Archive for March, 2009

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Baldoyle Library v Croke Park

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Fingal County Council’s Baldoyle Library and Local Area Office (home of malahide howth area meetings) is shortlisted alongside Croke Park in prestigious architects awards. 

the IrishTimes reports 

Two other public projects – Dublin City Council’s pumphouse facing the end of Vernon Avenue in Clontarf, and Fingal County Council’s Baldoyle Library and Local Area Office – have merited inclusion in the shortlist for dePaor Architects and FKL Architects, respectively.

Finally, Gilroy McMahon Architects have been shortlisted for the spectacular redevelopment of Croke Park, which the jury hailed as “a landmark in the historical, cultural and architectural landscape of Dublin . . . with the necessary sense of occasion and grandeur”.

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People power delivers

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Dublin Bus Serving the entire community

Dublin Bus Serving the entire community

Fingal Independent reports

Community pressure, rather than ‘waffle from politicians’, delivers, a local election candidate has said in a row over the fate of a bus route.

The Green Party’s Swords candidate, Ken Duffy accused the Socialist Party of ‘pressing people’s panic buttons’ earlier this month after a leaflet announcing proposed bus route cuts was distributed in a Swords estate.

In a message from the Socialist Howth/ Malahide candidate, Brian Greene, residents of Holywell were told the 142 route was to be ’slashed’ and were urged to put maximum pressure on Government parties. Mr Duffy dismissed the claims as ’scaremongering’. In response, the Socialists said they had spoken to Dublin Bus shop stewards last week, who were still in talks with the company and said a new duty to cover the 142 service is to be included, as part of a deal on new rosters and working arrangements.

‘We salute the efforts of residents in the communities and the bus drivers in their campaign to ensure that the maximum number of bus routes and jobs are protected from management’s cost-cutting programme at Dublin Bus,’ Mr Greene said.

‘A new rostering arrangement was worked out in the LRC which enabled the 142 to continue to be undertaken in the evening. This shows that the pressure with regard to this route is having an impact.’

UPDATE: The saving of this route is part of a deal that will have the driver on duty on the 142 working a 13 hour shift. The deal between the company & unions  was rejectect by workers. Dublin Bus will put in place the revised cuts this weekend. And service disruption is expected. I wonder how safe it is to drive a bus on a 13 hour shift? 

Posted in Kinsealy, Malahide, Portmarnock | No Comments »

Law & Order

Friday, March 20th, 2009

Cash stolen in raid on Howth post office

[20/03/2009] Gardai are investigating a robbery at the post office in Howth, North Co Dublin, this morning. Two men entered the premises shortly before 10am and smashed the glass partition at the counter. They then escaped with an undisclosed sum of money.

The raiders were in their late teens and early 20s. Gardaí are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.

garda_siochanaUnder Section 36 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005, Joint Policing Committees were established to provide a forum where a Local Authority & the senior Garda officers responsible for the policing of that area, with the participation of Oireachtas members & community interests can consult, discuss & make recommendations on matters affecting policing of that area. And sometimes they meet in public. It just happens that they are meeting down the road from the Howth Post Office in the Marine Hotel Sutton on next Wednesday March 25th at 19:30pm.

from the press advert: 

Fingal Joint Policing Committee Notice of Public Meeting

A public meeting will be hosted by the Fingal Joint Policing Committee for the Howth/Sutton/Baldoyle area: The Marine Hotel, Sutton Cross, Dublin 13 at 7.30 p.m. Wednesday 25th March, 2009 

Residents of the Howth/Sutton/Baldoyle area are invited to attend the meeting to make observations and address questions to the members of the Fingal Joint Policing Committee on matters relating to crime and anti-social behaviour with a view to improving public safety within local communities.

Written questions may also be submitted in advance by residents of the Howth/Sutton/Baldoyle area to: Fingal Development Board, P.O. Box 174, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin or to jpc@fingalcoco.ie no later than Friday 20th March, 2009 at 5.00 p.m.

Posted in Baldoyle, Bayside, Howth, sutton | No Comments »

Cumbria’s “Energy Coast”

Friday, March 20th, 2009

69-69859Reminder: From Malahide & Howth, 128 miles away lies Sellafield. At Sellafield (or 2 miles up the coast) the SPIN DOCTORS have called the plan Cumbria’s “Energy Coast”. I prefer Cumbria’s Toxic Coast. They plan to build more new nuke reactors up the road from Sellafield. 

Back in January 2007 before John Gormley & the Greens were in a position to prop up Fianna Fail I asked him for a comment on Sellafield 

Congratulations on your web site (www.shutsellafield.com). The Green Party was the first political party to call for the closure of Sellafield. This demand will be a key one in our forthcoming election manifesto. Keep up the good work.

Regards john g

Green Party Chairman

I’m waiting for action…….. 

What happened between the Mansion House and Kildare Street? Our Green Minister for the Environment said of a leak in Sellafied this time last year “it was a relatively minor incident and had no safety implications for Ireland” The fact that accidents continue to happen is the problem, not the extent of the current accident, shall we wait for the big one? Wanting  a safer Sellafield is not the same as wanting it shut. 

How far away is it?  How many NEW reactors are they building? How many statements has Mr. Gormley made on the new build? see here. The industry has been sold out from under the NDA, the plan is to build new nuke plants, where is the action? where is the “call for the closure of Sellafield“? Is Dick Roche & Joe Jacob still running policy in the Dept.? I can’t tell the difference.

here is one reply to the “Energy Coast” idea from Marianne Birkby of Radiation Free Lakeland 

Jamie Reed would like nothing better than the nuclear energy coast to be “beyond meaningful debate” – as would the proponents of the slave trade and the asbestos industry have liked to see business as usual without those irritating voices of dissent.

The nuclear industry itself is trying to disempower people through bribery – ( Slush funds for example to Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Primary Care Trust ) and by persuading Government to ’speed’ up the planning consents for large infrastructure – which means that citizens and NGOs will not have the rights to influence planning. This doesn’t seem to have sunk in with councillors who are still saying that the nuclear planning restrictions will be rigorous.

The industry has lobbied hard and long to ensure ‘fast tracking’ ie health and safety will not be first priority. For decades renewables have been suppressed to make room for nuclear – now the nuclear industry is saying that too many wind turbines + nuclear will mean TOO much electricity for the national grid to cope with. The nuclear project must be stopped now – Please contact Radiation Free Lakeland on 015395 63671 if your group or village would like help – more info here

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podcast#1

Monday, March 16th, 2009

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direct link Podcast#1

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Drynam Hall Survey

Monday, March 16th, 2009

The issue of management fees and the fact that Drynam Hall residents are ensnared in a management company which sees bills of hundreds of euro being levied every year is not going away.   

In fact as the economic crisis worsens the urgency to address this issue has increased. Many residents object to paying the charge as a matter of principle. Now with rising taxes, pay cuts and job losses many more cannot afford to pay! This issue is a time bomb waiting to explode. It is an absolute disgrace that the government has failed despite promises to bring forward legislation to deal with this injustice.  

Prior to Christmas we began a survey of Drynam Hall residents on their attitude to the management company presently and into the future. 

The door to door survey from October / November was halted in the run up to Christmas due to a mixture on dark evenings, weather conditions and scarce time availability from volunteers.  

Now in order to expedite the completion of the survey a print out of the questions is available on the reverse of this leaflet. We are asking you to please take the time to complete it and drop it back to the address at the bottom without delay. 

On completion of the survey a presentation of its finding will be made at a local meeting and a way forward will be discussed. It is hoped that a steering committee formed from local residents opposed to the management charges will take the campaign to the next level. 

At the 40% mark, the overwhelming majority of respondents seek the removal of the current management company and the taking in charge of the estate by the local authority where central taxation will fund services currently covered by estate management fees. This would bring the tax burden of residents in Drynam hall into line with that of the rest of the country, avoiding paying twice for one service and bringing equity to the situation. 

[text of leaflet accompanying Survey Sheet dropped in Drynam Hall 13/03/2009]

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Posted in Kinsealy, housing | No Comments »

CáCa Milis for Green School St. Mary’s Baldoyle

Monday, March 16th, 2009

Last Friday I went down to St. Mary’s Secondary School for the raising of their 4th flag. I was deputising for Cllr. Clare Daly. I was able to sneak Charlotte & Sophie in and we met their big sister Vanessa and all the teachers & dignitories . The School are the first secondary school in Ireland to get 4 green flags. There is only the 5th flag left to collect. 

 

let them eat cake - green school's 4th flag

let them eat cake - green school's 4th flag

after a quick ICT investigation down at Baldoyle Library (where internet access is free) I shot the newest flag to fly in Baldoyle.

4 green flags

full mast - 4th green flag for St. Mary

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Posted in Baldoyle, Environment | No Comments »

Privatised Eircom to Axe our Public Phone Boxes

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

 

in case you need to call the Gardai

in case you need to call the Gardai

Socialist Party Howth Malahide local election candidate Brian Greene has slammed the Eircom decision to axe 2151 pay phone call boxes by April. The privatisation of Telecom Eireann caused Ireland to slip in international tables of Internet speeds because Eircom dragged its heals in high speed Internet infrastructure, now it is removing some peoples only high speed access via WiFi at its call boxes, and the last resort to make an emergency phone call on the street when you are without a mobile phone, power or credit. 

“Eircom enabled many of the countries phone boxes for Wifi access and sold this advantage of free access to its customers. Now Eircom is axing call boxes as phone call revenue & advertising revenue falls. How much profit must Eircom make before service provision is secured?” asks Mr. Greene

As an example the pair of call boxes at Sutton Cross are selected to be removed after March 16th. “While we campaign for the sensible citing of mobile telephony we must defend call boxes for their social needs too.”

Eircom’s wish to axe 50% of call boxes nationally, also makes for a poor and shortsighted decision. Within a year or two fourth generation (4G) mobile telephony will be seeking many more close proximity & closer to the ground installation sites. As phone boxes remain planning exempt for the old incumbent and are free to use unregulated WiFi spectrum some of the call boxes would make excellent sites for 4G boosters. 

“It is the drive for profit and not the provision of a public utility that is driving the privatised Eircom to destroy our states network of phone boxes. It is as stupid as the removal of the Hill of Howth Tramway 50 years ago this June.” said Mr. Greene.

Posted in ICT, sutton | No Comments »

Congrats to St Mary’s Secondary School, Baldoyle

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

 
Big congrats to St. Mary’s Secondary School, Baldoyle who have done it again,  Green Flag number 4. We had C.O.W. in our house as my Daughter Vanessa cycled to St. Mary’s on Wednesdays (and every other day too!) so well done Vanessa (Green) Greene.

Baldoyle a wash with Green Flags

Baldoyle a wash with Green Flags

Press Release -
St Mary’s Secondary School, Baldoyle has done it again!
St Mary’s The Green Machine Winners

 

Having won the 2006 Fingal Environmental Group of The Year Award and the very prestigious 2008 Green Award for the Greenest School in Ireland at the national Green Awards in the Burlington Hotel in December and then being short listed for the 2008 Living Dublin Environmental Award, the school was awarded their fourth green flag for sustainable travel on the 4th March 2009 at the An Taisce Green Flag Ceremony in Croke Park.

This green school was commended by also receiving a certificate for their outstanding achievement in improving the environmental quality of the school and community over the past two years. This was achieved by the hard work of the green school committee under the supervision of Pauline Griffin, Green School Co-ordinator, who organised the implementation of travel schemes which encouraged students to cycle or walk to school instead of travelling by car. Over 50% of the students now walk to school on Wednesdays and the number of days students who cycled to school every month increased from zero to thirty one days from October to February this year.

There were many varied initiatives including

WOW – Walk on Wednesdays

Car Pooling

Park and Stride

COW – Cycle on Wednesdays

Walking Bus

The Golden Boot Award

Travel Action Days

Golden Helmet Award

Bicycle Shed Built

COW Poster Competition

Raffle for a Bicycle

St Mary’s has been involved in the Green School Programme for the past ten years and were the first secondary school in Fingal to receive a green flag for waste management in 2002. Since then, St. Mary’s has been awarded two further Green Flags in the areas of Energy Conservation and Water Conservation. This fourth Green Flag for Sustainable Travel makes the school unique in its number of Green Flags.

–

I hope to get some photos of the flag raising on Friday.

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Posted in Baldoyle, Environment | No Comments »

Bayside Square Antennas [update]

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

 

facebook video update recorded 08/02/2009

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Posted in Bayside, Environment | No Comments »

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