Sandyford Industrial Estate Link Road Update

Just a quick update on this proposal. The plans can be inspected at the council offices in Dundrum and Dun Laoghaire up to 22 April.

There is a non-technical summary of the environmental impact report on www.dlrcoco.ie.

Staff familiar with the scheme will be available to answer questions at the Council Offices, Dundrum Office Park, Main Street, Dundrum (rear Bank of Ireland) between 4pm and 8pm on Monday 4 and Wednesday 6 April 2005.

Objections and observations to the road must be in on or before Friday, 6 May, to Declan McCulloch, Senior Executive Officer, Economic Development and Planning Department, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Dun Laoghaire.

Concern about this road is growing, with various residents' groups and environmental groups particularly concerned.

Do we need another new road in Dundrum?

A public consultation has commenced on a proposal for a new road from Dundrum to Sandyford Industrial Estate. You can see the details in the "Council News" section. This is going to be a very controversial proposal, and please let me have your views.

First, there is the question of whether we need a new road at all. The Sandyford Industrial estate is a nightmare at rush hour, but it is difficult to see how a new road will dramatically improve that. Certainly, there is a bottleneck within the estate, but the surrounding roads are relatively free. Is it wise to run another road into Dundrum.

Second, the road more or less follows the LUAS line, and given that this is now one of the best public transport corridors in the country, why is a road necessary?

Third, how will Airfield and the surrounding residents, particularly in Balally and Holywell be affected.

You can see the arguments for the proposal in the "Council News" section.

Waste Charges

Some weeks ago, there was a letter in The Irish Times, castigating Labour "hypocrisy" for daring to call for a national waiver scheme for waste charges, while Labour councils, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown included "voted" for the charges. This letter was written straight from the FF wire, as set out by their councillors in Dun Laoghaire the previous Monday.

I did reply to the letter, as set out below, but the paper of record did not see fit to publish it. So much for the right of reply.

"Madam,

Luke Martin’s letter (February 18, 2004) regarding Labour and the waste charges in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown cannot be allowed to go without reply. I will not dwell on its uncanny similarity with the Fianna Fáil “line” on the issue, and instead concentrate on the facts. Under the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, introduced by FF’s Martin Cullen, the power to make waste charges is wholly the function of the county manager. Councillors have no function in this regard.

Labour’s opposition to charges in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown has always been based on the inherent unfairness of a flat charge where everyone pays the same, irrespective of the amount they throw out.

Eamon Gilmore’s proposal for a national waiver scheme is a wholly necessary response to a problem whereby poor people throughout the country are treated in vastly different ways as far as waste charges are concerned. In Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, there is a partial waiver for pensioners below a certain income, with a further waiver for large families, recognising that they cannot reduce waste below a certain level. In Dublin City, where the waste budget is subsidised, there is a full waiver for those on a certain income; and in many parts of the country, there is no waiver scheme whatever.

It is worth repeating again for Mr Martin’s benefit. Councillors cannot make waivers, and cannot make charges. Government, however, can make sure that there is equitable treatment for its citizens.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Aidan Culhane"

Congratulations to David Gillick!

Congratulations to David Gillick on his brilliant Gold Medal in the European Indoor Championships in Madrid. He has done the southside proud, and is a credit to his club Dundrum-South-Dublin AC. An inspiration to us all!