dub-bus-response-april-092

Cars attempting to overtake a 37 bus parked on the Diswellstown Road

19/04/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed clarification from Dublin Bus about the parking of buses on the Diswellstown Road.

“Over the last year I have been engaging with Dublin Bus and Fingal County Council over the issue of buses on the 37 route parking on the Diswellstown Road outside Fernleigh and causing a traffic hazard. I have put questions to the County Manager and wrote letters to Dublin Bus management, including a number of pictures I took of cars attempting to pass parked buses”.

“In their most recent correspondence with me, Paddy Doherty, the Business Development Manager for Dublin Bus, stated that the company has applied to Fingal County Council to construct a new terminus for the 37 route on the Blanchardstown Road South between the new Ongar Road and the Dr. Troy Bridge. This will require approval from the Department of Transport”.

“Mr. Doherty also assured me that bus drivers are now being told to use the bus lay-by opposite Castleknock Community College quote “when they have sufficient lay-over time”. While I am pleased that the issue is at least being highlighted to drivers, I am not satisfied that Dublin Bus fully appreciate the danger that is being created, particularly when a number of buses are parked on the road at the same time”.

I also had a question put to the Fingal County Manager, asking to him to raise the issue of safety on the Diwsellstown Road with Dublin Bus. While the County Manager referred to Dublin Buses plan to create a new terminus, I think the Manager needs to go further and specifically raise the serious safety issues arising from buses parking on the road outside Fernleigh with Dublin Bus management”.

“I will continue to put pressure on Dublin Bus and Fingal CC on this issue. I have asked residents in the area to contact me if they see buses persisting to park along the Diswellstown Road”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

o Please see below answer from Fingal County Manager at April Council meeting.
o Please see link to reply from Dublin Bus at top of post.

FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday 15th APRIL 2009

ITEM NO. 14

BUS TERMINUS ON DISWELLSTOWN ROAD

Question: Councillor J. Corr
“To ask the Manager if Fingal County Council could contact Dublin Bus and request that their drivers cease the practice of the 37 bus parking on the Diswellstown Road outside Fernleigh before it commences its inbound journey due to the road safety risks this creates?”

Reply:
It is understood that Dublin Bus proposes to relocate the bus terminus on Diswellstown Road to a suitable location on Blanchardstown Road South between the Clonsilla Road Roundabout and the Ongar Road Roundabout. This is subject to the necessary funding being made available to construct the proposed new terminus.

Discussing canal with Deirdre and Noel Spain of Royal Canal Amenity Group

Myself, Simon Herbert and Deirdre De Burca at Coolmine Station after the clean-up

19/04/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate Roderic O’Gorman and Mulhuddart ward candidate, Simon Herbert, have thanked Dublin 15 residents for their support of the Green Party clean up of the Royal Canal between the 12th Lock and Clonsilla Train Station. About 20 volunteers joined in the clean-up on Saturday afternoon, along with Dublin European Election candidate, Deirdre De Burca.

“We had about 20 volunteers out with us today, cleaning the Royal Canal all the way from the 12th Lock bar down to Clonsilla Station. We shifted about 15 sack loads of rubbish – mostly cans and bottles, along with various other items of waste, including at least one dead rat! It’s such a shame that a small minority of people treat the canal in this way. If I’m elected to Fingal County Council in June I intend to work to ensure that the canal and the surrounding area is developed in a way that allows more people to enjoy it”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

The clean-up in Dublin 15 was part of a serious that the Green Party were organising along the Royal Canal. Local election candidates Gary Fitzgerald in Cabra-Glasnevin and David Geary in North Inner City also had teams working on their sections of the canal.

“As we worked our way along the bank, we met lots of people out walking and enjoying the fantastic day. All were really positive about the clean-up that the local Green Party organised, which was part of An Taisce’s National Spring Clean. We would like to thank Fingal County Council for arranging to pick up the rubbish from us at Coolmine Station”, stated Simon Herbert.

The Dublin West Green Party and local volunteers were joined in the clean-up by Dublin European Election candidate for the Green Party, Senator Deirdre De Burca.

“I really enjoyed getting involved in today’s clean-up. Like the rest of Dublin’s waterways, the Royal Canal is a real resource. It provides a green route all the way from Dublin City centre to the Shannon. It has real potential for tourism as well as being a fantastic leisure amenity for walkers and cyclists”, stated Deirdre De Burca.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
Simon Herbert: 086 381 8865
Deirdre De Burca: 086 806 1450

Roderic at the entrance to the first phase of the new allotments at Tyrrelstown

13/04/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed the news that the new Fingal County Council allotments in Tyrrelstown will open in the next two months, but has also renewed his call for more allotments to be provided in the area.

“I had a question put to the County Manager at the April meeting of the Council regarding when the new allotments at Tyrrelstown will be open. The Manager has stated that the only works left to be completed is an ESB connection and that he anticipates this will be completed within two months”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“While this is positive news, it is disappointing that the new Tyrrelstown lands will only make a small dent in the overall waiting list for allotments in Dublin 15. Many of those who will get plots in Tyrrelstown are current allotment holders who have to move from the Cappogue site which has to close. As such, Tyrrelstown will only result in about 100 people on the waiting list getting allotments. Considering the last time I asked, there were over 300 people on the list, it looks like a lot of people are going to be left disappointed”.

“The Council originally intended to open a second phase at Tyrrelstown which would have provided more sites, but they now state that they will not do this because of budgetary constraints. While I realise that Fingal, along with local authorities across the country are facing financial pressure, I think that hitting the allotment budget is a false economy. I am regularly being asked by residents across Dublin 15 about the availability of allotments. Many people, including those recently unemployed, are looking at allotments as a means of growing their own food, saving money and having a healthy activity”.

“Recently, some private allotments have started up in Clonsilla. While I welcome any moves to increase the availability of allotments in Dublin 15, I do believe that it is essential that Fingal increases the number of sites that it provides. This is an issue that the Green Party have fought hard for on Fingal County Council and I will continue to press the County Manager on this if I am elected to the Council in June”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
www.rodericogorman.com
www.getgrowing.ie

FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING

WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL 2009

ITEM NO. 12 – Tyrrlestown allotments

Question: Councillor J. Corr
“To ask the Manager when the new allotments at Tyrrelstown will be open, how many of these are reserved for current allotment holders vacating other sites in Dublin 15, what is the current waiting list for allotments in the Dublin 15 area and how many allotments could be provided in the second phase at Tyrrelstown?”

Reply:
The construction works have been completed with the exception of the electricity supply. We have engaged the ESB to carry out these works and we anticipate completion within the next two months.

All those who vacated allotments in Cappogue will be accommodated in the new development and approximately 100 allotments will be allocated to those on the waiting list.

There are no plans to construct a second phase at this location due to current budgetary constraints.

05/04/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed the launch of the Get Ireland Growing campaign by the Green Party. The campaign is designed to encourage people to grow their own food, whether at home, in allotments, in community gardens or at school.

“With the Get Ireland Growing campaign, the Green Party is encouraging people to grow their own food. This can be done in local authority or private allotments, community and school gardens, along with encouraging people to grow food at home”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“Growing your own food has a range of benefits. It saves money, it gives people access to healthy food, it is better for the environment and it is an enjoyable activity. As part of the campaign, the Green Party has set up a website – www.getgrowing.ie – to give people information and resources on how to start growing their own food”.

The Get Ireland Growing campaign follows on from the Incredible Edibles campaign that was launched by the Minister for Food, Trevor Sargent TD. This campaign saw seed packs being sent to schools across the country to encourage children to learn to grow their own vegetables.

“One of the key issues I am highlighting as part of this campaign is the need for more council allotments in Dublin 15. I am regularly contacted by people who are looking for allotments from the Council, but who have been left on long waiting lists”.

“In Fingal, the Green Party councillors were successful in reopening the waiting list for allotments and also in securing more land for allotments. In Dublin 15, we now have new land for allotments in Tyrrelstown which will open soon. However, there are still more people on the waiting list and the Council should prioritize identifying land for these people. In particular, the Council should quickly move to open the second phase of the new Tyrrelstown allotments”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

29/03/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman, has called for a 3 storey height limit on any future development in Blanchardstown. The proposal was made as part of his submission to Fingal County Council on the Blanchardstown Village Development Strategy.

“I have urged Fingal County Council to implement a 3 storey height limit on any future developments in the Blanchardstown Village area. We have seen over the last two years attempts by developers to get permission for high rise developments in the centre of Castleknock and Clonsilla villages. While it is unlikely that any major developments will take place in the next year or two, there are locations such as the Superquinn site that builders may in the future wish to develop intensively. It is vital therefore that we insert a height limit of 3 storey’s in the development strategy so developers never get permission to put high rise in the centre of Blanchardstown village”, Roderic O’Gorman.

The submission from the Dublin West Green Party included a number of other points also.

“I have called for the actual area covered by the Development Strategy survey to be extended to include the Castleknock Road down as far as Castleknock Train Station and also Roselawn Shopping Centre. We feel it is important that these important local public transport interchanges and neighbourhood shopping area should be included”.

“We also propose that the Strategy should include proposals to develop the Tolka Valley Park and the Royal Canal as community resources. These amenities have the potential to be used for the benefit of pedestrians and cyclists and the Strategy should outline how they can be safely linked. As they also provide very important wildlife corridors, the Strategy should include proposals to protect the natural heritage and to encourage appreciation by the local population of the natural environment and the importance of protecting biodiversity”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Green Party submission – Blanchardstown Village Development Strategy

Roderic O'Gorman at Rushbrook-Roselawn Road laneway

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed the clarification by Fingal County Council regarding the opening and closing time of the gates on the Rushbrook – Roselawn laneway. He was speaking after some residents had raised concerns that the gates were no longer being locked at night as agreed with local residents.

“Recently, residents in Rushbrook raised concerns with me that the gates on the Rushbrook – Roselawn laneway were not being locked at night as was agreed with Fingal County Council. I have raised the issue with the Council and they have confirmed to me that a security company have been engaged by the Transportation Department to open and close the gates at 7:00AM and 10:00PM daily”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“I am pleased that Fingal County Council has provided this certainty for those living in the area. While the laneway is a useful shortcut, it is essential that it is not used for anti-social behaviour. The continuation of the night-time locking is vital to ensure security for the residents of those houses adjoining the laneway”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

15/03/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has called on Fingal County Council to install safety railings separating estate green spaces from busy roads.

“I’m calling on Fingal County Council to install safety railings at the roundabout on the Carpenterstown Road outside the Carpenter Pub, to separate the road from Burnell Park and also along the Diswellstown Road to separate the road from the Luttrellstown Glade and Luttrellstown Grove estates”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“The lack of safety railings has been a consistent concern for residents of these estates, particularly as there are a large number of young children living locally and both roads are notorious for speeding”.

“I recently had a question raised at a Fingal CC meeting regarding these two locations. The County Manager has stated that there are no plans to work on these under the current Transport Works plan for 2009. However, I will continue to pressure the Council on this issue as it not acceptable to leave young children at risk in this way”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY 9TH MARCH 2009

ITEM 11

RAILINGS – BURNELL PARK & LUTTRELLSTOWN GLADE/GROVE

Question: Councillor J. Corr

“To ask the Manager whether the Council will consider erecting railings at the south-west side of the roundabout on the Carpenterstown Road outside the Carpenter Pub, to separate the road from Burnell Park and along the south side of the Diswellstown Road to separate the road from the Luttrellstown Glade and Luttrellstown Grove estates in the interest of public safety?”

Reply:

The railings provided at Burnell Park were provided by the developers of the estate as part of the boundary treatment between the estate and the Diswellstown Road. No provision is included in current Works Programmes to extend the railings around the turning circle bordering the Carpenterstown Road.

No provision is included in the 2009 Transportation Works Programme to provide safety railings at Luttrellstown Glade and Luttrellstown Grove adjacent to the Diswellstown Road. These areas will be listed for examination and further consideration when future Works Programmes are being drawn up.

Roderic O'Gorman addressing the Green Party National Convention, March 09

09/03/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has called on the four local authorities across Dublin to work together to make cycling a genuinely safe option. He made the call in his speech to the Green Party National Convention this weekend.

One of the most ambitious goals of the recent Sustainable Transport strategy was the aim to get 200,000 people out of their cars and cycling by 2020.

At a national level, the Government is playing its part through the Bike Scheme tax break and investment in cycle lanes.

But, speaking as someone who has recently taken up cycling, I don’t believe we are going to achieve this goal until cycling considered a genuinely safe option.

And I believe that it is a responsibility, but also a real opportunity, for local councils to make cycling genuinely safe.

Local authorities are in the best position to identify and remedy danger spots for cyclists.

Local authorities are best placed to plan and implement safe route to school schemes for the primary schools in their area.

Working together under the guidance of the Dublin Transport Authority, the local authorities can come together and devise cycle routes that will cross the entire city, and link surrounding counties.

We can make cycling a genuinely safe option, and the first step is to elect myself and my colleagues to city and county councils this June.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 4179777

High resolution pictures of Roderic are available at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rodericogorman/

Roderic O'Gorman at River Tolka, Blanchardstown

16/02/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed Fingal County Council’s call for public submissions regarding the proposed Blanchardstown Village Development Strategy and has urged residents of the village to get involved in the process.

“I’m very pleased to see the Fingal County Council has taken out ads in local papers, calling on residents of Blanchardstown to make submissions on the ‘Village Development Strategy’ it is drawing up. While we have seen extensive development of the Blanchardstown Town Center over the last few years, the Village itself has been neglected to a certain extent. It’s good to see the Council is now devising a plan which I hope will lead to the regeneration of the village, but also the preservation of its character”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“Some of the key aspects the Council is focusing on include the creation of safe pedestrian and cycle routes, gaining maximum benefit from the Tolka river and also protecting the historical features of the village”.

“Since the Development Strategy will be addressing the issue of ‘infill’ sites in the village, I think that those making submissions should include their views on what is the appropriate height of buildings in a village setting. Some of the land in the village could in the future be used for high-rise offices or apartments. If residents want to ensure this does not happen, they must make their views clear in their submission”.

“I think the Development Strategy should also examine whether there is space to provide more facilities for young people. In particular, I would like to see the Council investigate the possibility of create a Youth Café within the village”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
High resolution pictures of Roderic are available at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rodericogorman/

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has criticised Iarnrod Eireann for its continued failure to implement ‘Customer Information Screens’ on the Maynooth line stations such as Castleknock, Coolmine and Clonsilla.

“I’m regularly asked by commuters in Dublin 15 why the screens in Castleknock, Coolmine and Clonsilla stations don’t work. I’ve contacted Barry Kenny, the Communications Manager for Iarnrod Eireann on this issue. He informs me that while the hardware for the screens was ordered a number of years ago at the same time that screens were ordered for the DART, it will not be installed until the signalling upgrade for the entire Maynooth line is undertaken”.

“I find this excuse unconvincing. It would appear that Iarnrod Eireann have had the necessary hardware for the last few years. It’s ridiculous that the company cannot manage to achieve something as basic as working information screens. During the recent cold spell, trains were regularly delayed and the loudspeaker system proved itself inadequate as its volume is very low and if there is any noise at the station – for example a train on the other line – it is practically inaudible”.

“I’m urging Iarnrod Eireann to act swiftly to install the Customer Information Screens so commuters can be fully informed about train arrivals and delays”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
High resolution pictures of Roderic are available at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rodericogorman/