Chief Executive's Report
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May 2021 Chief Executive’s Report Tymon Park Tree Sculpture About the Chief Executive’s Report Contents South Dublin County Council’s Chief Executive’s Report is presented to elected members at Council 22 every month and details important achievements across our various departments whilst highlighting key statistics and images from events that took place that month. Statistics Report The report also highlights major news pieces and puts a focus on an area of the Council that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. 06 Housing Social and Community 24 04 LUPT Development Finance Report Highlights from Land Use Planning and Transportation. 25 Images of the Month Economic, Enterprise and 08 Tourism Development Features 14 Cycle South Dublin The ambitious Cycle South Dublin pro- gramme of work was approved at April’s Council meeting. 16 Tourism Plans for Lucan The Council has engaged a tourism de- Corporate Performance and velopment consultancy firm to develop a 10 Change Management plan for Lucan. 18 Bealtaine Festival A wide range of activities celebrating art and creativity for over 55s are being run in May for the Bealtaine Festival. Council Focus 20 A look at the South Dublin County Sports Partnership and the range of supports we provide for sports development and physical activity. Environment, Water and Climate 12 Change 3 Cycle South Dublin With the easing of construction restrictions for active travel and greenway projects in April, two Land Use, Planning and new Cycle South Dublin projects are now due to commence on- site during May. The first project is 650 metres long and runs on Transportation Grange Road in Rathfarnham from Nutgrove Avenue to St Enda’s Drive. With three busy schools along this street, it will provide a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists. It is planned for the works to take approximately nine months and to be completed in early 2022. The second project is at the Jobstown Junction on the N81 in Tallaght. The project combines 500 metres of pedestrian and Draft County Development Plan cycle improvements at this busy junction, along with significant The Chief Executive’s Draft County Devel- landscape improvements to the opment Plan 2022-2028 has been submit- surrounding green spaces. The ted to elected members for consideration. project will take approximately Consideration of the Draft Plan has to be nine months to deliver. completed within eight weeks culminating in agreement on the Draft Plan that will go out on public consultation. The Draft Plan will then go on display for ten weeks on 7 July having undergone any revisions on foot of those considerations. level 5 restrictions, to discuss the Lower Dodder Road public proposal and to fully understand its Heritage Investment consultation extension impacts on the street and the ac- The Department of Housing, cess to their homes. In response to Local Government and Heritage ublic consultation on a Part 8 this, and in discussion with elected is operating the Built Heritage proposal for an active travel members, it was agreed to extend Investment Scheme again for P scheme along the Lower the public consultation to 5 July to 2021. The fund is intended to Dodder Road started in March and address the concerns, particularly assist with works to safeguard was due to end on 26 April. This of the elderly population living on structures protected under the project is part of the agreed Cycle this street. Planning and Development South Dublin programme of works. Act 2000 (as amended) and, in It is now planned to bring the pro- certain cases, works to structures The scheme proposes the intro- posed Part 8 scheme to Council in within Architectural Conservation duction of a new one-way system September for consideration. Whilst Areas, and to support the em- along the Lower Dodder Road this is a delay in the programme, ployment of skilled and experi- and an extension to the existing this extended timescale will give Lower Dodder Road enced conservation professionals footpath to provide more space for all local people and Councillors Public consultation on the Lower Dodder and tradespeople. The allocation pedestrians and cyclists. a significantly extended oppor- Road has been extended. for the Council under the scheme tunity to provide feedback on the for 2021 is €72,000 which was During the public consultation, proposal. an increase of €12,000 from last there were concerns from the year’s allocation. resident groups that people in the immediate area of the scheme The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is being run again in 2021. were unable to meet, due to COVID 4 5 Rathcoole Courthouse Plans Plans by the Council, in partner- ship with Rathcoole Community Council, for an extension and Housing, Social and alterations to the former Court of Petty Sessions on the Main Street in Rathcoole Village are currently Community Development out for public consultation. The historic building, which is a protected structure, will be enhanced with a multi-use room, café area and significant conserva- tion and improvement work under the proposal, with funding from both the Council and the Depart- ment of Rural and Community Development under the Town and Village Renewal Fund. The plans can be viewed, and sub- missions and observations can be submitted, via the Council’s online Africa Day consultation portal until Tuesday The Council is looking to build on a 25 May 2021. successful European Action Week Against Racism by hosting a range of activities for Africa Day on 25 May. Groups interested in celebrating the vibrant cultural heritage of Africa and the contribution made to Irish society by African communities can con- tact our Social Inclusion Unit by telephone at 01-4149000 or by emailing info@ sdublincoco.ie. Estate Management and with supplying cleaning equipment Tenant Involvement and materials as well as arranging Week Against Racism waste disposal for approved initia- For European Action Week s a Council, we want our es- tives in a local estate. Against Racism, the Council tates to be enjoyable places hosted a “Racism has no place in to live and our residents to South Dublin County Council is South Dublin County” art compe- A strongly committed to empower- enjoy the public realm around their tition to celebrate the diversity homes and we encourage our ten- ing local communities to improve of people living in Ireland today ants to become more involved in their areas through targeted estate and to combat racism, with win- our estate management work. By management works and interven- ners subsequently presented with working together, we can provide tions – we will support measures to prizes by Mayor Ed O’Brien. Activ- a pleasant environment and better increase engagement and capacity ities also included an intercultur- quality of life for everyone. building including through the use al dancing workshop facilitated of technologies and innovation. by Mother Tongues, who promote The Council’s Estate Management Local groups are very welcome to intercultural dialogue and a town team is available to provide advice submit information and photo- Estate Management hall discussion with communities and supports to resident groups graphs on their estate management Any residents looking for advice or in Adamstown on the impact of wishing to carry out improve- initiatives that we will promote opportunities can contact the Estate racism on adolescents and the ments in Council estates, includ- and share through social media Management team. challenges they face in partner- ing through creating community and newsletters. ship with African Social Workers gardens, organising clean-ups and Ireland. litter picking, and carrying out landscaping improvements and Mayor Ed O’Brien presented the European Action Week Against Racism tree planting. We can also assist prize to the overall winner Li Zhou. 6 7 Tallaght Hospital Project As part of the Keep Well campaign, North Clondalkin Library, and in association with with Tallaght Economic, Enterprise and Hospital, has been running a pilot initiative within the hospital to loan 30 playaways and 30 adult Tourism Development fiction books. Tallaght Hospital has identified the William Stokes Unit, which is a ward for elderly and stroke pa- tients predominately, as the best area to roll out the playaway au- dio books. These patients can have issues with their sight and motor skills and these devices enable the patients to enjoy books whilst an inpatient in the hospital. Online resources are also being promoted within Tallaght Hospi- tal, with particular emphasis on District Centre Enhancement BorrowBox. BorrowBox is an app that allows library members bor- South Dublin County Council is currently row eBooks and eAudiobooks free inviting artists to submit Stage 1 propos- from their library. als for commissions in the District Centre Enhancement Programme at Rosemount Shopping Centre (Rathfarnham) and Castletymon Centre (Tallaght). The closing date is Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 4:00 PM and an artist’s brief is available for download on the Council’s website. Local Legacies 1921/2021 social conditions experienced by Exploring & Thinking local people during the revolution- The four Dublin Local Authorities outh Dublin County Coun- ary period, the Irish language and announced this year’s recipients cil’s Decade of Centenaries cultural life, the role of women dur- of the Exploring & Thinking Bur- S Programme 2021, approved ing this time, South Dublin County’s sary. The Bursary Awards support by the Council’s Commemorations military heritage, and the experi- individual professional artists Committee, will explore, and reflect ences of Irishmen who fought in to develop their artistic practice on the impact of the pivotal events the Great War on their return to working with and/or producing of 100 years ago at both a national their communities in South Dublin work for early childhood arts.