Category — Council News and Info

Anti social behavior causes untold misery to many people across the County and perhaps the Country. There needs to be a meaningful penalty which will act as a real deterrent to individuals. To date the problem is increasing and we have no real data as to the costs involved in terms of trying to catch the individuals, processing the law and repairing the damage. In addition, ordinary people who want to live a peaceful life, pay their taxes, enjoy their environment and participate in community activities have to pay the price twice through anxiety and mounting taxes.

Prior to the last local elections many representations were made to me chiefly about such behavior. The local authority have a role in processing fines for the Bye law for the Prohibition of Drinking in Public places, the Gardai issue the fine and the Council send it to the individual some are paid and if not then its up to the Gardai to take it to the courts. This is ineffectual, the fine is derisory, the Gardai and Local Authority’s time is wasted and no real benefit ensues.

I proposed that Cork County Council expand the current Bye Law to take in all anti-social behavior and instead of a small fine have community service to repair damage to property or help the community in a specific way. I also intend (not least because I received a phenomenal reaction across the country) to put a motion before the Fine Gael Ard Fheis on March 19th to urge the Party to follow on from the Local Election Manifesto to tackle the issue at national level. Cork County Council’s Joint Policing Committee is to discuss such a proposal which hopefully will receive widespread support.

The benefits would be two fold the community would have additional help when the work is carried out under supervision, the tax payer cost would be reduced and the embarrassment would be a real deterrent to the offender. Obviously, I am speaking about persistent offenders here not a once off situation. In addition, it would prevent the growing sense of powerlessness in the face of increasing antisocial behavior. Our Gardai can only do so much and the courts may be reluctant to impose custodial sentences for relatively minor offences, especially as our prisons are so overcrowded.

I can be contacted on 087-916 1952 or at info@deirdrefore.ie for more information or if any article is of interest to you.

Thank you, Deirdre.

Ballygarvan School boost

The long running campaign for a new primary school in Ballygarvan received a boost when a proposal from Cllr Deirdre Forde formally recommended disposal of 0.245 acres if land to Cork Diocesan Trustees. This land is required as part of the process to develop a new school, as the number of pupils has risen from 145 to 265 in the past decade and space is limited. Cllr Forde who has two nephews attending the school, said disposal was of immense importance.

Crosshaven
Cork County council are preparing a tourism strategy document, covering an area from Kinsale to Youghal. Crosshaven and the harbour are central to this. The provision of an integrated tourist product including development of the forts for access to the public along with the marketing of this facility will be central to the growth of Crosshaven. The increase in the population of Crosshaven, its proximity to Cork city and with the planned reintroduction of the Cork–Swansea ferry would given this area a huge economic boost.

Carrigaline Citizens Information Centre

The Carrigaline Citizens Information Centre is situated in the portacabin in the Owenabue Car Park on the Main Street of Carrigaline. The information centre is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 1.30pm and the telephone number for enquiries is 021 4376793.
This is a free confidential information advice and advocacy service.

Ringaskiddy still waiting for traffic calming

€10,000 has been allocated for traffic calming 3 years ago but there is no allocation from the National Roads Authority for 2009. A lot of industrial traffic uses the road and the main road through Ringaskiddy is wide and difficult to cross. With plans for a playground, traffic calming is needed in the area more than ever.

N28 Project

Following the decision by government to postpone the upgrade of the Cork to Ringaskiddy road, in favour of the major inter-urban routes, this project has slipped further down the scale. The decision has huge consequences for the entire region and in particular for the future viability for Cork Harbour and the industries based there.

Road in Passage Estate

The roads serving St Marys and St Josephs Terraces in Rockenham, are in dire need of resurfacing. The pedestrian crossing is also in need of upgrading with more markings and signs as it is a hazard. The matters have been referred to the Area Engineer for investigation.

Derelict property on Rochestown Road

Cllr Forde welcomed the action by Council to make secure a derelict property in a prominent position on Rochestown Road.

Home Energy Saving scheme

I am pleased to inform you that the scheme is now open for Homeowner applications. Full details about the scheme, including the application form may be found on the website at www.sei.ie/hes. You can also apply online.

Graffiti – immediate removal is the only solution

“Concerned people and community groups are desperate to help themselves but often do not know what they can do and how easy it can be. I worked with residents groups in the past doing graffiti clean ups and they were very successful and additionally they actually built community spirit too” Tom Solan, client services manager Safe Graffiti Removal Ltd, a former Graffiti Officer with London Borough Council, LBC.

The solution is DIY Graffiti Removal by the provision of graffiti removal kits. This acknowledges the fact that the Council, although supportive of community efforts, cannot do everything. The way forward is encouraging local interest groups to take ownership in the community.

Some prevention methods that help deter graffiti vandals from using walls:

Attractive To Vandals Not So Attractive To Vandals
Smooth Surface Rough Surface
Light-Coloured Surface Dark-Colored
Regular paint Anti-graffiti shield
Patched and dirty Clean and freshly painted surfaces

Tips to make it harder for vandals to get close enough to your walls to write on them:

Use Clinging plants such as ivy, on vulnerable walls. This breaks up the writing space and makes it harder for the paint to reach the wall.
Plant bushes in front of walls (make sure no windows or doors are too close!). This will make it harder for vandals to get close to the wall.
Erect fences between your business and public property. This helps people know where the boundaries are, and also makes it harder for graffiti vandals to get close enough to your wallsResearch has shown that the most effective way to prevent graffiti is prompt removal.

Studies show that removal within 24 to 48 hours result in a nearly zero rate of re-occurrence.

Safe Graffiti Removal is presently supplying graffiti removal kits to county council, local authorities, residents associations, schools. For further information, go to www.safegraffitiremoval.ie

Further to numerous representations by me over the past four years and more recently in relation to a revised road widening scheme for above I now wish to advise Council are currently re examing the proposal.  In the earlier scheme (for which we received Part 8 planning) there were cycle tracks throughout.  The redesigned scheme will reduce or eliminating these cycle tracks.  The amount of Compulsary Purchase Orders and therefore the cost of the proposal will  be reduced given the current economic climate.

• It is intended to develop the section between Maryborough Hill and Mount Oval. 
• Construction would take approx 2/3 years depending on finance and other matters.
• Traffic Study of Douglas/Rochestown will commence shortly.
• Development plans for lower Clarke’s Hill will be postponed pending results of Study
• Council hope to publish Part 8 for revised scheme in early Summer 2009.
• When Part 8 is adopted Council  will improve facilities for the bus in the area.
• There is a Department of Transport grant of 100,000 towards the proposal for 2009

However, I have to advise that within the past two weeks Council was informed that it is not allowed to embark on any new non national road projects until a review by the Government of its existing financial commitments is completed, having regard to the current difficult economic situation.  This embargo even applies to projects which have already been approved for funding such as the 400,000 traffic calming scheme on the Rochestown Road, the proposed western relief road for Carrigaline and the Green Routes serving Douglas and Carrigaline. 

The fact that this proposal was first mooted in 2005 and hasn’t moved forward is highly regrettable and deeply unsatisfactory and points to inefficiencies in the system at local level..  Residential planning continued to be granted in the area. Development charges continued to be gathered.  Delayed action, coupled with the current crisis in funding, may mean that this project is once again at a snails pace. 

Be assured that I will continue to voice concerns and highlight the urgent necessity for progress on the matter.

 One third of penalty points issued given to drivers without a driving licence

 FG calls for uninsured vehicles to be impounded

 As  Gardaí  prepare a motoring crackdown for St Patrick’s Day, Fine Gael has revealed that one third of  drivers who receive penalty points for breaking the law do not have a valid driving licence, including almost every single driver stopped for having no insurance.

 According to official Road Safety Authority (RSA) figures, a staggering  188,581  of  the  total  of  608,324 current penalty points could not be  enforced.  Almost  100%  of  all  penalty  points  for  driving without  insurance  were  issued to drivers without a valid driving licence. Most worrying  of  all  is  the  fact  that a quarter of drivers who received  penalty  points  for  their  role in a fatal or serious accident did not have  a  valid licence. These shocking figures confirm that thousands of  motorists are driving around without a driving licence.

 Other  RSA  figures  reveal a clear link between unlicensed drivers and  the most serious offences, including driving without insurance and fatal  accidents. 

 Current powers are simply too weak to clamp down on the growing problem  of  unlicensed  drivers.  For  a  start, Gardaí should get new powers to  impound  uninsured  vehicles,  with  the vehicles only being returned on proof of insurance.

 Fine Gael will also put down amendments to the Road Traffic & Transport  Bill  when  it  comes  before  the  Dáil in a few weeks’ time. We cannot  tolerate  a  situation where a third of all penalty points are literally  not  worth the paper they are written on, because the driving licence in question does not even exist.

I welcome Fine Gaels proposals for amended Radical Overhaul of the Dail and the Seanad. The public perception of the two houses is that they are top heavy and that there is a urgent need for streamlining to reduce costs while increasing productivity and effectiveness. The Seanad is seen to be remote from the people with no real role or tangible benefit.

After months of haggling I managed to get the Design for Traffic Calming on the Rochestown Road on the agenda of the Area Roads and will post the minutes of same when they arrive in due course.

In a nutshell the design (which in fact was ready I understand in Dec. 2006) was duly shown to us. The design is from the entrance to the Douglas Court Shopping Centre to Rochestown Rise. It is proposed to have cycling lanes, footpaths, central road markings, dedicated bus lay by, and traffic lights at the top entrance to Maryborough Estate.

Subsequently, the Senior Engineer informed us that currently there are plans to lay the second phase of a watermain from Rochestown Inn to Wainsfort and that this may hold a portion of the work up. They also have to decide how the project is to be funded. The design will be put before Council soon and should be going out for public consultation following that. I have also placed this matter on the April Agenda to keep the pressure up.

In relation to the upgrading of Clarkes Hill (and footpaths etc), I have placed this matter on the Agenda for the March Area Roads Meeting and you can be assured I am vigorously pursuing this matter also. I regret that both these issues have taken so long to progress and find it highly regrettable and incomprehensible that these matters have taken so long to come before us despite numerous representation, debates, e-mails phone calls etc and badly reflects on the local government system.

I trust that this update in informative for you.

Regards Deirdre

Carrigaline Area Roads Committee – 16th February 2009

Update on Public Lighting Capital Programme 2005 – 2008

Carrigaline Area 1. 2008 Public Lighting Contract.

I am pleased to announce that Cork County  Council has gone to tender on a contract of nine separate public lighting schemes. The tender process has been completed and the Council expects to be able to award the contract in the very near future. This contract includes four separate schemes in the Carrigaline Electoral Area.

R611, Kilmoney Road to Pipers Cross

R851,ballycurreen Road

L-2460,adjacent to Alderbrook Estate

Carrigaloe Ferry to Monkstown.

If funding is available, the same procedure will be repeated for a second bundle of schemes to complete the current Capital Programme. The second Public Lighting Contract consists of 13 separate schemes. This contract includes four schemes in the Carrigaline Electoral Area.

Killumney Road,Tuairin Glas to An Caislean

R613, Church Road

L2454, Lehenaghmore road at Doughcloyne

South of Scairt Cross to Housing Estates

Individual Schemes

2. Monastery Road. ( These Lights have been erected).

3. Barry’s Road ( This scheme is under way).

4. Ballea Road.

This scheme has been awarded directly to ESB Contracts. The Civil works will be done by the Carrigaline Area Office depending on whether money will be available for the scheme.

Timber pole schemes.

All timber pole scheme contracts are awarded directly to ESB contracts as currently they are the only contractor trained to work on network wires. These schemes are ongoing.

Rochestown L2472, Coach Hill ( Order given to ESB. 3 no. 150W on new wooden poles. Residents’ objections have prevented installation)

Lehenaghmore L2454,( Lehenaghmore road, phase 1)

Scairt Cross L2462,

Welfare forms now available online for Jobseekers

I am pleased to announce that application forms for Jobseekers Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance are available for the first time to download from the Department of Social and Family Affairs website www.welfare.ie, by clicking on the “Recently Unemployed?” link.

This will mean that people who are making a repeat claim (i.e. renewing a claim that they had initially made within the past two years) can now download and complete the UP 6 form.  All other people can download and complete the UP1 form before going to their Social Welfare Office. 

Minister for Social & Family Affairs Mary Hanafin said this development “was part of a series of service improvement measures being brought in to help speed up the process for those who have lost their jobs or have been put on reduced working hours.  Having the forms available online means that one stage of the application process is taken out for men and women seeking their entitlements.  There is also a great deal of information on the welfare website which means that people can take time to read the forms and understand what’s required  before making their claim.

Being able to have the forms filled out in advance of arriving in the social welfare office and having the appropriate documents, such as P45 and photographic ID such as driver’s licence or passport, will help both the jobseeker and the offices processing claims.”

Minister Hanafin said that “in the last three months of 2008 staff in Social Welfare offices throughout the country processed 155,000 claims – that was an increase of 74% on the same period in the previous year. All our staff are very conscious of the pressures that members of the public are under when coming into the offices to claim jobseekers payments. 

To further help speed up processing claims, four Central Decisions Units are also being set up in Dublin city centre, Sligo, Finglas and Carrick-on-Shannon, each of which will have 10 staff processing and deciding on claims.  They will be able to process claims from offices in various regions which are experiencing an increased claimload and backlogs in processing.

We are looking at implementing a range of initiatives and are continually reviewing our claims processing system to help us deal with the unprecedented increase in claims for jobseekers payments.”