Agenda and minutes

1.         The Lord Mayor opened the meeting by congratulating former colleagues who were elected to Dáil Éireann a week ago and commiserating with those who were not successful.  She informed the Members that a meeting to co-opt six new members to Dublin City Council would be held at 6.15pm on Wednesday 16th March 2016 in the Council Chamber.

She then referred to the issue of Modular Housing and said that following the Housing SPC meeting held Monday 29th February when a timeline was given to the Members of the SPC, a subsequent article appeared in the Irish Times on Wednesday 2nd March advising of a delay to the process. 

She said she had spoken with the Chief Executive to convey her and the Member’s anger, frustration and disappointment that there was no mention of the need to advertise the tender competition again in relation to modular housing at the Housing SPC meeting.  She has requested a full update on this matter which will be given after the Emergency Motions.

The Lord Mayor then requested approval of the City Council for the attendance of Members at the National Planning Conference 2016, organised by the Irish Planning Institute, taking place on 14th and 15th April 2016 in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.  This was approved.

The Lord Mayor then announced that following her meeting with the Group Leaders on Friday 26th February and the Corporate Policy Group / Group Leaders earlier, she was formally proposing that Fr. Joseph Mallin SJ be admitted to the Honorary Freedom of Dublin and that his name be entered in the Roll of Honour. 

She then gave a brief resume of Fr. Joseph who is the last surviving child of an executed leader of the 1916 Rising.  His Father Michael Mallin was in command of the Garrisons at St. Stephen’s Green and Royal College of Surgeons and was executed in Kilmainham Gaol on 8th May 1916.  Fr Joseph joined the Jesuit Order and travelled to Hong Kong and Macau where he led a very varied apostolic life, successfully doing the job of minister in the community, Mission Bursar, Director of a Social Centre, Secondary School Teacher, Headmaster of Pun Yu Primary School in Hong Kong and Principal of Ricci College in Macau.  

She said that Fr. Mallin keeps in regular contact with his Irish relatives, writing in a beautiful old Irish script and keeps up to date with Irish and Chinese current affairs.  He last visited Ireland to celebrate his 90th birthday but now considers Hong Kong his home.  He is a man of few words, but of many loving actions and has devoted his life to serving God and the people of Hong Kong and Macau.  The Freedom of the City acknowledges and celebrates this work and his family’s connection to the Easter 1916 Rising which we commemorate this year.

The Lord Mayor then proposed the following resolution which was seconded by Councillor V Jackson and agreed by the City Council “That the Honorary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

It was moved by Councillor R McAdam and seconded by Councillor R McGinley “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of this letter”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor C Burke and seconded by Councillor R McGinley “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 74/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor N Reilly and seconded by Councillor V Jackson “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 68/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor S McGrattan and seconded by Councillor V Jackson “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 92/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor D Lacey and seconded by Councillor R McGinley “That Councillors C Cuffe and C Andrews be appointed as members to represent Dublin City Council on the Board of Ringsend Toll Bridge Designated Activity Company”. The motion was put and carried.

It was agreed to defer this appointment until the April City Council meeting.

Members were reminded that there was a revised report issued on Friday, 4th March, in relation to the Housing portion of this Monthly Management Report. It was proposed by Councillor C Burke and seconded by Councillor J Boylan “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 65/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor S Mc Grattan and seconded by Councillor L O’Toole “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 67/2016 and hereby approves the Community Scheme 2016 as set out therein ”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor P McCartan and seconded by Councillor R McGinley “That Dublin City Council hereby approves the contents of Report No 91/2016.in relation to the Development Contribution Scheme”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor M Mac Donncha and seconded by Councillor N Ring “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 73/2016 and hereby approves the naming of the East Link Bridge as Tom Clarke Bridge”. The motion was put and carried.

Accordingly, it was proposed by Councillor N Ring and seconded by Councillor M Mac Donncha “In view of the acceptance by the Commemorative Naming Committee of my proposal (supported by the Tom Clarke Memorial Committee and relatives of Tom Clarke) to have the City Council owned East-Link Bridge renamed the Tom Clarke Bridge in honour of the executed leader of the 1916 Rising, the Members agree that, in order to appropriately mark the renaming of the bridge, Dublin City Council will allocate sufficient funds from the 1916 commemorations budget and/or toll income to:

Ø  Fund a clean up and lighting of the bridge

Ø  Erect suitable and prominent signage on the bridge indicating its new name

Ø  cUndertake a publicity campaign to inform the public of the new name

Ø  Fund public competition for the design of a suitable memorial to Tom Clarke and/or 1916 on the green area at the toll booths

Ø  Fund the erection of the winning memorial in partnership with the Tom Clarke Memorial Committee

Ø  Fund an official renaming ceremony.

The motion was put and carried.

It was moved by Councillor B Carr and seconded by Councillor T Keegan “That We, the Lord Mayor and Members of Dublin City Council, being the Roads Authority for the City of Dublin and being of the opinion that the Public Right of Way to the rear of 1-29 Kinvara Road, 3-55 Kinvara Avenue, and rear of 35-45 Kinvara Park, Dublin 7, as shown on the attached Drawing No 36468, is no longer required for public use, extinguish the public right of way in accordance with Section 73 of the Roads Act 1993” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 89/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 75/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 76/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 77/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 78/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried. Councillor N Reilly declared an interest in this item and withdrew from the Chamber for the duration of the discussion.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 79/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 80/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 81/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 82/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 83/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 84/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 85/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor V Jackson and seconded by Councillor C Burke “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 86/2016 and assents to the proposal outlined therein” The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor N Reilly and seconded by Councillor V Jackson “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 62/2016”. The motion was put and carried. Referring to Item 2 on this breviate, the Members asked when the report on the Special Committee for Emergency Services would be available and they were informed that it would be presented to the April City Council Meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor P Hand and seconded by Councillor T Keegan “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 66/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor N Reilly and seconded by Councillor E Murphy “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 72/2016”. The motion was put and carried

It was proposed by Councillor C O’Moore and seconded by Councillor J Boylan “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 70/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor C Cuffe and seconded by Councillor P McCartan “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 87/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor G Kelly and seconded by Councillor V Jackson “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 90/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor P McCartan and seconded by Councillor R McGinley “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 64/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor D Lacey and seconded by Councillor T Keegan “That Dublin City Council approves Report No 63”. The motion was put and carried. Councillor S McGrattan thanked all those involved in securing the return of Na Fianna banner for the 1916 commemoration ceremonies. 

It was proposed by Councillor J Boylan and seconded by Councillor R McAdam “That Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 88/2016”. The motion was put and carried.

“That Dublin City Council views the delay in the modular unit building programme with deep concern and that, in order to avail of a broader choice and availability within the housing market, and utilising its powers under Section 179(6)(b) of the Planning and Development Act,2000 as amended (Non requirement for full planning permission procedures by a local authority whereby a situation arises that ' is necessary for dealing urgently with any situation which the manager considers is an emergency situation calling for immediate action’), it considers including in its re-issued tender description for rapid build units for homeless emergency accommodation both modular units and permanent (bricks and mortar) units” The motion was put and carried.

“That the Members of Dublin City Council calls on the Executive to provide a report on the proposed plans by the Executive of Dublin City Council to provide 500 modular houses in the city. That the City Council requests the following information be supplied relating to the decision to acquire the first numbers of units.

a.         What was the tendering process adopted by the Executive in the decision to             procure the first 150 units, which represents 30% of the overall spent in this             project ?

b.         What was the criteria used in selecting the suppliers of said houses?

c.         The names of the supplier/suppliers selected to provide said houses?

d.         The cost per unit of the house prior to installation?

e.         The cost per unit for installation on the proposed sites?

f.          Was there a cost benefit analysis carried out by the Executive in the provision         of these type of houses compared to the more traditional timber framed           houses and if so could the Chief Executive provide a copy of same to any      member of the City Council?

g.         Has the Executive entered into any agreement with the selected suppliers of           the initial number of houses to provide any future number of units and if so        could that information be provided.

Taking into account the sizeable amount of capital expenditure which the provision of these units represents to the City, will the Chief Executive be making a statement addressing the mounting disquiet which this project is generating in the areas where the proposed houses are being designated. Will he also explain the manner in which the decision was made to acquire this type of house in preference to the more traditional structure”