I hope this email finds you well and that you are looking forward to the Christmas Break! This is just a short round-up of matters I have been working on over the past while. I am also pleased to say that I have been nominated by Fianna Fáil to seek re-election as a councillor for Palmerstown-Fonthill LEA in next year’s local election. I’m looking forward to continuing my walkabouts in the New Year.
As ever, please feel free to get in touch on any of the below matters, or follow my updates onFacebook,InstagramandTwitter. I wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas and a Joyous New Year!
Nollaig Shona,
Shane
Meeting Commissioner Drew Harris of An Garda Siochána
As Chairperson of the South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee, I washonoured to welcome Commissioner Drew Harrisof An Garda Siochána to our November meeting. I took the opportunity to raise issues with the Commissioner around Garda resourcing, retention, specialist units, including the potential for redrawing the Ronanstown Garda district to include all of Palmerstown and the use of drones to identify illegally held scramblers. These requests are now being assessed by Garda management.
Council budget of €340 million passed
In November,South Dublin County Council voted to adopt its Budget for 2024. This is the largest budget in the lifetime of this Council of €340 million and something which has been achieved without increasing Local Property Tax, Rates or Rents. I secured a number of priorities as part of the budget process, including protection of front-line services across the Council, record levels of investment in housing and housing maintenance and significant investment in tree maintenance, footpath repair, cycle track maintenance and hedge cutting. It also maintains funds set aside to purchase land to enable a pedestrian and cycle way across the Silver Bridge which is currently being restored.
Additional opening hours for Palmerstown Library
Palmerstown Library is now open on Fridays and Saturdays! I was delighted to attend thelaunch of the new opening hoursfor the library recently and it has been wonderful to see so many people availing of the additional services and activities now made possible by these additional hours. This extension of opening hours is something for which I have been advocating for the past year or so and I am delighted to see it come to fruition. Please drop in if you haven’t already, and see what’s available.
Action needed on Ballyowen Castle Shopping Centre
Ballyowen Castle Shopping Centre is an important district centre for many people in Lucan. It should reflect this in the way it is lit, how safe it feels and the condition of the car park. I recently had amotionpassed to ask the management company that owns the area to improve its appearance, upkeep and safety. As of this month, no response had been received so I have asked for a furthercommunicationto be sent. I will be sticking with this issue as it is important to our community – please feel free to share feedback with me.
Ensuring effective and safe public transport in our area
Adequate provision of public transport is crucial for so many of us. I’ve raised the many concerns about lack of capacity on the C1 and C2, including Saturday services. I have been informed a capacity review is underway, and I have sought the results for this. I have also raised the matter with my party colleague, Minister of State for Transport, Jack Chambers TD and will be meeting him in the New Year to progress it further. I was also pleased tosecure new bus sheltersfor residents in Balgaddy on Balgaddy Road. There have also been a number of new bus routes over the past month, including the L55 from Palmerstown through Ballyfermot running to Chapelizod, running every hour and the S4 running from Liffey Valley SC to UCD, via Ballyfermot.
Caring for our public spaces
Investment in caring for our public spaces is something which I committed to securing when elected and I am pleased at the progress that has been made in this regard. Over the past few while. we have seentree maintenancetaking place in Liffey Valley Park,removalof dangerous trees in Woodfarm Acres, footpath repair in theWoodfarm Acres extensionandLiffey Valley Park,progresson repairing the gap between Mount Andrew and St Edmund’s estates, andresurfacingof cycle lanes on St Loman’s Road. These are areas where I requested the Council take action and I am glad to see the representations pay off. There is more to do, and I always welcome feedback.
Ballyowen Community Centre going from strength to strength!
Two years ago, I took over as Chairperson of the Board of Management of Ballyowen Castle Community Centre and I am incredibly proud that the Centre has gone from strength to strength in that time, due to a phenomenal effort from the volunteers involved. Themost recent highlight of this workwas the Ballyowen Castle Christmas Fair which took place at the start of December, where over 300 people visited the centre. This is a community facility which is available to all, something I committed to when elected. Please find out more by following the centre onFacebookorInstagramor emailing info@ballyowencommunitycentre.ie.
Maintaining our parks
Theconditionof Hermitage Park is something I have raised a number of times, most recently by way of a motion calling for certain improvements. I am pleased, following my intervention, that repairs to the playground will be undertaken, the nettles will be removed from entry points and rubble in the park is to be removed.I am also requesting an upgrade of the park signs as well as requestingadditionalsignage in other parks, and have raised the condition of pitches in Collinstown and Glenaulin Parks.
If you would like to influence Fianna Fáil policy, make your voice heard and support my work in delivering strong local representation for our community, let me know and please consider joining Fianna Fáil and delivering for our local community.
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