It is heartening despite the current difficult times to see a number of local and national strategic projects being carried out in the North Inner City.
Work is due to commence on the €650 million Children's Hospital on Eccles Street this year.
The Luas BXD which will run from St Stephen's Green to Broombridge via Grangegorman and linking the two existing Luas lines will go ahead as planned.
The Smithfield Enhancement Project is a €5.2 million Project funded jointly by Dublin City Council and the European Union is almost complete. The first two phases are complete and the work is due to be complete by Summer 2012.
The Lighthouse Cinema on Smithfield is set to reopen and will play host to events for the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.
Dublin City Council has ambitious plans for the redevelopment of the Fruit and Vegetable Market as a Food Retail Hall along the lines of the English Market in Cork.
Work is progressing apace on the replacement Mental Health Facility for St Brendan's Hospital at Grangegorman. Work commenced in July 2011 and is due to be complete by October 2012.
Plans are proceeding to deliver DIT Campus at Grangegorman the project on a phased basis.
Work on the long awaited Fairview Park and Playground commenced on 12 December and is due to be complete by summer 2012.
Dublin City Council recently secured funding for a Multi User Games Area (MUGA) at Augrhrim Street/Drumalee. which is due to be opened shortly.
Plans are continuing for the redevelopment of O'Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street.
Dublin City Council has agreed to sell a site at Dominick Street (subject to planning permission) for a replacement school for Colaiste Mhuire Primary School currently located at Parnell Square.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Smart Cities Need to Maximise Use of New Technology during Emergencies
Moving tributes were paid to Garda Ciaran Jones and Nurse Cecilia Jesus who tragically lost their lives in the floods.
While the efforts of the Emergency Services, including the Fire Brigade, Civil Defence, Gardai and City Council staff were commended, Counclllors were critical of the Council's communications handling of the event.
It is still not clear why no flood warning was issued in the course of the day -given the intensity of the rain. It is unacceptable that the "Emergency Plan" was not activated until 8pm by which time much of the City was immersed in water.
I witnessed at first hand the floods in Sheriff Street, East Wall and North Strand on the night and visited many homes in Cabra the following day. I saw the devastation the floods caused to people's homes and their lives. I listened to the complaints of residents who relayed stories of how they could not get through to the emergency numbers and that promises of updates and to return calls were not fulfilled. I was struck with the number of people who expressed their frustration that the City Council website contained no information or updates - even on matters as basic as where to access sandbags.
The aftermath of the floods will pose their own problems - financial assistance for those whose homes were destroyed, insurance issues, flood prevention in the future.
It is time we ensured that we maximise the use of existing technology and social networking to get the information to people during an emergency.
Link to my full statement after City Council meeting is here
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Implementing fundamental rights of irregular migrants – towards multi-level governance
On 17 October, I had the honour of representing Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at a joint meeting of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and the Committee of the Regions.
While I was disappointed to be missing the 17 October ceremony in Dublin, which I attend annually, it was appropriate to mark the day speaking about one of the most vulnerable groups in our society - irregular migrants.
My speech focused on the role of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and also on initiatives being taken by Dublin City Council in relation to issues of integration.
There is no doubt that there is a body of work to be done. I referred in my speech to a motion proposed by Cllr Rebecca Moynihan to Dublin City Council in terms of addressing the issue of regularising the position of undocumented or irregular migrants.
Click on link below for full text of speech.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Great Writers, Great Places - A Truly Novel Idea!
As Dublin continues to celebrate its status as a Unesco City of Literature, a number of events are scheduled to take place throughout the City this autumn. Dublin has a remarkable literary tradition from Swift to Wilde and that literary tradition lives on with a rich crop of contemporary writers living in the City as evidenced by the "Great Writers, Great Places" events which will take place all over the City this autumn. Words will intertwine with the city as Words on the Street comes to life. Writers will demonstrate their skill and imagination as they present their works in unusual haunts.
I was deeply honoured to launch "Great Writing Great Places" series of literary events this evening on board the Jeanie Johnston. It was really great to see the first event packed to the rafters - despite the blustery weather.
The first session on the Jeanie Johnson relived stories of emigration and loss, a theme prevalent in our history and in the national psyche. Marita Conlon-McKenna, Martina Devlin and Kate Kerrigan shared personal stories, family histories and inspirations for their writings on the theme of emigration, family and loss.
As we huddled together on the replica Famine Ship, the stories shared had a particular poignancy. For many present there was a certain resonance about the current wave of emigration and what it means for this generation.
"Great Writers, Great Places" will follow many inspiring and interesting writers and locations such as The Four Courts, Glasnevin Cemetery, Lost Society, Fallon& Byrne and the crypt at Christ Church.
Great credit is due to Jane Alger and the team at Dublin Public Libraries for developing this event which is just one of many events organised to celebrate our literary heritage.
Details of dates and events can be checked on www.dublincityofliterature.ie. Most of the events are free of charge, booking is required for some.
I was deeply honoured to launch "Great Writing Great Places" series of literary events this evening on board the Jeanie Johnston. It was really great to see the first event packed to the rafters - despite the blustery weather.
The first session on the Jeanie Johnson relived stories of emigration and loss, a theme prevalent in our history and in the national psyche. Marita Conlon-McKenna, Martina Devlin and Kate Kerrigan shared personal stories, family histories and inspirations for their writings on the theme of emigration, family and loss.
As we huddled together on the replica Famine Ship, the stories shared had a particular poignancy. For many present there was a certain resonance about the current wave of emigration and what it means for this generation.
"Great Writers, Great Places" will follow many inspiring and interesting writers and locations such as The Four Courts, Glasnevin Cemetery, Lost Society, Fallon& Byrne and the crypt at Christ Church.
Great credit is due to Jane Alger and the team at Dublin Public Libraries for developing this event which is just one of many events organised to celebrate our literary heritage.
Details of dates and events can be checked on www.dublincityofliterature.ie. Most of the events are free of charge, booking is required for some.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
National Paediatric Hospital Must Take Account of Local Concerns
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