Edenmore/Donaghmede – Elaine Mulvenny (Report to follow)
Clongriffin – Vanessa Carey (Report to follow)
Darndale – Deirdre Murphy (Report to follow)
Minutes:
Order: Elaine Mulvenny and Deirdre Murphy updated the Committee on the local safety forums. Vanessa Carey had sent her apologies; Clongriffin/Belmayne report was circulated after the Agenda.
Order: Elaine advised The Edenmore Safer Forum was held on the 17th of January and the 21st of March and attended well by the local community on both occasions. At the January meeting Garda Eoin Beatty informed residents the Garda Clinic in Edenmore has been opened 36 times since it started. It was agreed at this meeting that Garda Beatty would notify the community group a few hours in advance of the clinic being open in order for them to advertise it on social media (this is now in practice). Cllr Gilliland commended the Garda Clinic in Edenmore and how it was a great addition to the community. There are two Community Garda assigned to Edenmore. Residents have expressed safety concerns regarding the drug problems, and anti-social behaviour issues of some tenants, the Area Housing Manager and Project Estate Officers will look into this anti-social behaviour
The Donaghmede Safety Forum was held on the 10th of January and 14th of March and is continued to be well supported by the local community. Most incidents of anti-social behaviour are concentrated around Howth Junction Dart Station, with the lift being a particular problem. However, the North Central Area has an excellent relationship with Iarnród Eireann and continues to work in conjunction with them and the Garda to resolve and alleviate the problems. The new lift system that is now in operation at the station is an example of this success. The volume of traffic and pedestrian safety issues regarding the Hole-in-the Wall roundabout in Donaghmede remain a source of major concern. The Grange Abbey residents have expressed their concerns around this issue due to the new development on the former Columban Missionary site.
Deirdre advisedJoy-riding and burning out of cars continues to be a major issue in Darndale and a cause of concern for the residents. Since Christmas the Public Order Unit is deployed in Darndale every Thursday – Sunday. This issue has been raised at the JPC Local Strategic meetings where Superintendent Donnelly suggested if using pre-cast concrete barriers like those used during road and motorway works could form part of a solution to this ongoing criminal behaviour. A meeting is to be arranged in the coming weeks with the transportation department and the local Parks Management to ascertain if these can be used. If such barriers are available it is proposed to trial this arrangement for a period at one of the worst access sites in the vicinity of resident’s homes. Deirdre has been in contact with Roads Construction regarding the request for 4 new chicanes to go on the road from the Bell Building up as far as the dressing rooms in Tulip.
. Cllr Moran advised that residents are living in fear of joyriding, Cllr Gilliland spoke about the culprits wearing balaclavas to avoid detection. Ardmheara Mícheál Mac Donncha queried flexibility in terms of resources to prevent the anti-social behaviour. Superintendent Donnelly advised when patrol cars respond they are being smashed and stoned mostly by onlookers and the audience. That is why the Public Order Unit is in place for the last 5 months Thursday – Sunday. In this time 62 cars were seized under Section 41, 42 stolen cars recovered and 3 seized. Cllr O’Moore spoke about the request at the last JPC for extra resources. Chief Superintendent Curran advised there are 40 new Garda in the last 4 months recruited and there will be another 40 in June, altogether over the next 9 months there will be 80 new recruits. Cllr Mahon asked how may garda have been lost and how getting extra garda doesn’t seem to be resolving the issue. Chief Superintendent Curran confirmed 10 or 15 have been lost and also it takes time to train the new recruits. Cllr O’Toole spoke about the design of the new houses in Moatview and if there is a link between the cameras in Darndale and Coolock. Aidan spoke about how the CCTV in Darndale is being enhanced and a link will be re-established back to Coolock Garda Station in the next week or so. Aidan will liaise with Superintendent Donnelly regarding this. Cllr O Toole also asked about scrambler bikes – where are they coming from, Superintendent Donnelly advised they are bought as Christmas presents or stolen. Dave Dinnigan advised it is difficult for the guards, they solve the issues in one area and the perpetrators move on to another, don’t want the road network in Darndale looking like a hostile environment. Dave will speak with Deirdre regarding setting up a’ campaign regarding scrambler bikes’ coming up to Christmas. . Aidan also spoke about the formal process to interview tenants regarding anti-social behaviour and any reports received are dealt with formally.