Press Release – O’Gorman welcomes clarification about opening and closing times for Rushbrook – Roselawn Road laneway

Roderic O'Gorman at Rushbrook-Roselawn Road laneway

22/03/09

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

Press Release – O’Gorman calls for safety railings to be installed along Carpenterstown Road and Diswellstown Road

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.

Press Release – O’Gorman addresses Green Party National Conference – calls on local authorities to make cycling a genuinely safe option

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/

Press Release – O’Gorman calls for Blanchardstown residents to get involved in Village Development Strategy

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/

Press Release – O’Gorman criticises Iarnrod Eireann’ inaction on Customer Information screens

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/