Kevin Humphreys TD LOCAL NEWS

UPDATE Working with Cllr. Dermot Lacey

DODDER FLOOD RELIEF WORKS The long sought after Dodder Flood Relief works took an important step forward when at their July meeting the City Council adopted the proposals to continue the measures all the way from Ballsbridge to Clonskeagh Bridge. This was proposed by the Labour Group Leader Dermot Lacey. Councillor Dermot Lacey and Deputy Kevin Humphreys have championed these measures with Kevin pursuing the funding in the Dáil and Dermot pressing for the Plan to be agreed at Council level. The simple truth is that the people who live along the Dodder have been denied a safe environment for too long – that is now about to be changed. Working together and with the different Residents Associations along the Dodder and other Public Representatives, Dermot and Kevin have secured a scheme that provides direct flood alleviation, protects the environment of the Dodder and its built heritage. This includes raising the wall with stone and glass panels along Beatty Avenue and Dodder View Cottages, wall strengthening and raising of same along the Anglesea Road stretch and with a new raised seating area along Herbert Park. From Donnybrook Bridge to Clonskeagh there will be a mixture of new walls and protective higher embankments. A core principle of the scheme is to enable the eventual creation of a linear walkway the entire length of the River. Work will commence immediately and is expected to be completed by the middle of 2015. Delivering this long awaited scheme is an example of what Politicians can do through Cllr Dermot Lacey and Deputy Kevin Humphreys working together and working with communities. That is the Labour way. Next step is viewing the Ballsbridge works on the Dodder to, once and for all, secure Scully’s Field in Milltown for the people as a Public Park.

WORKING WITH CLLR. DERMOT LACEY Inside... I Herbert Park Upgrade For over 20 years, I have worked with my colleague I Dermot Lacey on behalf of communities in Sandymount, New National Maternity Hospital Donnybrook and Ballsbridge, and he is one of the most I LUAS Cross City experienced members of City Council having I St. Marys Belmont School represented the South East Inner City from 1993-1999 I Local Electoral Boundaries and the Pembroke Rathmines area up to the present. He I Iron Footbridge Protected has taken over my old position as Leader of the Labour I Grafton St Refurbishment Group on since my election to Dáil I Éireann, continuing to pursue policies that work for St Alban’s Flood Protection Dublin such as the expansion of the Dublin Bikes scheme I Scoil Mhuire New Classrooms and flood relief schemes. I Dublin Bikes Expansion

KEVIN HUMPHREYS TD Tel: 01 618 3224 Web: www:kevinhumphreys.ie Kevin Humphreys Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2 Email: [email protected] Flickr: kevinhumphreystd @KHumphreysTD €150 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON NEW NATIONAL MATERNITY HOSPITAL The Government has committed to co-locating the National Maternity Hospital, currently sited on Holles St, in a new build on the St. Vincent’s University Hospital campus at Elm Park that will cater for up to 10,000 births per year. €150 million will be invested in a state of the art, custom built, modern health care facility, providing care to international standards in the most appropriate surroundings and with access to the facilities and staff of a major acute hospital; in short - the best care in the best environment. In the early 2000’s when I served on the Board of Holles Street, this was a long held dream – but the €150 million of funding committed by the Government will make it a reality. This is an issue I have raised many times in the Dáil with the Minister, and I am delighted he has proceeded with what will be a major Proposed Location of New National Maternity Hospital on the Elm Park campus capital investment in the healthcare infrastructure in our area. Labour in Government is focused on investing in the infrastructure we need for tomorrow that will also stimulate job creation. While the National Maternity Hospital has been sited on Holles St for over a century and delivered over 9,000 births in 2012, the fabric of the 19th century building was at breaking point, and it is time we provided a modern building to cope with the population boom. Co- location for Holles St was recommended in the 2008 KPMG Independent Review of Maternity and Gynaecology Services in the Greater Dublin area. Experts agree that a maternity hospital should be co-located with adult acute services, and this will ensure modern, specialised care for mother and baby.

LUAS CROSS CITY DUBLIN BIKES EXPANSION Work on the €370 million In May Dublin City Council approved the expansion of LUAS Cross City project to the Dublin Bikes scheme. €2.6 million was provided by connect the Red and Green the National Transport Authority to support this and I lines has started, and will will continue to push for investment from the create over 600 construction Government to support this excellent scheme. The jobs up to the end of 2017 number of bicycles is to increase from 550 to 1,500, when it is due to open with a alongside a doubling in the number of stations to 102 further 60 permanent jobs on focused on the areas to the east and west of the city completion. There will be 13 centre along theLiffey, with many in the Docklands. stops and it will also link to the Work underway on LUAS Cross City The Labour Group on the City Council, led by Cllr. new DIT campus at Dermot Lacey has championed this project from the Grangegorman. The phase of work currently underway is focused on heritage beginning and there are long term plans to expand this work, cellar infill and utilities diversion with work taking place on city centre successful project city wide over a number of years streets. Regular updates are posted on www.luascrosscity.ie dependent on funding. The National Transport Authority has also committed €5 million to the new Liffey Bridge that will carry the LUAS and is currently being built. The shortlist for a new name is now down to five including Rosie Hackett, Willie Bermingham, Frank Duff, Kay Mills and Bram Stoker. My colleague Cllr. Dermot Lacey has been running this naming competition in his capacity as Chairperson of the Naming Committee.

GRAFTON STREET REFURBISHMENT Phase 1 of the Grafton St refurbishment has now started but pedestrians and shoppers will continue to have access. This work is long overdue and will dramatically improve the environment of the street as the cobble lock paving has become worn and damaged. The street will be repaved with grey and pink granite, and the works will take up to November 2014, costing €4 million. Also as part of the LUAS track laying works, the Molly Malone Statue will be temporarily moved from its current location. Planning proposals to improve Grafton Street were also recently approved by the Council, and a motion proposed by Cllr Dermot Lacey to delete the ban on charity shops was overwhelmingly carried. SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE FOR HERBERT PARK Work is currently under on a significant upgrade to Herbert Park. Following his successful championing of the establishment of the Herbert Park Users Forum by Councillor Dermot Lacey, a real programme of work has now commenced. I am delighted that this work is finally taking place. After many years of lobbying Dermot Lacey and the have ensured that money was provided in the City Council for the upgrade of the pitches and a major improvement of the changing room facilities. Work has commenced on the pitches and the plans we have secured the agreement of the City Council to invest significantly in dealing with the drainage problem at the football pitch and the upgrade of the changing rooms, and the Pavillion at the Tennis Court. Work underway on new pitches

Cllr Dermot Lacey & Kevin Humphreys TD on site of Proposed new Pavilion for Herbert Park works SCHOOL NEWS IN REAL PROGRESS AT LAST DUBLIN BAY SOUTH FOR BELMONT AVENUE NATIONAL SCHOOL I 3 new classrooms to be built in Scoil Mhuire (Lakelands) National School As a former pupil, as a parent of former on Gilford Road to replace two pupils and as a Donnybrook resident prefabs and cater for the growing Councillor Dermot Lacey was delighted school age population. to see his colleague Minister announce funding for the long I New primary school to be built on promised refurbishment of St. Mary’s Haddington Road on the site of the National School. This much needed old secondary school and will upgrade for what is universally regarded accommodate St Brigid’s and Scoil as a superb school is especially welcome Dermot Lacey and Kevin Humphreys visiting the site Mhuire. in these straitened financial times. of Belmont Avenue National School which is to be Congratulations are due to the Principal, refurbished I Selection process for new patron for Staff and Board of Management on securing this Government approval. It will protect primary school in the Dublin 4 and secure the place of St. Mary’s in the community and enable the continued provision underway with announcement due of top quality education to children from the area well into the future. in the autumn. Both Educate Together and a Gaelscoil have Work will start as soon as possible. expressed interest.

LOCAL ELECTORAL BOUNDARY CHANGES Following the review of electoral boundaries for the upcoming local elections, the old Pembroke ward has been combined with the area inside the Grand Canal to form an eight seat local electoral area called ‘Pembroke-South Dock’. This re-unites the village of Sandymount. Also last year, our Dáil constituency of Dublin South East was expanded in size to include Terenure, Harold’s Cross and parts of Kimmage and is now known as ‘Dublin Bay South’ but will continue to elect four TDs. The boundaries of the new local electoral ward DODDER IRON FOOTBRIDGE TO BE PROTECTED Following representations from many residents concerned at the future of the old Iron Bridge across the Dodder Dermot Lacey secured an assurance from the City council that every effort will be made to protect this much used and appreciated local amenity. Replying to a question submitted by Dermot Lacey the Manager said “The Iron Bridge at Brookvale Road / Beaver Row is supported at mid span by a pier located in the Dodder. A crack developed near the base of the river support pier and a temporary steel clamp was installed at the crack to protect the bridge. Dublin City Council Roads and Traffic Department have engaged consulting engineers to provide a structural design for a number of options to provide a permanent solution for the strengthening of the river support pier so that the existing temporary clamp can be removed. As part of this work a survey of the bridge was carried out. When the options have been structurally designed and detailed Roads and Traffic Department will be in a position to discuss and present Dermot & Kevin examining the Iron Bridge at Beaver Row/Brookvale options to secure and protect the Bridge. Road

FLOOD PROTECTION t. Mary’s Tennis Club to be assessed FOR ST. ALBAN’S PARK I BELMONT VILLAS - Public lighting on the lane leading to S ces and considered as part of a future programme of improvement works subject to finan In the course of the City Council made available. Budget negotiations Dermot Lacey I successfully secured agreement for ANGLESEA ROAD – a brief is being prepared for the site of the former Public Toilet block on Anglesea Road and the City Council intends to seek expressions of interest in the near future. the allocation of funds to begin to tackle the flooding problems in St. I MILLTOWN - Integrated traffic plan for Ramleh Park Milltown to be examined by Traffic Alban’s Park. Arising from this Advisory Group work has commenced on installing I SANDYMOUNT - Site investigations into the structural integrity of the existing sea wall at a new 400mm ductile iron rising Beach Road and Strand Road are planned to take place this Autumn as part of long term plan main. This will work in conjunction to address flooding risk. with the existing 300mm rising I DOG-FOULING - on-going problem with people not cleaning up the mess left behind by their main, allowing a greater volume of dog and it is both a nuisance and a public health issue. The City Council is taking action to flood water to be pumped during tackle this by co-ordinating activity across city services. The Dog Warden is liaising with the high rainfall events. It is expected Parks Office to identify problem areas and arrange scheduled patrols in public parks. Waste that this work will take Management has two Dog Fouling (Pavement Cleaning) machines that use suction to clean up approximately 6 weeks. This is an dirty streets operating in our area, and dog poo bags are being made available through area issue that has been on-going for offices. The South East area office is planning an awareness campaign in local schools & community centres, and also in identified problem areas, and high profile public places, many years and I am delighted it is alongside the erection of more dog fouling signs. now to be addressed.

Working with your Local Labour Team

Ruairi Quinn TD Emer Costello MEP 01 618 3434 01 874 6109 [email protected] [email protected] Cllr. Dermot Lacey Kevin Humphreys TD Phone: 087 264 6960 Dáil Éireann, Email: [email protected] Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 618 3224 Email: [email protected] Web: www.kevinhumphreys.ie Cllr Gerry Ashe Cllr. Maria Parodi khumphreystd 087 2959571 087 682 1420 [email protected] [email protected]

0612