Agenda item

Emergency Motion from Councillor Chris Andrews

That this area committee supports the offer by Hibernia Reit to upgrade the pavement on the west side of Creighton Street as a matter of urgency before the end of the year in accordance with Dublin City Council requirements, as the company will be moving off site at the end of 2018 and the upgrading works may cost more to be carried out or may be significantly delayed. 

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 1 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee agrees to ask the manager to install additional bins along Nutley Lane, Donnybrook, as argued for cogently in the email submitted with this motion.

 

“For some time I have meant to talk to you about the litter on Nutley Lane. I need hardly tell you that the pedestrian traffic on the lane has increased significantly over time, but it has got much busier over the past year or so.

 

I think this arises from many more students on their way from Merrion Road (bus) and Sydney Parade (train) to UCD, increased shopping traffic to the Merrion Centre, RTE employees (which is very obvious in the mornings / evenings and especially at lunchtime on way to Merrion Centre, St. Michael’s students (more seem to be walking and getting bus) and of course the hospital traffic.

 

With that increase in people has come a very obvious increase in litter. I can’t tell you how often I have picked up RTE coffee cups, milk cartons etc.

 

Dermot, there is a need to improve the litter bin arrangements on the lane and this is mainly on the side where houses are, opposite Elm Park.  I suggest that there should be a bigger bin (or a second one) at the junction to Nutley Avenue (to cater for the stuff from the St. Michael’s boys on their to / from Merrion Centre.

 

There should be an additional bin at the entrance to Broc House.

 

There should also be an additional bin probably just below the entrance to RTE.

 

Finally, (on the opposite side) the bin close to the bus stop at the entrance to the hospital must be relocated.  Those standing in the bus shelter cannot see the bin as it is behind the "wall" at the side of the shelter with the result that the area is regularly littered and the bin there is far too small.  If it was a bigger bin and moved to a more visible position it would greatly improve the position.”

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 2 from Councillors Mary Freehill and Dermot Lacey

To reiterate the commitments made by this committee over the past 18 years that Dublin City Council reclaim Rathmines Town Hall for the people of Rathmines when the lease terminates in 2032.  The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) will move from their building across the road which gives the current occupiers of the Town Hall, the City of Dublin Education and Training Board an opportunity to occupy the Dublin Institute of Technology building.   Rathmines Town Hall was built in 1895 and functioned as the town hall for the people of Rathmines and even has a concert hall, until 1932 when the Rathmines Town Council was incorporated into Dublin Corporation.  When municipal districts were established it was agreed by this committee on several occasions that the town hall be reinstated so that we could establish a Municipal / Local Area Office in Rathmines and utilise the building for local residents.  This is an area that hasn’t even a community / assembly hall or a youth centre and has a population of 38,186.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 3 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That this committee receives a presentation on progress of reinstatement of 12 Lower. Fitzwilliam Street and a number of houses on Mount Street Lower.  This agreement was made with ESB at the time of their planning application for construction of their current offices.  It was agreed that these houses would be reinstated as dwellings and that this be done in conjunction with the Conservation and Planning Department of Dublin City Council.

 

Back in 2013/14 there was a considerable exodus from Georgian Dublin and the council was concerned about making these houses habitable and accessible for 21^st century living which is a challenge to our conservation laws.  At that time ESB agreed to co-operate with Dublin City Council to return these houses from offices to dwellings and that the process would act as a prototype and an opportunity to apply best practise to the interpretation of our conservation laws.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 4 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That the council prepares a design brief for the Gulistan site before a plan is prepared for any part of the site.   It is essential that the permeability through the area is set, that access is set out, heights and set back, the location of the Health Services Executive primary care centre, step down housing and general housing is indicated before any work commences on the site.  Also that consideration be given to conserving the two 19^th century stone buildings.  It is also agreed that this work will be done in consultation with local community groups in the interest of good planning and development practise for the area.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 5 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That a master plan be prepared for the Church of Ireland site on Upper Rathmines Road.  There are indications that development might be considered for this site and while it is zoned Z15, which means that in the event of change of use it would have to go before the council for consideration.   In the meantime if the owners of the site indicate to the council their interest in developing this site,  in the interest of good planning and development practise, this committee agrees that a  master plan be carried out, indicating permeability, general access, open space, heights and set back from existing buildings.  It is also agreed that this design would be carried out in consultation with the local residents’ groups.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 6 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That funding is included in the 2019 budget to update the play equipment in Harold’s Cross Park.   This park is extensively used by the surrounding community and the play equipment has not been updated for quite some time.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 7 from Councillor Chris Andrews

That this area committee requests that the manager stops the practice of collecting skips from the recycling centre at 5.45 in the morning a number of times per week on even sometimes Sunday morning as it is very disruptive to residents in the New Houses and Poolbeg Quay.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 8 from Councillor Chris Andrews

That this area committee agrees to install CCTV in Markievicz House as it would assist in addressing the problems in the complex

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 9 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this meeting of the South East Area Committee calls on Dublin City Council’s Heritage, Archaeology and Conservation Section and Dangerous Buildings Section to immediately investigate the dilapidated state of the national monument of Werburgh Street Church.  This building is now closed and the plaster work both externally and internally is crumbling and collapsing.  The railings at Werburgh Street are rusting and coming apart as are the steps that lead into the church.  Rain water is pouring in between the gaping cracks into the basement and it is now very obvious that this building is in need of urgent attention.  Given the nature and historical significance of this building and its association with the United Irishmen and Lord Edward Fitzgerald, that Dublin City Council intervene immediately and secure this building’s future.   It is absolutely inappropriate that such a significant building and a cultural icon be neglected and left in this state.  The state and the local council have an obligation here and a duty of care when it comes to such important architectural natural treasures.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 10 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this meeting of the South East Area Committee calls on Dublin City Council to initiate the setting up of a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme within the Mercer Street, York Street, Whitefriar Street, O’Carroll Villas, Bishop Street, Ross Road area.

 

This item came up at the recent public safety forum in Whitefriar Street and it was widely supported at that meeting as a positive step and a good way of dealing with the many issues within this area.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 11 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this area committee calls on Temple Bar Cultural Trust (TBCT) and Dublin City Council (DCC) to provide appropriate community centre facilities for its residents in the Temple Bar area.  Temple Bar area has approximately 3,500 residents, a substantial portion of these residents are Dublin City Council tenants with families etc.  At present there are absolutely no amenities for these residents and their families, there is not even a play area for the children.  In this day and age this is unacceptable and with the immediate arrival of a new build at Fishamble Street which is going to add to the families in this area now is the time for DCC to commit to providing a facility for the sole use of the community within the area.  Temple Bar Cultural Trust has many properties in its portfolio and indeed many of the cultural institutes are belonging to DCC through TBCT.  It is time that these facilities were shared with the local community and residents within the Temple Bar area on an equal basis.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 12 from Councillor Frank Kennedy

At the Dublin City Council meeting in October 2018, I asked the following question and received the response which follows:

 

“Q.42  At the South East Area Committee meeting in September 2017, in excess of one year ago, I asked the following question and received the following response:

Q.68    Councillor Frank Kennedy

To ask the Manager to address the very dangerous crack on the pavement outside No. 176 Merrion Road as shown in the photo sent by separate e-mail.

 

Reply:

This will be added to our works list and arrangements will be made to carry out a repair here.”

 

Repairs not having been carried out, at the South East Area Committee meeting in January 2018 I asked the following question and received the following response

 

“Q33.  Councillor Frank Kennedy

With regard to the answer provided to question 68 of the September 2017 South East Area Committee meeting, to ask the manager when this repair will be effected and to do so as a matter of urgency. It is extremely dangerous. Please see attached very recent photo of the locus. There is (a) broken footpath, and (b) an extremely dangerous lip on the footpath which could result in catastrophic falls.

 

Reply:

This defect is logged in our Asset Management System and will be repaired when a crew is available.

 

As of September 2018, these repairs have still not been carried out. The two attached photographs, taken on 8 September 2018, show the deplorable and highly dangerous condition of this footpath, which is used with immense frequency, particularly by senior citizens who use these traffic lights to cross Merrion Road in order to access St Vincent’s University Hospital. With respect, the response to this issue (i.e. none tangible) has been disgraceful. It is an extremely dangerous strip of footpath at an extraordinarily busy junction used by some of the most vulnerable pedestrians in the City. To ask the Chief Executive to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out at this location immediately.

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPLY:

This defect will be repaired when a crew is available. Defects are prioritised in our Asset Management System according to their severity and their location.”

 

In light of (a) the appalling and dangerous condition of the footpath in question [see two photos attached], (b) the length of time since the request to repair it was first made, and (c) the fact that the scale of the job is a relatively small one in the overall context, this Area Committee rejects the non-committal reply given by the Chief Executive at the October 2018 DCC meeting and calls upon the Manager to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out at this location immediately.

 

               

 

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 13 from Councillor Frank Kennedy

At the South East Area Committee (SEAC) in June 2017 I asked the following question:

 

“Q.74  To ask the manager to install a pedestrian crossing on Leahy’s Terrace at the location shown in the attached photographs. This is an essential addition to the traffic management in this area in circumstances where it would be the only point at which children coming from Sandymount Village to St. Matthew’s National School and children coming from Ringsend / Irishtown / Bath Avenue to Star of the Sea National School would be able to cross safely from one side of Leahy’s Terrace to the other."

 

In order to ensure an expeditious response, following a subsequent special South East Area traffic meeting for local councillors, I chose this question as one of my two priority items for urgent reply.  At the March 2018 Traffic Advisory Group (TAG) meeting, there was a positive response to my question, as recorded in the TAG minutes – please see items 15 and 16 on the attached screenshot of the TAG Report provided in the agenda pack for the March 2018 SEAC.   At the March 2018 SEAC both Cllr. Lacey and I sought a timeframe for implementation.  It was stated that, subject to financing the recommendations would be implemented in 2018. However, eight months later and as 2018 draws to a close, these recommendations have not been implemented.  In light of the grave safety risks to children at this location, this committee resolves that these recommendations of TAG shall be implemented before year end 2018.

 

            

 

 

 

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 14 from Councillor Chris Andrews

That this area committee supports the installation of a fenced designated dog running area in Ringsend Park, similar to the one in St. Anne’s Park in Raheny, and that the manager will start the process of installing the dog area.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 15 from Councillor Patrick Costello

That this committee agrees to write to local Gardaí requesting better enforcement in relation to the issue of illegal parking in cycle lanes.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 16 from Councillor Patrick Costello

That this committee calls on the manager to put double yellow lines on the inside corner of Mount Argus View where there is often dangerous parking blocking the view of the corner. While it is not policy to put double yellows on corners such a response is not acceptable in this case as other corners close by have double yellow lines meaning many motorists believe that parking is in fact allowed on this corner.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 17 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the area manager to introduce a ban on single use plastics at public events within the south east area.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 18 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the area manager to arrange for immediate leaf clearing and gully cleaning in the following locations:

 

1.     Shelbourne Road between Lansdowne Road and Haddington Road

2.     The Grand Canal between Grand Canal Street Bridge and Mount Street Bridge

3.     Grand Canal Street Upper

4.     Haddington Road (south side from Shelbourne Road to Northumberland Road

5.     Clanwilliam Place

6.     Warrington Place

 

I have received a number of complaints from residents, including a resident who is visually impaired. Can the manager ensure that these areas are cleared on a more frequent basis throughout the autumn and winter months?

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 19 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the area manager to work with the public realm officer and the Arts Office to identify walls within the south east area that would be suitable for street art and murals.

Order: Report to councillor.