Cllr. Kieran Dennison: June 2012

Septic Tanks - What You Need To Know

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Septic Tank Registration Fee - Who is Liable?

If your residential property is connected to a domestic waste water treatment system, by law, it must be registered by 1^st February 2013.

How much?

· The registration fee is €5 until 28^th September 2012 increasing to €50 after that date. The reduced registration is to encourage registration.

· The fee is payable only on initial registration. There will be no subsequent fee for re-registering (every 5 years to keep register up-to-date).

How do I register?

Online at ProtectOurWater.ie,
By Post: Forms in City/County Councils, libraries and Citizens Information Centres or LoCall1890-800 800 for information. Cheques made Payable: ‘Protect Our Water’ and post to: Domestic Wastewater Systems Registration P.O Box 12204, D1
At your Local Authority Office (no admin fee)

Why (2 main reasons)?

Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund 2012

Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government today, has announced funding for local environmental initiatives by communities, individuals and not-for-profit groups and organisations.

The Minister has allocated funding of €337,000 to local authorities to fund projects under the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) Environmental Partnership Fund 2012. Matching funding by local authorities will bring shared potential partnership funding to €674,000.

Half of Cyclists With Head Injuries Under 14

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

With National Bike Week getting under way it is worth bearing in mind that this healthy and safe activity also has its risks which is why it is important to wear a helmet.

Head injuries are the most common injury recorded in those admitted to hospital following an accident or crash involving a cyclist. Most deaths involving cyclists also involve head injuries.

Swords Water Cutoff

The Water Services Department plans to carry out works to repair a leak on a large diameter trunk water main on Tuesday 26th June in lands off the Forest Road, Swords.

Reilly Forces Down Drug Prices

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Health Minister James Reilly has announced an agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) on interim drug price reductions. The price of certain off patent medicines are to be reduced which will deliver full year savings to the HSE of €20m.

Reducing Red Tape For Business

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD has launched businessregulation.ie, a new website aimed at reducing the burden of red tape on business by bringing together in one place clear information on regulations imposed by over 30 Government bodies and how to comply with them.

Water Cut Off In The Ward

Fingal County Council is to switch off Kilshane Pumps on Tuesday 19th June to facilitate the "tie in" of a new watermain in the area. The pumps will be off from 9a.m. to 5p.m. while works are ongoing. Areas from Kilshane Cross to Ward Cross through to Coolquay to include Thornton and Kilsallaghan will experience reduced pressure. The Dublin Airport Logistics Parkmay also be affected by low water pressure.

Consumers are requested to conserve water as much as possible during this period in order to avoid total water loss.

Connolly To Get New Medical Imaging System

Monday, June 18, 2012

At the March meeting of the HSE Forum I looked for a progress report on the National Integrated Medical Imaging System at Connolly Hospital. NIMIS will make Ireland’s radiological services ‘filmless’ and enable secure and rapid movement of patient image data throughout the health service.

Public Consultation on Local Area Planning Guidelines

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan has announced the publication of the Local Area Plans – Guidelines for Planning Authorities for public consultation. Following the 6 week consultation process ending on 27th July 2012, a final version of the Guidelines will be prepared for publication under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 later this year.

The aim of the guidelines is to support planning authorities in preparing and implementing Local Area Plans. LAPs provide for the sustainable development of communities having regard to realistic assessments of need for future development informed by wider county and city plans and regional planning guidelines.

Summer Holidays For Mobile Library

Friday, June 15, 2012

In line with previous years, the operating times of the Mobile Library and Housebound services will be adjusted in accordance with the school calendar and summer holidays. Primary schools are the predominant users of the Mobile Libraries and during their holiday period the service will be suspended temporarily from Monday 2^nd July to Friday 31^stAugust 2012.

Both the Mobile Library and Housebound services will resume during the week of Monday 3^rd September.

Security Connect Event

Thursday, June 14, 2012

The Security Connect Event is taking place in Draiocht next Wednesday 20th June from 9.30am - 12.30pm.

It is organised by the Blanchardstown Area Partnership and is based on the successful Retail Connect employment event held last year.

Speakers on the day will include the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA), Private Security Authority (PSA) , Sword Security and Noonan.

This is a great opportunity to get advice and network with the industry. Places must be pre booked by emailing les@bap.ie or calling 01 8206379. Details needed are name, phone number, email address, if they are registered with the LES and where they heard about the event.

Mayor opens modern wastewater treatment plant at Portrane

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Gerry McGuire today officially opened the new purpose built 65,000 PE (population equivalent) wastewater treatment plant at Portrane which provides a modern waste water treatment solution for the nearby communities of Portrane, Donabate, Rush and Lusk, greatly benefitting the local environment.

Prior to the completion of the Portrane plant, the four communities had separate waste water schemes including combinations of treatment, septic tanks and discharges of effluent to the Rogerstown Estuary and untreated marine discharge to the Irish Sea. The new plant will treat waste from the population equivalent of 65,000, which broadly equates to the household wastewater from 45,000 people along with the waste that arises in the schools, businesses and industry within a population of that size.

Pyrite found in local Primary School

Pyrite has been discovered in St Patrick's in Diswellstown, Castleknock, following an inspection by the Department of Education.

The school was built in 2006 but problems began to appear in recent years with distorted door frames, skirting boards and fittings, pre-cast stairs lifting and extensive cracking.

Engineering consultants have advised that the hardcore infill from all areas of the building and surrounding external areas will now have to be removed.

Castleknock To Chapelizod Road Closure

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Fingal County Council will temporarily close Tower Road (i.e. upper part of Knockmaroon hill) from its junction with Whites Road to its junction with the Lower Lucan Road from 7.00am to 5.00pm on Sunday 10th June 2012 to facilitate the removal of a dangerous tree.

The alternative route available for non commercial vehicles is via College Road, Castleknock Road, Chesterfield Avenue, Ordinance Survey Road to Knockmaroon Hill/Lower Lucan Road.

Local access will be maintained.

St.Mochtas Picnic at Luttrellstown Castle

Friday, June 8, 2012

This year’s Annual St. Mochtas Parish Picnic will be held on Sunday 24th June from 1-8pm.

Thanks to the wonderful generosity of Luttrellstown Golf Club the Picnic Funday is being held held in the grounds around Luttrellstown Castle. This is a fantastic day out and a wonderful opportunity to visit the grounds around the Castle. Everybody is welcome.

For ongoing information please see www.facebook.com/stmochtasparishpicnicfunday Share the link on Facebook to all your friends.

Tickets are available from the Parish Centre at €10 per family/car which covers admittance, raffle and live entertainment all day. Events include:

Rush and Malahide Lose Out On Blue Flag Awards

There were mixed results for Fingal in the Blue Flag awards. Skerries south and Donabate were awarded the Blue Flag for the first time since 1995 and 2007 respectively. Portrane and Portmarnock retained their Blue Flags this year bringing the Fingal total to four.

Malahide beach lost out over safety concerns due to a permanent red flag flying during the summer warning people not to swim because of drowning dangers.Rush South in north Co Dublin was not awarded the flag because of non-compliance with water-quality criteria.

Last year Fingal County Council said that bird droppings were responsible for Burrow Beach in Sutton, north Dublin, failing the standard for water quality. Could it be that the birds have now moved to Rush South?

Water Cut Off - St. Margaret’s and Rivermead Estate

There has been a burst on the watermain in the vicinity of Killeek Lane. There is a crew on the way to carry out repairs. Unfortunately it may take up until 1.00pm for this work to be completed. Every effort will be made to complete the necessary work as quickly as possible.

Areas affected: Killeek Lane, St. Margaret’s and Rivermead Estate

Update: This repair is taking longer than anticipated to carry out due to difficulties encountered during repair work. It is now expected that repairs will be completed at approximately 6.30pm. Further updates will follow.

FCC apologise to consumers affected by this prolonged disruption to service.

Ongar-Castaheany Cycle Network

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Fingal County Council have put on public display the new Ongar-Castaheany-Littlepace cycle and footpath upgrade scheme. The scheme is funded by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar.

Last year I encouraged the council to apply to the Department of Transport for this type of scheme as I was aware that similar applications were being made from other local authorities. I am conscious of the many people want their children to have safer access on foot and by cycle to local shops and schools in the area.

The scheme will provide for new and improved integrated cycle and walking infrastructure in the Ongar, Castaheany and Littlepace area. It is of course very timely as National Bike Week takes place from 16th to the 24th of June.

James Connolly Garden Opens at Connolly Hospital

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Today marked the opening of the new James Connolly Garden at Connolly Hospital.

First year BSc Horticultural Students from the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB) carried out an assessment, design and reconstruction of one of the internal courtyards at Connolly Hospital as part of their course work under the guidance of academic staff from ITB and Karl Dalton, Environmental Manager, Connolly Hospital.

Niamh Reid Burke to Carry Olympic Flame For Dublin 15

Congratulations to local girl Niamh Reid-Burke who will carry the Olympic Torch tomorrow. Niamh, from Clonsilla, Dublin 15, is a second year student on the Sports Management & Coaching course at Blanchardstown Institute of Technology. She was nominated by the Sports Department in Fingal County Council and following a vetting process and an interview, Niamh was selected to carry the torch by the Olympic Council.

From the age of 12 she has been a member of the National Aquatic Centre’s Spring and Platform Diving Team and represented Ireland at international events on four occasions. Niamh also plays soccer and received her first cap for Ireland when she was 14. She has 36 under age caps and has been on the FAI Ladies Senior International panel for the last two years.

€6m Capital Grant Funding For Childcare

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., today announced that €6 million in capital grant funding has been allocated to 290 childcare settings throughout Ireland including two in Dublin West. The aim of the fund is to provide support to childcare settings to address remedial/maintenance/renovation work and/or equipment for early education and childcare services.

Odour Nuisances at Swords Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Please note the following statement From Fingal County Council today in relation to the current odour nuisances at Swords Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Because of recent odour issues at Swords Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Plant Manager suspected that the odour control system was not operating to its full potential. A full inspection of the odour control system was therefore undertaken this week.

Water Shortage For Portersgate

Clonsilla Area: The water has been turned off in the Portersgate area of Clonsilla to carry out repairs to a burst in the area. It is expected that the water supply will be restored by 2pm.

Kinsealy Area: Water is off to Drynam Ave and Russell Terrace to carry out essential maintenance to a fire hydrant. It is expected water will be back on by 2.30pm.

Luttrellstown Community College Granted Planning Permission

Fingal County Council have granted planning permission for Luttrellstown Community College and a nine room extension to Scoil Choilim primary school at Porterstown. Both schools are operated by County Dublin VEC.

This is really good news for the Clonsilla and Carpenterstown area. Fine Gael got a lot of criticism from the left wing parties when we supported rezoning land for the school sites. As well as the badly needed schools, the community and sports facilities will be a fantastic asset for the local area.

The new Luttrellstown Community College will be a 2 storey school building with 20 specialist classrooms, 18 general classrooms, general purpose hall, library/resource room, offices, staff areas and ancillary accommodation with a total floor area C. 7149 m.sq.

The College will have 5 new ballcourts, bicycle racks and 36 new carparking spaces and will be located on the southern side of Scoil Choilm. Scoil Choilm which is currently a 16 classroom primary school, will get a new special needs unit and a 2 story 8 classroom extension.

At the eastern side of Scoil Choilm a new 16 classroom primary school is to be constructed to include a special needs unit and ancillary accommodation as well as 34 carparking spaces.

In keeping with the Fingal schools model a new community centre and sports hall will be constructed on the Campus. Outside there will be 4 new ballcourts and parking spaces.

Site works will include new access roads, turning circles and set down areas off the new Porterstown Link Road which is due for completion by the end of March.

Following a submission from the local Porterstown and Homely Residents Association, the Department of Education relocated the school on the site. This required that additional information had to be provided to the planning authority which delayed the decision.

You can view the planning files here

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