By Dermot Lacey
Now that the weather is beginning to improve I have enjoyed being out and about with my colleagues Ivana Bacik TD and Cllr Fiona Connelly as we engage in regular walks around the area and calling on people in their homes. This is a really good way to engage with constituents on their concerns. Thank you to all those who have engaged with us and I hope we have helped where necessary.
In early February I attended a wonderful talk in Pembroke Library given by Des Geraghty on Brendan Behan and hosted by the Donnybrook, Ballsbridge, Sandymount Historical Society. The Society has a superb programme of talks and outings and can be contacted through the Library.
The period since the last Lacey Report has seen two full City Council meetings and two Area Committee meetings. These have been productive in terms of highlighting City-wide and local issues. Housing and Safety remain the big issues across Dublin and here in our area the additional issue of traffic and poor planning has also featured.
There was also a special meeting of the Council called to discuss how we can best tackle derelict and vacant properties. In our own area we have the empty former Station House at Merrion Gates owned by the Council, and the long empty Martello Tower at Sandymount, as just two examples of properties that could and should be put to better use. If you know of any properties that should be included on the list please contact myself or any of the other Councillors. We can all play a part.
A big issue in the Sandymount area in particular is the ongoing push for the long-demanded Flood Protection measures along the Strand, and I will continue to press for speedier implementation. To be honest the 2030 date for completion is far too late. It is surely not beyond the capacity of the Office of Public Works and Dublin City Council to move this along. Unfortunately like in so many other areas the States own Planning and Procurement policies are a major impediment for critical infrastructure and these need to be modernised and simplified.
On a positive note we have received a report outlining that the bathing water quality samples taken at Merrion Strand met or exceeded the required standard of “Sufficient” and 90% of the samples collected at Sandymount Strand met the “Sufficient” standard. This is progress – but not enough. The predominant problem and likely bacterial source of the failures was deemed to be Gull. There was a significant decline in the presence of dog poo which is of course positive. However, to borrow a phrase,“some done – lots to do”.
At the HSE Regional Forum I continued to press for action on the little understood and sadly neglected illness Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This affects up to 600 additional people every year and has been ignored by the State. I will continue to fight for better services for those affected. For anyone interested in the issue there is a lot of information from the voluntary organisation FASD Ireland on their website www.fasdireland.ie. There is virtually no information or support from the HSE.
In late February I met with David McRedmond, Chief Executive of An Post, and the Taoiseach Chairperson of the Dublin City Task Force. I stressed the importance of the role of Local Government in delivering on the recommendations and the need for additional powers and resources to achieve this. I also took the opportunity to highlight the scandalous closure of six Post Offices in our area in recent years.
On the good news front we are now making progress on the Dodder Greenway again with works underway at Anglesea Road and Beatty’s Avenue. Hopefully later this year we will see progress on the Beaver Row stretch.
I was delighted to meet with the Chief Executive and Chairperson of the Royal Hospital Donnybrook along with my colleague Ivana Bacik TD to discuss their short-term needs and long-term goals. It is quite simply shameful that, at a time of economic boom that funding for our hospitals is actually being cut back. Labour will continue to fight to protect our health services.
There was more good news and positivity at the AGM of the Sandymount Tidy Towns and Community Association held in the Sandymount Hotel on the 12th March. The Committee reported on the past year and plans for 2025. Congratulations to all involved.
Coming up there is a meeting of the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly, the always enjoyable Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association AGM, a Councillors meeting with the new Minister for Justice on safety issues in the City, a Dodder clean-up by local Scout groups, a meeting of the Regional Health Forum, and I will be attending my second Plenary Meeting of the Committee of the Regions in Brussels. This 27-country member institution of the European Union has already given me more evidence of the lack of a real Local Government system in Ireland and will give me an opportunity to campaign for change.
Last but by no means least can I express my sympathy to the family and friends of the late Gerry Quinn. Gerry served for over 30 years as a Garda in Donnybrook and was a legend across the community. The huge attendance at his funeral was testament to a life well lived. Go raibh maith agat as an saol a chaith tu linn.
