“I was recently contacted by a resident in Castleknock, about road-resurfacing works that was taking place on his road between 8:00PM and 6:00 AM. The resident was particularly concerned about the level of notice given before the work began. While a leaflet was circulated a number of days beforehand, this gave the incorrect times for the roadwork’s and it was only the day before they commenced that a second leaflet was circulated to residents, indicating the correct times”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“I fully understand that the Council has to engage in a balancing acting when undertaking roadwork’s, between doing them during the day and causing traffic disruption, and doing them at night and disturbing peoples sleep. However, when work is undertaken during the night on residential roads, it is almost certainly going to cause considerable disturbance”.

“I’m calling on Fingal County Council to set out clearly the circumstances in which they will opt to undertake roadwork’s during the night, as opposed to during the day, on residential roads. Further, I am calling on the Council to ensure that when it does opt to undertake work during the night, residents are given adequate notice of this fact”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

The campaign is heating up now and I’m in with a shot of getting a seat on Fingal County Council but it will be a battle. If you’d like to lend a hand on the campaign trail you’re more then welcome. Just leave a comment or send me an email.

Roderic

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.

Ends

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.

Ends

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.

Ends

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.

We are meeting in two groups – Simon’s group will be meeting at Clonsilla Station and my group will be meeting at Castleknock Train Station. We will be cleaning the area around the two stations, then we will be working along the bank of the Canal and meeting at Coolmine Station.

The clean-up kicks off at 2 PM. Do come and join us. The Royal Canal is a real resource for Dublin 15, but unfortunately it is often littered. Myself and Simon are inviting people from across Dublin 15 to help us give this stretch of the canal a good cleaning

I’m hoping to put up more over the next few weeks, outlining the main issues upon which I’m campaigning.

Aftermath of burnt out car, St Mochtas estate, Coolmine

Over the last two years, I have been dealing with the issue of abandoned cars across Dublin 15. I have recently written to the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley TD, to ask him to consider amending the law in order to allow local authorities greater freedom to deal with removing abandoned cars.

Last week a car was abandoned in St Mochta’s estate in Coolmine. When the Council were notified, they had to go through a long process to notify the former owner of the car. Unfortunately, this long time period meant that the car was burnt out. At this stage, the Council was able to move the burnt out car immediately.

It strikes me as completely ridiculous that it is easier to get a burnt out car removed, than getting the same car removed before it gets burnt out. The Council state the reason for this is that on occasions where they have removed an abandoned car without the owner’s consent and then disposed of it, they have been successfully sued by the car’s owner.

In light of this, I have written to the Minister for the Environment to consider amending the Waste Management Act to allow the local authority more flexibility in disposing of abandoned cars. When cars are burnt out, they create a major hazard, both while on fire and the resulting debris. Fingal and other county councils should have to power to move quickly when abandoned cars are reported to them and not have one hand tied behind their back by the legislation.

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.

Ends

Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

'Kissing-gates' at Laverna Way

While I was canvassing door-to-door in Laverna recently a number of residents raised concerns with me about increases in anti-social behaviour and a lack of Garda presence in the area. In particular, the problem of gangs gathering and drinking at the gates between Laevena Way and Bramley Green was highlighted.

I have raised these issues with the Gardai in Blanchardstown and the Superintendent has referred the issues to the Neighbourhood Policing Unit – see the response below.

Garda Response - Anti-social behaviour in Laverna