Educate Together National Petition Day for Post Primary School

Cllr Emer Costello & Joe Costello TD have called on the Minister for Education to respond to the Educate Together National Petition Day, today 25th September, and to register Educate Together as a patron of second-level schools.

Deputy Costello and the Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Emer Costello participated in the National Petition Day at the Dublin 7 Educate Together.
Speaking in the Dáil on 25 Septemer, National Petition Day, Deputy Costello, asked the Tanáiste if the Government have any plans to establish multi-denominational schools and if it will recognise Educate Together as a Patron. The Tanáiste informed the House that the Government have no plans to allow Educate Together register as a suitable patron.

“It is outrageous that the Government have failed to recognise the achievements of Educate Together. Educate Together is this year celebrating its 30th anniversary in providing primary school education throughout the country. Its success is evident in that there are now 56 Educate Together Primary Schools throughout the country providing primary education to thousands of primary school children.

Yet the Minister for Education has not even had the courtesy to respond to the requests from Educate Together and the parents of ET schoolchildren seeking the right to register as a patron of second level schools.
Parents are concerned for their children’s right to be able to continue their education in a multi-denominational, democratic environment and exercise choice in their children’s education. At a time when Irish society is being transformed, as each census reveals major changes in the demographic profile of both Irish and non Irish residents, it is imperative that the Government provide for choice in our education system.
Educate Together is a real success story in the provision of education to our primary school children. It is time that the Government recognised the changing face of Irish Society and agreed to recognise Educate Together as a suitable patron body of a second level school.

Dublin Central Planning Update

Bakery Site Phibsborough – Permission Granted
Following receipt of additional information, Dublin City Council granted permission to Stateford Ltd for a development at the Bakery Site (6818/07) subject to 32 conditions (click on link to view conditions) on 9 September 2008
The conditions include the reduction of the proposed 13 storey tower (Block M) building has been reduced to 5 storeys. (condition 2)
The medical suites cannot be used for any other purpose unless a “change of use” is applied for and granted. (condition 14)
The eight storey Block A has been broken into two buildings by means of an incision spanning at least two apartments. (this was put forward in the additional information). Furthermore the overall height reduced by two storeys (Condition 2)
Modifications to the design of the units have been conditioned to counter the impact on Shandon Mills and Shandon Road (Condition 5)
The live work units cannot be either wholly residential or wholly commercial but must be “live/work units” (condition 9)
The overall number of residential units has been reduced from 148 to 104 units.Anyone who submitted an objection can appeal this decision to An Bord Pleanala by 6th October 2008. It is also possible that the developer will submit an appeal to the Bord.
We understand that a number of residents groups are considering lodging an appeal to the Bord. Once an appeal is lodged, it is possible for people who did not object originally to comment on the appeal by paying a fee of €50.

Hotel On North Circular Road (Chester House & 314-322)
Permission Granted
Dublin City Council granted permission for the proposed hotel on the North Circular Road, on 22nd August, despite a large number of objections. This planning application was subject to further information and the permission granted is subject to 15 conditions
An appeal has been lodged to An Bord Pleanala. It is possible for people who did not object originally or are party to an appeal to comment on the appeal by paying a fee of €50.

Hendron’s Site – Planning Application for 14 Storey Building
An application was submitted to Dublin City Council for a “mixed use” development at the Hendron’s Site Upper Dominick Street, Palmerston Place, Great Western Way. The development contains a 14 storey tower and comprises apartments, an “aparthotel”, a “neighbourhood shop” and artists studios.
Joe Costello TD & Cllr Emer Costello organised a Planning Information Meeting for residents who were concerned about this application. We also submitted an objection supporting residents’ objections to the development. There were over 70 objections submitted on this application.
Dublin City Council requested additional information on this application on 18 September 2008. This request can be viewed here
The Developer has six months to submit this information or the application falls. We will continue to monitor this application.

Public Consultation on Noise Regulations

The issue of noise pollution and noisy neighbours is an extremely disturbing and distressing problem for residents. It is fast becoming an increasing problem throughout the Central Area. The current legislative situation is completely inadequate. An outline of the current situation is outlined in the useful Enfo Document A Guide to the Noise Regulations

The Minister for the Environment has launched a public consultation on the noise regulations. A consultation paper (click on link to download) has been prepared which examines a range of issues including:

Improved powers for local authorities to take steps to address noise sources
To provide An Garda Síochána with powers similar to local authorities vis-à-vis noise pollution
The drafting of codes of practice for industry, construction, commerce and domestic situations for the reduction of noise
A higher profile for noise issues through an annual reporting mechanism
The creation of a website to provide information to affected persons on appropriate means for addressing complaints.

Comments are invited on any of the issues raised in this paper. Submissions should be marked “Noise Legislation Review‘ and sent, not later than 31 October, 2008, preferably by email, with “Noise Legislation Review” in the subject line, to: noiseconsultation@environ.ie
or by mail to Eoin Deegan, Air Quality Section, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Custom House , Dublin 1

We will be making a submission on this and would welcome your comments to emercostello@eircom.net

Metro North – RPA Apply for Railway Order

On 17th September the RPA applied to An Bord Pleanla for a Railway Order to build Metro North.

A copy of the draft Railway Order and each document accompanying the application may be inspected during normal office or opening hours from September 17th for the duration of 6 weeks until October 29th at;
An Bord Pleanla, 64 Marlborough St, Dublin 1
Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Woodquay, Dublin 8
Fingal County Council, County Hall, Swords, Co Dublin
Railway Procurement Agency, Parkgate St, Dublin 8
Ballymun Regeneration Ltd, Ballymun Civic Offices, Ballymun Rd, Dublin 11

Residents for Realignment were also successful in their campaign to have the Railway Order available for inspection at the Public Library in Millmount Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.
Submissions must be made in writing to An Bord Pleanla, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin by 29th October 2008 at 5:30 pm. Submissions should be marked Metro North. The fee for making a submission is €50.

An Bord Pleanala may decide to hold an oral hearing into the application for a Railway Order.
Residents along the route were also successful in securing independent advice on the impact of the project on their communities. Consultants have been appointed and have started working with residents’ groups. The independent experts will be available to offer residents advice and support for the duration of the Metro North Project.
Further information is available from http://www.rpa.ie/