Agenda item

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL

SOUTH EAST AREA COMMITTEE

MEETING DATE 08^th APRIL 2024

 

Motion 1 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This Committee agrees, in the context of Dublin City Council being the owner of the former Station House at Merrion Gates to give consideration to naming the station "Merrion Halt" as per the suggestion made in the email submitted with this Motion.

‘It would indeed be wonderful to see the building refurbished and repurposed.....and great too if it could be named 'Merrion Halt' in any new manifestation in honour of the old station....and indeed be clearly indicated that its address is Merrion.

Despite Merrion being older than Ballsbridge, Sandymount etc. and indeed mentioned by name by James Joyce - Estate Agents (and new home buyers) are trying to wipe Merrion off the map by claiming they live in Ballsbridge or Sandymount.

Order: Report to Councillor

 

Motion 2 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This Committee agrees to request Irish Rail to give consideration to reopening the Station at Merrion Gates for reasons including those stated in the details circulated with this motion.

Indeed - given that the Council is interested in reducing private traffic / the development of the 15 minute city - are you aware  by any chance as to whether consideration has ever been given by TFI/Irish Rail to reinstating  'Merrion Hall' as a new DART?

 

Given:

 

1. The redevelopment of the old Tara Tower Hotel into a Maldron Hotel

2. The new apartments built around Bellevue Avenue,

3. The huge existing office/residential campus that is Elm Park (directly opposite Merrion Gates)

4. The significant new additional residential development currently being built in Elm Park (due I think to come on-line later this year)

5. The apartments scheduled to be built at the former Gowan Compound site

6. The scope for further significant development of the remaining convent lands into the future

It would seem to be that there could perhaps be a case for the 'rebirth' of the Merrion Halt station.

Indeed St Vincent's Private hospital and the existing residences/businesses between Merrion Gates and Herbert Avenue  would all be closer to any such new station than they are to Sydney Parade.

Order: Report to Councillor

 

Motion 3 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This Committee requests the Manager to have Rugby Road, Ranelagh assessed for full road maintenance of the carriageway and included in the works programme. As a traffic calming measure and for environmental improvement the Committee also requests the Manager to prepare for implementation a plan to widen the footpath at the entrance to the road and to provide for some tree planting at that widened point.

Order: Report to Councillor

 

Motion 4 from Councillor James Geoghegan

To ask the area manager if he can arrange a street clean and sweep of Fairfield Park, Rathgar, Dublin 6 and if he can identify how often this street has is cleaned each year and if it could be added to a more regular rota.

Order: Noted

 

Motion 5 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

To ask the Traffic Department to consider extending the Yellow Box on Eglinton Road, Donnybrook, as outlined in the drawing submitted with this Motion.

Order: Report to Councillor

 

Motion 6 from Councillors James Geoghegan and Anne Feeney

That the South East Area Committee agrees that the Traffic Department in Dublin City Council shall carry out a local public consultation in advance of introducing any turn ban in the Ranelagh area, should An Bord Pleanála approve the Templeogue Rathfarnham BusConnects corridor.

Order: Agreed

 

Motion 7 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This Committee requests the Management to:

·         Issue a detailed set of drawings to illustrate the requested changes required by the NTA to implement the Templelogue/ Rathfarnham Bus Connects Plan in so far as it impacts on the Ranelagh area.

·         Commit to an active consultation programme with the local community to be agreed with Councillors on any changes sought.

·         Commit to not implementing any such changes until such consultation has taken place and discussed at a meeting of the Area Committee.

Order: Agreed

 

Motion 8 from Councillor Pat Dunne

This area committee asks our Derelict Site Section to inspect the site of a proposed Nursing Home at lands on Saint Agnes Convent, Armagh Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12. Planning ref (Details Supplied) and APB ref (Details Supplied). The APB approved planning permission with a provision that permission is limited to a five year planning permission.

The 120 Independent Older Persons Apartments have been built and have been resided in for over 3 years. No work has been undertaken on the nursing home section of these lands. This site was surrounded by hoarding which blew down during a storm and the entire site is strewn with building material and rubbish. The residents in the Independent Older Persons units have to endure looking directly onto this derelict site.

In addition to the above the residents in the Older Persons complex which is managed by FOLD report that the general maintenance of the complex is below the standards that they were told would be provided. There are no communal facilities. Street Lamp units broken and left lying on the ground for two years. One broken lamp unit thrown behind shrubbery for two years. Flower beds neglected and unsightly. In addition gates broken for three years. Doors to outdoor gas meter cabinet’s broken and left open to the elements for two years. There are no bike parking stands.

Given that DCC nominated all the residents to this AHB development we are asking that FOLD be asked to address these issues.

Order: Report to Councillor

 

Motion 9 from Councillor James Geoghegan

That the South East Area committee agrees to write to the Board of management of Muckross Park College, and the chief executive of Le Chéile Schools Trust, requesting Muckross to amend their enrolment policy and remove the cap of 40 places for St Mary's girls starting secondary school in 2025/2026 (the current 5th Class) and give the option of a place to all girls who are currently in 5th class in St Mary’s school, which only marginally exceeds 40 places and where this change would represent a transitional measure in advance of the new enrolment policy in respect of all local feeder schools in the area coming into place.

Order: Agreed

 

Motion 10 from Councillor Hazel Chu

With regards to the various no right turn restrictions proposed for Ranelagh in the Templelogue / Rathfarnham to City Centre BusConnects Corridor scheme, that Dublin City Council Traffic Department undertake a local public information and engagement programme when An Bord Pleanála have made a decision on the Templelogue / Rathfarnham to City Centre BusConnects Corridor scheme application. Additionally that alternative measures be thought of and implemented by the DCC Traffic Department on the area in line with the planning application and decision.

For example the planning application does not specify exact times of said turns, can the hours of them be reduced to peak hours only. Can the turn be Ashfield be the one implemented rather than all the proposed.  The aim of course is to ensure we have increased public transport, minimise rat run from the changes but also ensure people especially those with mobility issues and those supporting the local elderly community living within the area have direct access.

Order: Agreed

 

Motion 11 from Councillor Hazel Chu

That this area committee request Irish Water attends the next area committee or a special meeting of the area committee to explain the following.

1) The various works ongoing and how they are contributing to low to extremely low pressure water supply to certain areas in the South East Area such as Marlborough Road, Wellington Road, Nutley Park, Nutley Avenue and other affected areas in the South East Area.

2) Their complaint procedure and what is done with the many complaints from residents of the above areas.

Order: Agreed

 

Motion 12 from Councillor Hazel Chu

That this area committee agrees that the manager writes to Greyhound waste to ask them to facilitate better rubbish collection facilities for the residents of Gulistan cottage. Currently the waste is in bags left on the pavement outside the Rathmines Bring Centre for Greyhound to collect. However wild creatures tear up said bags and the pavement are then left strewn with rubbish, this is becomes an issue for the depot staff and the residents. This motion is to get the manager to write to Greyhound to implement a large storage bin or collapsible bin solution especially as the weather gets better.

Order: Agreed

 

Motion 13 from Councillor Daniel Ceitinn

That the Chief Executive will give an update to the Area Committee regarding the establishment of an oversight committee or similar for the Poolbeg West SDZ pursuant to the commitment given at the previous Area Committee meeting in March.

Order: Report to Councillor. Further report to May meeting.

 

Motion 14 from Councillor Fiona Connelly

At a community litter meeting a survey was presented which found that the majority of dog owners pick up after their pet. I would like to request an alternative research into the impact of dog fouling on footpath users. I believe that dog owners will answer surveys declaring that they are picking up after their dogs where in fact it is not the case as the footpaths are covered in dog dirt. Could a survey be conducted on a broader reach as I know that it would be a more accurate indicator of responsible dog ownership.

Order: Report to Councillor

 

Motion 15 from Councillor Fiona Connelly

            Rathmines post office is currently zoned as z4.

We would like this committee to request that the Chief Executive use their authority to rezone it as z15 preserving it as a civic amenity.

The plan to sell off Rathmines Post office to the private sector has to be resisted. The post office was built in 1934 by The State to provide a Public Service to Rathmines.

 

This committee asks the Council to agree to refer the issue to the CE requesting that he commences the process of rezoning this Protected Building to Z15 to protect its public ownership.

Order: Agreed

 

Motion 16 from Councillor Carolyn Moore

This area committee notes the conclusion of the commercial ‘BagBin’ trial in Dublin City Centre and awaits with interest the council’s assessment of the benefits and risks associated with BagBins, compared to having loose bags on the street. This committee further agrees that a residential ‘BagBin’ trial should now take place in the South East Area and proposes Harold’s Cross Cottages as an ideal location to trial the benefits and risks of ‘BagBins’ for residents with a derogation on wheelie bin use. 

Order: Report to Councillor

 

Motion 17 from Councillor Carolyn Moore

This area committee agrees that a review of Dublin City Council’s Advertising and Signage strategy should be initiated with a view to establishing if the permitted luminosity for digital, back lit and other illuminated signage is appropriate given the perceived intensity of these new light sources; their impact on residential properties; and their cumulative impact where clusters of digital advertising occur and present multiple visual distractions and sources of glare.

Order: Report to Councillor

 

Motion 18 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this Area Committee calls on the Area Manager to outline the following in relation to the new loading bay

o   What steps were taken that resulted in the installation a loading bay on

o   Portobello Harbour?

o   Was this proposed by or agreed with Dublin City Council?

o   How was this agreed without notifying the local Cllrs or the local community?

o   How is this not in breach of the planning permission?

o   How long is it intended to stay there?

o   How does the loading bay impact on the redesign plans?

o   How is it that the loading bay can be installed yet we are still waiting a full year for the new plans for the redesign of the plaza?

Order: Noted.

 

Motion 19 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this Area Committee calls on the Area Manager to give consideration to the measures outlined in the documents provided by the local residents group to improve the walkability and cylcelabiity of the Camden Street West Area.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 20 from Councillor Danny Byrne

That this area committee agrees that there should be a prioritisation of local people in the allocation of both social and affordable, where it be for sale or rent, at the recently acquired (Details Supplied) Fitzwilliam Quay, Ringsend.

Order: Report to Councillor.