Agenda and minutes

In Memorium

The Lord Mayor extended her sympathies to Councillor Tom Brabazon on the passing of his mother Deirdre last week.   She also extended her sympathies to the family and friends of the former Dublin City Manager Frank Feely who passed away recently. 

The Lord Mayor also acknowledged the 1^st Anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and reiterated that Dublin City Council condemns this invasion and stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

A minute silence was observed.

On behalf of all Councillors, the Lord Mayor paid tribute to John O Hara, Dublin City Planning Officer, who will be retiring later this month.   John has worked in Dublin City Council for 25 years with responsibility for advising the Chief Executive and the elected members on strategic planning policy for the City, principally through the Development Plan, SDZ’s, LAP’s and the output of over 3000 decisions on planning applications per year which included the recent 2022-2028 Development Plan. 

The Lord Mayor also extended her congratulations to Mary Conway, Deputy City Planner who will also be retiring at the end of this month.  Mary has been at the head of Development Management for over 10 years working in all facets of planning for Dublin City Council shaping the Development Management of the city with integrity and professionalism.  In her time in Planning she has introduced Special Schemes of planning for O Connell Street and Grafton Street.

The Lord Mayor reminded Members that she will be hosting the Lord Mayor’s Charity Ball on Saturday 13^th May 2023 at 7pm in the Round Room of the Mansion House.  Three very worthy charities will benefit from the proceeds of the Ball – Children in Hospital, AsIAm and The Capuchin Day Centre.

Two Emergency Motions were received calling on the Minister for Housing to extend the ban on evictions.  While not allowing these motions under Standing Orders, it was agreed with Group Leaders to allow each Group to make a statement on the topic for 2 minutes.

It was moved by Councillor Vincent Jackson and seconded by Councillor Declan Meenagh that Dublin City Council approves the Dublin Chief Executive answering the questions lodged. The motion having been put and carried, written answers to the  questions lodged for the City Council meeting were issued. The Questions and Answers are set out in Appendix A to these minutes.

? Wicklow County Council

? Sligo County Council

? Cavan County Council

? Kerry County Council

It was proposed by Councillor Joe Costello and seconded by Councillor Anthony Connaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of all correspondence listed. The motion was put and carried.

It was requested by Councillor Joe Costello that the following motion received from Sligo County Council be referred to the protocol committee.  The motion was agreed.

“That this council write to the Minister for Communication and Justice seeking the introduction of legislation at an EU level so that social media accounts are traceable to people operating them. This would immediately stop anonymous abuse, online bullying and trolling.”   

The minutes of the City Council meeting held on 13^th February 2022 having been
printed, certified by the Meetings Administrator, circulated to the Members and taken
as read, were signed by the Lord Mayor

It was proposed by Councillor Cieran Perry and seconded by Councillor Vincent Jackson that the filling of the vacancy on the City of Dublin Education and Training Board following the resignation of Cllr. John Lyons on the 16^th February 2023 should be deferred to the next council meeting.  The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Declan Flanagan and seconded by Councillor Anthony Connaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 64/2023 and hereby approves the contents therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Ray McAdam and seconded by Councillor Joe Costello that Report No. 70/2023 be referred to the Area Committee before returning to Council for approval.  The motion was put and carried.  

It was proposed by Councillor Vincent Jackson and seconded by Councillor Declan Flanagan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report no. 61/2023 and approves the contents therein.  The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Declan Meenagh and seconded by Councillor Vincent Jackson that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 47/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Declan Meenagh and seconded by Councillor Vincent Jackson that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 69/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Joe Costello and seconded by Councillor Anthony Connaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 62/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

Councillor Tom Brabazon declared a business interest in this report and Councillor Daryl Barron declared a conflict of interest in this report and recused himself from the meeting until the matter had been dealt with.

It was proposed by Councillor Micheál Mac Donnacha and seconded by Councillor Keith Connolly that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 55/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Noeleen Reilly and seconded by Councillor Anthony Connaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 49/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Noeleen Reilly and seconded by Councillor Anthony Connaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 50/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Daryl Barron and seconded by Councillor Alison Gilliland that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 51/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Daryl Barron and seconded by Councillor Alison Gilliland that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 54/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Alison Gilliland and seconded by Councillor Mícheál MacDonncha that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 60/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Alison Gilliland and seconded by Councillor Mícheál MacDonncha that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 56/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí and seconded by Councillor Declan Flanagan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 57/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí and seconded by Councillor Declan Flanagan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 58/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí and seconded by Councillor Declan Flanagan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 59/2023 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

The following motion to amend Report No.63/2023 was proposed by Councillor James Geoghegan and seconded by Councillor Danny Byrne, Councillor Colm O’Rourke, Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí, Councillor Ray Mc Adam, Councillor Pat McCartan, Councillor Anne Feeney, Councillor Declan Flanagan, Councillor Terence Flanagan  “In relation to Point 10 (The following development will not be required to pay development contributions under the scheme) include the 2 bullet points below

·         Ancillary uncovered surface car parking;

·         Residential ancillary car parking;

In relation to Point 11 (The following development will be liable for a reduced rate of development contributions under the scheme) delete

      Residential ancillary car parking will be calculated at 25% of the applicable rate of contribution and insert:

      “Commercial non-surface and undercroft ancillary car parking will be calculated at 75% of the applicable rate of contribution”

Reason: To charge for residential ancillary development will prohibit development of essential residential accommodation and to increase from 50% to 100% for commercial ancillary carparking would prohibit development.”

The motion was put to a vote and defeated. A copy of this vote is attached in Appendix C to these minutes.

It was then proposed by Councillor Vincent Jackson and seconded by Councillor Anthony Connaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No 63/2023 and hereby approves the proposals set out therein to make the Section 48 Development Contribution Scheme 2023-2026.The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Donna Cooney and seconded by Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha that Report no. 71/2023  be deferred to the next council meeting.  The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Vincent Jackson and seconded by Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 66/2023. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Noeleen O’Reilly and seconded by Councillor Paddy McCartan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 53/2023. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Declan Flanagan and seconded by Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 65/2023. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Declan Flanagan and seconded by Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 44/2023. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Michael Pigeon and seconded by Councillor Joe Costello that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 46/2023. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Daithí Doolan and seconded by Councillor Dermot Lacey that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 45/2023. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Deirdre Heney and seconded by Councillor Daithí Doolan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 48/2023. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Alison Gilliland and seconded by Councillor Donna Cooney that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 68/2023. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Paddy McCartan and seconded by Councillor Dermot Lacey that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 52/2023. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Deirdre Heney and seconded by Councillor Joe Costello that Dublin City Council adopts the contents of Report No. 67/2023 The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Deirdre Heney and seconded by Councillor Joe Costello that Dublin City Council adopts the contents of Report No. 72/2023 The motion was put and carried.

The following Topical Issues were submitted for discussion:

1.    Childcare classed as an educator 

2.    A Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin

Both topical issues were put to a vote and failed to receive the necessary 2/3 support from the Members present. Full details of the vote can found in Appendix B to these minutes.

1)    Motion in the name of Councillor Cat O’Driscoll and seconded by Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy

This Council agrees to programme a series of events in the Fruit and Vegetable market, making it available to community and creative groups on an interim basis while a long term plan for the structure is determined. Performance, exhibition and rehearsal space in the city is not adequate and as a capital city more spaces are needed for culture.

The motion was put and carried

2)    Motion in the name of Tom Brabazon was deferred to next council meeting.

3)    Motion in the name of Councillor Keith Connolly and seconded by Councillor Deirdre Heney

That this Council rejects the recent changes in the grass cutting contract and that Dublin City Council will arrange for grass verges to be cut outside individual’s homes.

The motion was put and carried.

It was suggested by the Deputy Chief Executive, Richard Shakespeare and agreed by members that a representative group of elected members attend a workshop in the coming weeks to discuss this issue.

4)    Motion in the name of Councillor Janet Horner and seconded by Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy

That Dublin City Council agrees to develop a strategy to eliminate footpath parking in the city recognising that while it is currently an offence, it is widespread throughout the city and represents a significant obstacle and threat to the safety of all who use the streets but most especially people with disabilities and those using buggies or prams.

The motion was put and carried. 

There were no Emergency Motions taken for debate.