apprenticeships.
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A targeted training, up-skilling and business start-up initiative in the Lucan area to support graduates and professionals who have recently lost their jobs.
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Fast-tracking development of the first planned Enterprise Centre in Adamstown to provide physical space such as ‘hot-desks’ and ‘incubator units’ for use by local entrepreneurs and business start-ups in the Lucan area.
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Support for social entrepreneurs and the development of social economy initiatives in the county. The council is now conducting research work on the matter with a report due back to councillors shortly.
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The need for increased investment in critical infrastructure projects, such as the need to improve Dublin water infrastructure and to secure a new water supply for Dublin.
If the people of Ireland so decide then Fine Gael will make FAIRNESS a reality; Fine Gael will secure our FUTURE. Ireland needs a general election... And when it comes Fine Gael are ready!
Cllr. William Lavelle with Fine Gael deputy leader and Finance spokesman, Richard Bruton TD & Senator Frances Fitzgerald at a recent public meeting on jobs in LCC. For more details see www.finegael.org
www.williamlavelle.ie
SPRING/SUMMER 2010
Council management are currently examining William’s job-creation proposals.
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Lavelle Opposes Parking Charge Increase for Lucan Village
Improving Pedestrian Safety - Delivering for Lucan
In recent months, William has been working closely with members of Lucan Traders Groups, representatives of the local protestant churches and members of the Lucan Planning Council to oppose proposals to increase pay parking charges in Lucan Village by 50% and to extend paid parking to Saturday.
William Welcomes Progress on Lucan School Sites In February the council signed-off on the sale of a 7-acre site to the Dept. of Education for the much-needed Lucan South second-level school. Prior to his election to the council, William served as planning consultant to the Lucan South Secondary School Campaign; In December 2007 William wrote the two amendments to the Clonburris Local Area Plan which provided for a secondary school on lands at Kishogue. This site purchase follows-on directly from William’s successful amendments to the Clonburris LAP. However the Dept of Education has now announced a review of the proposed patronage of this school. On foot of this, William has met with the Chief Executives of both Co. Dublin VEC and Educate Together to discuss the matters involved and in particular to ensure that ALL children going to school in Lucan South have access to a second-level school place in Lucan. Also in January, William proposed a motion at the Lucan-Clondalkin Area Committee directing the manager to examine and identify appropriate sites, irrespective of ownership, to be proposed for reservation under the new County Development Plan for new schools. In response to Williams’ motion, council planners arranged a special briefing where they advised that the Department of Education and Office of Public Works were in the process of seeking to acquire 2 primary schools sites in the Lucan area for St. Andrew’s Church of Ireland NS and Esker Educate Together. William is continuing to press the department to finalise this site selection and purchase.
William at Lucan Educate Together ‘Park Safe Programme’
LUCAN EDUCATE TOGETHER & WILLSBROOK ROAD Following repeated representations, William has secured completion and opening of the footpath at Willsbrook Road/Mount Bellew roundabout. William has also secured a committed to install a pedestrian crossing on Willsbrook Road at this location. William has also recently secured a meeting between the Lucan Educate Together ‘Park Safe Programme’ and Roads Department to seek to progress the campaign’s proposals for pedestrian safety measures. WILLIAM SECURES GRIFFEEN AVENUE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING Council Management has agreed to William’s proposal provide a signalised ‘toucan’ crossing on Griffeen Avenue to link both parts of Griffeen Valley Park. This crossing has been long-held objective of the local community in the Old Forge, Grange Manor and Johnsbridge estates given the widespread concern over pedestrian safety on Griffeen Avenue due the lack of crossing points and the dangerous speeding and overtaking. William is continuing his efforts to secure a signalised pedestrian crossing and School Warden for the other end of Griffeen Avenue nearer Griffeen Valley Educate Together School. GUARD-RAILING AT GAELSCOIL EISCIR RIADA On foot of representations William secured the installation of pedestrian guardrailings outside the gaelscoil. ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES AT NEWCASTLE ROAD SCHOOLS Following consultations with local schools and parents, William tabled a motion at the December 2009 meeting of the Lucan-Clondalkin area committee seeking improved pedestrian safety measures as part of the new Hillcrest traffic light project. In response to representations the council roads department is now proposing installation of a second pedestrian crossing, new pedestrian guard-railings and new yellow lines. PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS & FOOTPATH REPAIRS FOR LUCAN VILLAGE William has requested footpath improvements in Lucan Village, in particular between Lucan Garda station and Ardeevin, including a pedestrian crossing in this area. On foot of William’s separate proposal to install a pedestrian crossing at ‘La Banca’, the council are now to conduct a traffic count.
Working for Lucan Keeping You Informed PAGE 2
www.williamlavelle.ie
William Heads-Up New Initiative to Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour in our Parks In November the South Dublin joint Policing Committee established a special working group comprising of Community Gardaí, SDCC Parks Department and local community representatives to draw up a new strategy on tackling anti-social behaviour in our county’s public parks. Cllr. William Lavelle was appointed as Chairman of this sub-group. Since November the group has met with parks staff, resident groups and Gardai as well as arranging a large number of on-site meetings in parks around the county including Griffeen Valley Park in Lucan. Cllr. William Lavelle on the reviewing stand for the Lucan St. Patricks Day parade
Among the matters being addressed by the group are, drinking in the parks; littering and dumping and theft/burning of wheelie-bins. The group is now preparing a comprehensive report including recommendations which will be published in the summer.
Lavelle Seeks Outer Ring Road Traffic Study William has proposed that South Dublin
Lavelle Works with Residents to Lodge Appeal Against Griffeen Avenue Planning Permission William has lodged an appeal with an Bord Pleanala against South Dublin County Council’s decision to grant permission for 898 highdensity units at Griffeen Avenue in Lucan. William states: “Last April, before my election, I convened the first public meeting regarding this planning application and I am delighted that this effort led to the establishment of a crosscommunity group to campaign against this totally unacceptable development proposal.
I have worked with this group to lodge our appeal to an Bord Pleanala. Our arguments are very strong. We have no confidence in the validity of the traffic assessment carried for this application and we have provided a report on how this planning application seriously understates the potential traffic impact on both Griffeen Avenue and the Outer Ring Road. We have also put forward strong arguments against the proposed 6-storey building on Griffeen Avenue.
County Council initiate a detailed traffic analysis of all junctions along the Lucan stretch of the Outer Ring Road including analysis of peak-hour queue lengths and queuing times caused by tailbacks on approach roads to these junctions including Ballyowen Road, Willsbrook Road, Castle Road & Griffeen Avenue. William hopes this traffic analysis will provide evidence-based support for his proposals to improve traffic flow including redesign of Outer Ring Road junctions so as to increase their capacity and the reopening of the N4Esker Lane slip-road, possibly as a left-out only exit onto a segregated service lane.
Cllr. William Lavelle introduces Irish soccer legend Niall Quinn to some local football clubs at the launch of the Dublin Bus Community Support Programme
Working for Lucan Keeping You Informed www.williamlavelle.ie
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Reinstatement of ‘Beautiful South Dublin’ Awards William has welcomed the reinstatement this summer of the ‘Beautiful South Dublin’ awards, formerly known as the Tidy Districts competition. The Beautiful South Dublin awards were cancelled in 2009 for budgetary reasons. This decision was met with significant dismay by many residents associations and environmental and tidy towns groups. Following repeated campaigning by councillors, in particular Fine Gael councillors, the awards scheme is to be reinstated for Summer 2010.
Lavelle Secures First Meeting of Liffey Valley Advisory Committee Since 2003 Cllr. William Lavelle has secured the reestablishment of the Liffey Valley Advisory Committee after a hiatus of nearly 7 years. The joint South Dublin-Fingal Liffey Valley Advisory Committee was established in 1995 and met regularly over a period of 8 years overseeing the management of the Liffey Valley. However the last meeting of the body before this year was held in March 2003, some 7 years ago. At the December 2009 meeting of the LucanClondalkin area committee, William tabled a motion calling for this body to be reconvened and on foot of this motion the committee was
re-established and has now met twice. William has made proposals to this committee for the strategic and coordinated development of the Liffey Valley as an accessible landscape amenity for the Dublin region, to include provision of a connecting network of walking routes and delivery of single coordinated marketing and informational strategy. As well as developing the Liffey Valley as a valuable amenity for local residents this initiative has significant economic potential to bring visitors and tourists into West Dublin to help sustain and create local jobs.
Tackling Litter In April, Cllr. William Lavelle convened an on-site meeting in Lucan with South Dublin County Council management to examine the area’s litter problems and to discuss William’s request for improved litter-picking and cleansing services for the Lucan South area. Cllr. Lavelle states: “Litter problems are worse than ever and I’m totally exasperated trying to explain the scale of the problem to council managers at meetings in Clondalkin and Tallaght. We need resources and actions to tackle the problem”.
Cllr. William Lavelle with Sen. Frances Fitzgerald & Sarsfield’s club chairman, Paul Stapleton, at official opening of Lucan Sarsfields All-Weather Pitch facility
Contact William
Useful Phone Numbers
Address: 16 Lána na bPáirce, Ballyowen Lane, Lucan, Co. Dublin Phone: 087 410 7885 Email: wlavelle@sdublincoco.ie Web: www.williamlavelle.ie
South Dublin County Council:
01 414 9000
Lucan Garda Station:
01 666 7300
In addition to being a member of South Dublin County Council William is also:
Ronanstown Garda Station:
01 666 7700
Citizen Information Centre:
01 621 7930
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Member of South Dublin Joint Policing Committee - Chairman of JPC sub-group on tackling anti-social behaviour in our parks Member of County Dublin VEC Cathaoirleach, Coláiste Cois Life Board member, Lucan Community College Board member of CPLN Area Partnership Member of the South Dublin Strategic Policy Committees on Economic Development & Planning The Environment Transport
William is working with Senator Frances Fitzgerald, Gay Mitchell MEP & Councillor Derek Keating
Obair - Local Employment Services:
01 457 7308
Revenue - South Dublin:
1890 333 425
HSE Dublin West:
01 620 6300
Social Welfare Lucan/Clondalkin:
01 403 0000