paddy1.pdf
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LOCAL ISSUES
Tom O’Loughlin & Daniel Lynch with Cllr. Paddy McCartan at the launch of Dublin Parks Tennis Summer 2011 Programme
Paddy, who is back on the Council, continues to look after local issues Repairs: 1 To have an additional seat installed on the Causeway at Irishtown Nature Park and to have one broken seat repaired. 2 The footpath in St Albans’ Park repaired, additionally to have Park Avenue and the section of Gilford Road outside Bethany House resurfaced. 3 Had Road Maintenance repair the surface of Lansdowne Road, and Winton Road, Ranelagh resurfaced. Street: Paddy requested to have a street nameplate erected, indicating the location of Palmerston Grove Milltown. Health Issues: Requested that HSE specify which areas are covered by Irishtown Health Centre and to explain why residents from Sandymount area cannot be treated there and must travel to Baggot St Hospital. Paddy awaits their response and will let you know the reply.
Litter and Graffiti: 1 At Paddy’s request, the Litter Warden inspected the laneway at Elmwood Avenue Ranelagh as it was being used as a toilet by a number of taxi drivers. The litter warden passed the complaint to the Gardai and we await their reply. 2 Had the graffiti removed from the outside walls of Donnybrook Stadium. 3 To have the old baths on Sandymount Strand repainted, even though there is no provision to undertake the repainting in the 2011 park’s estimates, Paddy is insisting that the graffiti be removed.
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Buses: Made representations about the continuance of the 48a bus service for Milltown and he has liaised with Dublin Bus over proposed changes to the nos. 2 and 3 bus service. It is proposed to cease the no 3 bus and replace it with more frequent service of the no.2 bus. Its route will be from Mountjoy Sq to Belfield. Paddy has urged Dublin Bus to extend Real Time at bus stops in Sandymount and Ringsend.
Cllr. PaddySummer McCartan Newsletter 2011 Pembroke - Rathmines
MONEY SECURED FOR LOCAL ROADS - PROPOSED NTA FUNDED CARRIAGEWAY RENEWAL WORKS FOR 2011 An additional €12 million from the NTA (National Transport Authority) is being provided. Over the last number of years, the annual expenditure on carriageway renewal has been in the region of €4 million. So this year’s workload has increased fourfold. These works will be carried out during August to November 2011 and as far as possible works will take place during night time and at weekends. There will be occasions when some obstructions will occur to achieve these ambitious targets and to utilise all the finance that has been made available, but this will be kept to a minimum. The works relevant to the Dublin South East constituency are:
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Claire Lennon with Cllr Paddy McCartan Cllr Paddy McCartan at the Triumph 25th
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Claire Lennon spent a few days in my office gaining work experience: “Having just finished my finals in Business and Politics in Trinity, I was eager to see what politics was like ‘outside of the books’. During my time in Councillor McCartan’s office I learnt how politicians respond to constituents queries, issues within the constituency and, most importantly, how best to address problems which arise while keeping all interested parties in mind. My time in the Councillor’s office in the Dublin South East constituency was great fun. I attended an event in the Mansion House, where Councillor McCartan was deputising for Claire Lennon with Cllr Paddy McCartan the Lord Mayor. Getting to see what politics is like firsthand has shown me that politics is really a 24/7 job. Working in local government requires you to be aware of a plethora of issues affecting your constituents and requires you to respond to these as effectively and efficiently as possible. After this summer I will be studying for an LLM in European Law at the University of Edinburgh as I am intending to pursue a career as a solicitor, while also pursuing my interest in politics.” Claire
Paddy is working in Dublin South East with: Eoghan Murphy TD (01) 618 3324 eoghan.murphy@oir.ie
Senator Catherine Noone (01) 6183127 catherine.noone@oir.ie
Lucinda Creighton TD (01) 6184398 Lucinda.creighton@taoiseach.ie
Cllr. Kieran Binchy (01) 087 1774365 kieran.binchy@dublincity.ie
Cllr Edie Wynne (01) 490 9374 wynnee@eircom.net
Gay Mitchell MEP
(01) 4961940 - gay.mitchell@europarl.europa.eu Designed by ExSite.ie
Anniversary Vintage Rally
NEW TAXI RANKS IN YOUR CONSTITUENCY
1 Merrion Road: Nutley Lane to Shrewsbury Park 2 Northumberland Road: Sandymount Avenue to Haddington Road 3 Donnybrook Road: Nutley Lane to Eglington Terrace 4 Pearse Street: Westland Road/ Lombard Street to Tara Street 5 Townsend Street: Lombard Street East to Tara Street 6 George’s Quay Chloe Lloyd, from Gardiner St Primary School & Cllr Paddy McCartan
Councillor Paddy McCartan is a member of the Traffic and Transport Strategic Policy Committee. New taxi ranks are detailed in Dublin City Council taxi rank bye-laws. There is widespread discontent within the taxi industry at present with stories of rows and intimidation amongst drivers across the city ranks. Under new proposals the number of taxi spaces is to be increased from 661 to 770. To prepare the draft taxi rank bye-laws the roads and traffic department invited submissions, a majority asked for more ranks or the relocation of existing ranks. Among the changes are new ranks and additions to existing ranks and in Dublin South East constituency are recommended, the following: 1. Adelaide Road 2. Barrow Street 3. College Green 4. Cullenswood Road, Ranelagh 5. D’Olier Street 6. Earlsfort Terrace 7. Fenian Street 8. Fitzwilliam Quay, Ringsend 9. George’s Quay 10. Grand Canal Street Lower 11. Hatch Street Upper 12. Holles Street 13. Lansdowne Road 14. Upper and Lower Merrion Street 15. Mespil Road 16. Molesworth Street 17. Rathmines Road Upper 18. St. Stephen’s Green 19. Simmonscourt Road 20. Sussex Road 21. Whitefriar Street
IN THIS EDITION: Page MONEY SECURED FOR LOCAL ROADS
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NEW TAXI RANKS IN YOUR CONSTITUENCY
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DUBLINBIKES
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FOLLOWING IN HER MAJESTY’S FOOTSTEPS
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DECLAN COSTELLO RIP GARRET FITZGERALD RIP
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THE IRISH SHORT-STAY VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME
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PASSPORTS FOR LEISURE FOR OVER 55s
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NOTES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
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POOLBEG INCINERATOR
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RAILWAY UNION FC, PARK AVENUE, SANDYMOUNT
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PADDY LOOKS AFTER LOCAL ISSUES
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CLAIRE LENNON SPENT A FEW DAYS IN MY OFFICE GAINING WORK EXPERIENCE
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CONTACT PADDY: ADDRESS: 12 Thorncastle Street, Dublin 4 TEL: (01) 660 9202 FAX: (01) 661 0121 MOBILE: 087 2248 817 EMAIL: cllrpatmccartan@gmail.com
paddy2.pdf
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15/07/2011
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DUBLINBIKES
PASSPORTS FOR LEISURE FOR OVER 55s
Launched in 2009, Dublinbikes comprised of 450 bikes with 40 stations strategically located across the city centre. The scheme which is operated, maintained and managed by J C Decaux on behalf of Dublin City Council, is a fully integrated transport alternative that allows people to take bikes from automated self service stations. The scheme is a convenient cost effective environmentally friendly means of getting around the city. To date there have been over 2 million journeys completed, an average of 5000 journeys per day. Dublinbikes initiation is the most successful of its kind in Europe. Cllr Paddy McCartan has requested that extra stations be provided in Ringsend, Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Ranelagh as part of the expansion of the scheme.
If you are aged 55 or older, you can live a richer, more active and exciting life thanks to Dublin City Council. For € 10 your Passport for Leisure is a valuable discount card and directory which includes discounts worth hundreds of euro, including free access to sports, leisure and recreation facilities throughout Dublin. The passport is valid from time of issue for a period of twelve months. To apply just send a completed application form and €10 fee to: Passport for Leisure Scheme, Community Development Section, Dublin Civic Offices, Block 1, Upper Ground Floor, Fishamble St, Dublin 8. You can download the Passport for Leisure application form online. Alternatively you can ring the Council on 8450090 or drop into any Dublin City Council Civic Offices or leisure centres.
Teresa Weafer with Cllr Paddy McCartan, Minister Lucinda Creigton and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny
FOLLOWING IN HER MAJESTY’S FOOTSTEPS Cllr Paddy McCartan has launched a tourist initiative aimed at capitalizing on the Queen’s visit. He contacted the British Embassy with his idea to promote tours taking the same route as Queen Elizabeth. A hugely positive image of Ireland was generated abroad by her visit. He said “Now surely is the time to harness the goodwill that exists between our two nations by encouraging the British people to come and see for themselves what Dublin and Ireland have to offer”. This could involve a tour incorporating the Queen’s itinerary and marketed in Great Britain under the banner “Following in Her Majesty’s Footsteps”. Paddy discussed the matter with Matt Moran, a trade advisor at the British Embassy. He has since contacted a number of publications in Britain including Majesty Magazine who are very enthusiastic as well as Dublin Tourism and Minister of Tourism Leo Varadkar.
DECLAN COSTELLO RIP/GARRET FITZGERALD RIP
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Declan Costello, former TD, Attorney General and President of the High Court died recently. His policy document, “Towards a Just Society” has become part of mainstream political thinking guaranteeing his legacy remains with us. Garret FitzGerald, 1926 to 2011 former Taoiseach, leader of Fine Gael, TD for Dublin South East and Senator died in May this year. Garret was one of the truly inspirational figures on the political stage. His crowning achievement was the Anglo-Irish Agreement. He believed that relations between North and South would be based on acceptance of the principle that political unity be preceded only with the agreement of people of the North and recognition of the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. His views were pivotal in persuading the electorate to agree changes to Articles 2 and 3 which claimed sovereignty over the island of Ireland. The unique contribution of both these two men to the people of Ireland must never be forgotten. May they rest in peace.
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THE IRISH SHORT-STAY VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME Cllr Paddy McCartan strongly backs efforts to find innovative ways of supporting the tourist industry and developing our economy, and he was pleased to attend the launch of the first ever Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, T.D. The Programme is an integral part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative to promote tourism, particularly from emerging markets. It commenced on Friday Maureen Robinson & Lily Cunningham with July 1st 2011 and will run up until the end of October 2012, taking in Cllr Paddy McCartan, BloomsDay the period of the London Olympics. June 16th at St. Andrews Resource Centre Under the Programme, tourists or business people who have lawfully entered the UK, including Northern Ireland, on a valid UK visa will be able to travel on to Ireland without the requirement to obtain an Irish visa. They will be allowed to stay in Ireland for up to three months or until their UK visas run out, whichever is shorter. Nationals of sixteen countries in all are included in the programme such as India, Peoples Republic of China, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Russian Federation, Turkey and it was also announced as part of the initiative, that nationals of these countries, who are long-term legal residents in the UK, will have the cost of the Irish visa waived should they wish to visit Ireland. It is estimated that there is up to 1 million people in this category in the UK. The Taoiseach described the Programme as an “innovative package which is clearly focused on encouraging more tourists from new and untraditional markets to visit Ireland”. The Taoiseach added that the proposal is noteworthy for coming from a Department “which would not ordinarily be seen as a generator of economic activity”. “However all is changed” he added,” and this Government is determined to do things differently, to operate all levers and to work closely with industry to make that change happen for the betterment of all our citizens”. The initiative has been warmly welcomed by the tourism industry as a measure which “represents real practical assistance at a time when it was never more needed” the Taoiseach added.
NOTES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
Paddy discussing benefits of card with local resident Bridget Downey
This information is taken from “Elm Park 1925 1993”
What might have been--- Croke Park at Elm Park.
Before the turn of the 20th century the grounds of Elm Park were used as a venue for major GAA matches. The following is an extract from History of the GAA in 1913. “For years the association moved from one field to another. Many matches were played in Elm Park beyond Ballsbridge, courtesy of the owners, The Ffrench family, and also at Jones Road racecourse in the north Dublin suburb of Drumcondra. When the Central Council of the GAA met August 17th 1913 it had 2 options; purchase either Elm Park site or Jones Road site. Elm Park site had 15 acres for 5000 pounds and Jones Rd had 9 acres for £4000. Decision to buy was deferred. Council resumed 14th September, and a motion to purchase Elm Park was not put to a vote. The asking price for Jones Rd site was reduced from £4000 to £3600 and then £3500 to combat Elm Park offer. On the 4th of October 1913, 98 years ago, the proposal to purchase Jones Road site passed by 8 votes to 7 and the rest as they say is history”. Could this be the earliest recorded instance of gazumping in Dublin? Other known similar cases—contact Paddy.
Eoghan Murphy TD, Cllr Edie Wynne, Minister Lucinda Creigton, Cllr Paddy McCartan, Newly Co-opted Cllr Kieran Binchy
POOLBEG INCINERATOR A report was supplied to Councillors at the July meeting of Dublin City Council from the Head of Finance entitled “BORROWING REQUIREMENTS FOR WASTE RELATED PRODUCTS” contained the following; “Approval of the City Council is requested to borrowing of €50.3 million on behalf of the region to complete the purchase of the Poolbeg site and associated costs. The costs of these borrowings will be shared between the four local authorities. It is estimated that borrowing will commence during 2011. Dublin City Council’s share of this borrowing is €22.7 million euro.”
DISTRICT HEATING; DCC identified as part of the Waste to Energy project the possibility of constructing a District Heating system to make use of some of the energy produced by the Waste to Energy facility.Approval of the City Council is requested to borrowing of 10.8 m euro. It is estimated that borrowing will take place during 2011 and will be used to fund expenditure incurred to date. Both these proposals were rejected by the Councillors by a vote of 26 to 12. The incinerator is planned treat 580,000 tonnes of waste per annum. The four Dublin local authorities have agreed to supply 320,000 tonnes of waste, under a “put or pay contract” which means if they do not have this level of waste they will pay for the shortfall which will be significant as Dublin local authorities only control 119,000 tonnes of waste, far below the contracted 320,000 tonnes. The project is financially unsound. The Hennessy Report noted that Dublin City Council “may well be paying, for a considerable period of time, for the processing of significantly more waste than it is able to deliver to the facility.” It seems to Cllr McCartan that this saga is mired in secrecy and complexity. This does not auger well irrespective of the outcome.
RAILWAY UNION FC, PARK AVENUE, SANDYMOUNT Paul Farrell, who is a coaching representative on the Railway Union FC soccer club contacted Paddy’s office seeking help in securing a playing pitch for their club, which caters for 250 young boys. Due of the presence of the cricket, rugby and GAA teams there is a shortage of space for them. Paddy’s office made representation to Dublin City Council and spoke to Mr. John Ryan Senior Staff Office in the Sport and Leisure Service. Although he was very helpful and agreed to talk to Paul directly, the council too is very stretched for pitches in the Dublin 4 area. However he has put the club on a waiting list. If anyone can help in the meantime, please contact Paul Farrell at elginish @iol.ie or give Paddy a call.