Grangegorman Update

The 73-acre site at St Brendan’s Hospital at Grangegorman has been designated as the site for the unified Campus for the Dublin institute of Technology, the permanent home for Dublin 7 Educate Together Primary School and a range of new mental health and community and continuing care facilities.
As the Dublin City Council representative on the Agency I am anxious to ensure that all residents in the Grangegorman neighbourhood are fully informed and consulted at all stages of the development.
Recent developments include:

• The Grangegorman Development Agency is awaiting a Government decision to put the Strategic Plan out to public consultation. It had been hoped that the consultation would take place in the first half of 2009. The GDA now say that it is likely that the Strategic Plan will go out to public consultation in June/July 2009. I have stated my opposition to carrying out the consultation during August which is a holiday month.
• The GDA has commissioned a report on the employment opportunities for the area arising from the developments at Grangegorman. The study carried out in conjunction with number of stakeholders, including the Dublin Instiitute of Technology(DIT), Health Services Executive(HSE), City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee(CDVEC), FAS and the North West Inner City Network, identifies significant employment, education and training opportunities for people in the North Inner City. A copy of the report is available from the Grangegorman Development Agency or can be downloaded from their website www.ggda.ie
• The GDA intend to submit a planning application in May for replacement mental health facilities to accommodate the existing patients.
• Planning permission has been granted for the renovation of the Laundry Building to accommodate medical consulting and administration services.
• Planning permission has been granted for a temporary D7 Educate Together School at Grangegorman Lower/Fitzwilliam Place. The school should be open at this location in September.
• Registration for residents’ associations and groups in the Grangegorman neighbourhood will take place in June/July. Registered groups will have a vote in the Elections for the Community Representatives on the Board and the Consultative Group which are due to take place in September. For further information on the registration procedure and voting entitlements check the Grangegorman Development Agency website www.ggda.ie

Hendrons Planning Application - Decision Due by 21 April

A planning application was lodged in August 2008 for a 14-storey apartment/hotel and retail development at the Hendron’s site in Broadstone. There was significant local opposition to this proposal and Dublin City Council received over 50 objections to the proposal. Both Joe Costello and I strongly supported residents’ objections to this development

The proposal was put out to further information on 18th September 2008. The further information was received on 25th March.

The further information does nothing to allay residents concerns regarding this devleopment. See above photomontage view from CIE Broadstone.

The additional information including a scale model is available to be inspected at the Planning Counter in Dublin City Council offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8 (9am 5 pm) and is also available to view on the Planning Section Dublin City Council website (ref 3938/08). Dublin City Council inform us that they are not requesting the applicant to re-advertise the additional information but that existing objectors may submit comments.

Dublin City Council has until 21st April to make a decision on the application. We will keep you informed of developments. We will continue to support the residents in their opposition to this development.

Saturday Closure of Grangegorman Recycling Centre Must be Reversed

Like many local residents I was incensed to learn that the Grangegorman Recycling Centre has closed on Saturdays. This action was taken by the management of Dublin City Council without any consultation with the local councillors or the Environment and Engineering Strategic Policy Committee of which I am a member. I have tabled motions and questions to the manager calling for the immediate re-opening of this facility. The manager has stated that the decision was made given the current financial constraints on the Council’s budget and he is not prepared to reverse the decision at this time.

The centre is invaluable for many families who can only do their recycling at weekends. Moreover, the failure of Greyhound to deliver bags for the green collection in the area has exacerbated the problem for many residents. I will continue to raise the matter until the centre re-opens on Saturdays.