North County Leader 13 August 2013

Page 1

NEED A TAXI?

The Newspaper with the

“My Parents know I’ll get home safe”

BIGGEST circulation in the North County

We Deliver We deliver A registered newspaper at the G.P.O.

Your Quality Local Newspaper

13th August 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 30 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie

Rail Project Threatens Metro North The recent news that Railway company Iarnrod Eireann plans to expand the stalled DART Underground project to include a link to Dublin Airport, has been met with shock from Swords representatives. They warn that this is being used as a rouge in order to shut down the Metro North project once and for all. This outcome would be “unacceptable, and of absolutely no benefit to commuters living in the North County.” The news came as the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) latest implementation plan revealed that the Dart project was being reviewed in 2015, while Metro North was omitted. Iarnrod Eireann said they plan to develop an integrated rail network which would allow rail passengers to travel from Howth Junction to the airport and into the city centre, however CEO of Dublin Fingal Chamber, Tony Lambert told Tony Lambert the County Leader that if anything, this would be a complete disadvantage to the people in Swords and all around the North County. “This tenuous proposal to to link a spur at Howth Junction on to Dublin Airport is plain nonsense,” he said. “This was investigated before, and Howth Junction doesn’t have the capacity to cater for such a frequent service to Dublin Airport. The thoughts of spending a huge amount of people’s money on a project that is simply not a reality, is a complete waste and doesn’t bare thinking about.” “The Fingal Dublin Chamber is calling on the Government to revisit Metro North proposals, and to see the benefits not only for Dublin Airport, but for the people of Swords and all around the North County,” he continued. Local Senator Darragh Senator O’Brien O’Brien, was equally disappointed to discover that Metro North was as he put it “forgotten about”, and said that the DART project was “in no way a substitute for the many benefits that Metro North would bring to the people of the North County.”

By Jennifer McShane “I was very alarmed to find that there was not one mention of Metro North in the NTA’s latest plan,” he said angrily. “It seems those currently in Government, have forgotten their pre-election promises to deliver the project. What we don’t want to see, and what is a worry is that if this goes ahead, it means the end of Metro North. The spur at Howth Junction is no use to anyone living in the locality.” Local TD Alan Farrell (FG), Deputy Farrell took a slightly different approach to the issue, and was reluctant to say whether the go ahead of the DART project, would mean the end of Metro North for good. “It’s not a case of choosing one over the other,” he insisted. “Metro North and DART Underground are both expensive, multi billion Euro projects that require huge state investment. There has been no change in government policy in relation to either project; funding for such infrastructure was not available prior to the general election in 2011, nor Cllr. Butler is it available today.” Local Councillor, Darragh Butler (FF), however, said that it was a very real worry, Continued on page 21

FREE PARKING

FASHION

DUBLIN’S LARGEST TESCO

Twenty four athletes have recently returned rom the 19th World Transplant Games in South Africa. Pictured here is Balbriggan man Colin White (team Manager), with local team member Peter Heffernan from Skerries, and fellow team members: Niall Quinn, James Reynolds and Harry Ward (Team Captain). See story on page 6

Big Changes At County Hall Major changes are underway in the North County with reports that County Manager, David O’Connor will be retiring at the end of the year. Your local newspaper has been told by reliable sources that the County Manager had the option of extending his contract with the Council five years into his contract but having opted not to take that offer, it is understood that the services of O’Connor are set to come to an end in November. The latest speculation comes on top of rumours that Michael Lorigan, Director of Services in the Council and the number two man on the Council management team under O’Connor, is planning on stepping down later this year, so too is P. J. Howell, Director of Services, Environment, Business and Enterprise. The North County’s local authority is mirroring the changes that are been seen in neighbouring districts. Dublin City Council Manager John Tierney resigned from his position to take up the post as Managing Director of Irish Water also known as Uisce Éireann. While Joe Horan retired as Dublin South County Manager last April. The speculated administration changes within the North County’s local authority come amidst a time of a substantial reorganisation in the way local authorities operate across the country. The

THE FAMILY FRIENDLY CAFÉS

TECHNOLOGY GADGETS AND GAMES

The Heart Of Shopping In Balbriggan Member of Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce and Fingal Dublin Chamber

McDONALDS

By Dawn-Marie Conaty introduction of water metering will see the provision of water services being shifted away from County Councils to Irish Water. The new organisation will also be tasked with collecting the water charge which is due to be introduced on an estimated usage basis from 2015 with the North County primed as being one of the last areas that recorded water metering will be introduced. The local property tax is also set to take a new twist with the local adjustment factor thought to come into play next year. The move will allow local authorities the option of imposing Manager, David O’Connor a 15 per cent increase on properties and with an 80 per cent transfer of the Local Property Tax being retained where the local authority payment was made, there is an added incentive for councils to impose the hike. A dramatic shift in local democracy is also on the cards in the North County with the number of County Councillors to increase from 24 to 40 in next year’s local elections as a result of the recommendations contained in the Constituency and Boundary Report. Such a rise in local representatives is likely to put greater pressure on the County Manager and Council officials to come to agreements on major issues including the yearly County budget. Local authorities are still under the hiring embargo however it is likely to be lifted in the case of a high profile position such as County Manager and in a time of great change within the North County many locals will be anxiously awaiting the appointment of O’Connor’s successor.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.