Mayor’s Update
Mayor
Caitríona Jones
Community activities for everyone, thanks to local input In addition to being your local Councillor, I was elected Mayor of South Dublin County Council last June. It’s been a hectic few months, but it’s an honour for me to work with and for you. These are difficult times for our community and for local families. Joining in the Spooky Walk
I believe it is more important than ever for the Council to focus on improving the quality of life in our community and supporting local groups and businesses.
Improving our living space As Mayor I have sought more and better use of our parks and open spaces. I launched National Play Day in Corkagh Park. I joined children for the Spooky Walk at Halloween and enjoyed Winter Wonderland along with local families. I launched the Grand Canal Green Route Extension which provides approximately 2km of cycle/ pedestrian tracks, public lighting and CCTV, and a new Canal bridge, making a first class pedestrian and cycle route from Adamstown to Dublin City. I also launched Lucan Festival – a great community event thanks to the voluntary work of local organisers. I attended events in the Palmerstown Festival during the summer. Another initiative aimed at empowering local residents is www.fixyourstreet.ie, set up using free software to minimise costs. You can report issues such as graffiti, road defects, faulty street lighting, water leaks, litter and illegal dumping via the website and the Council will respond within two working days.
Social credits working I’m a huge fan of the Social Credits Scheme which enables community groups and local schools to undertake local projects and rewards them with the use of Council facilities and services (e.g. a free swim for local children). Work has included local clean-ups, removal of graffiti and weeding of footpaths. The Council has supplied materials such as topsoil, garden gloves, etc. Congratulations to the residents of Droim na Coille Avenue, Esker Woods, Palmerstown Court, Foxborough, Ardeevin and others! It goes to show what a group of like-minded people can achieve when they work together to improve the environment. I recently launched the Lucan Adamstown Time Bank which involves five Educate Together schools in the community coming together for this initiative which gives free access for an hour to social and cultural events organised by the Time Bank for every hour volunteered by participants in community activities. For more information see www.socialcredits.ie
Meeting Water Drop at the Water Conservation launch
Supporting local businesses I’m supporting Think Local – a South Dublin County Development Board initiative. If we as local residents try to do more of our spending locally we can help keep local businesses open. I have also supported reduced commercial rates and launched initiatives to help local businesses save money including a publication on lowering water costs.
YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT - Email: cjones@sdublincoco.ie Mobile: 087 2034427
Young people do it for themselves I opened South Dublin Comhairle na nÓg AGM in Tallaght Stadium. Young people from many local schools attended including Lucan Community College, Coláiste Cois Life, and Coláiste Padraig. As Mayor I was able to direct money to Comhairle na nÓg, some of which has been used for radio skills training. This training was recently put to practice when I was interviewed by Comhairle na nÓg members! As Mayor I was involved in the Children’s Book Festival which I launched alongside the Dublin Hurling Team. Congratulations Pobailscoil Iosolde for its hosting of an international basketball league in the Autumn which I launched. An exciting initiative by South Dublin County Council is its young With members of Comhairle Na nÓg film makers’ festival (March 2012). For more information visit www.noisesouthdublin.com. In February I launched NOISE – a toolkit for engaging young people in critical and creative thinking about issues important to them.
Celebrating all ages As Mayor I have worked on the Council’s plan for intergenerational collaboration which includes a bid for age friendly status in the County. This involves bringing residents of all ages together for events such as intergenerational Bingo. I was guest of honour at Palmerstown Day Care Centre 25th Anniversary – also an intergenerational celebration.
Access and inclusion Presenting Prizes to the winners of the Palmerstown Festival Cake Bake Competition
I took calls from the deaf and hard of hearing via webcam as part of National Accessibility Week. I attended the Interculture Centre Clondalkin for the launch of Sew in Time, an exhibition of the work by the Tower Sewing Club, Tower Hotel Migrant Reception Centre. As Mayor I launched the Dublin Migrants Forum as part of Social Inclusion Week.
What can I do to help you? As your local Councillor I am here to help you with a wide range of local issues including local authority services, residents’ concerns, crime and policing issues, and access to Council departments/ staff. I can also refer you to my Labour colleague Joanna Tuffy T.D. depending on your situation. Here are some examples of work I carry out on behalf of individual residents and groups:
At the Intercultural Centre with Joanna Tuffy T.D. and Cllr Eamon Tuffy
• Liaising with Council staff • Campaigning at Council level to achieve change/ improvements • Reporting problems with local services • Keeping local residents informed about issues • Engaging with residents on local issues • Representing residents’ views and concerns • Supporting local groups and clubs • Liaising with the Gardai With Leo Cullen, captain of Leinster Rugby Team, after an open training session in Tallaght Stadium.
Your Local Labour Representatives: Mayor Caitríona Jones 087 2034427 cjones@sdublincoco.ie
Joanna Tuffy T.D. 6183822 joanna.tuffy@oireachtas.ie
Robert Dowds T.D. 6183446 robert.dowds@oireachtas.ie
Cllr Eamon Tuffy 086 3863173 etuffy@sdublincoco.ie