DUBLIN Nuacht Bhaile NEDUBLINWS NEWS Átha Cliath www.sinnfein.ie Earrach 2017 ‘Let’s lift Dublin and “The mass movement led by the Right2Water campaign forced the Government to back down Ireland’ on water charges. The battle is not over yet and MARY LOU McDONALD we must ensure that the charges are gone and gone for good” has shown that people want effective action now to end the housing crisis. The growing A NEW VISION for Dublin and for Ireland support for Sinn Féin and others seeking real based on equality and the determination to es even for the few modest homes that are political and social change shows that a new put in place practical solutions in our grossly available in Dublin. This must end.” direction is possible.” unequal society are now essential, according She said that the Government had Setting out key priorities for Sinn Féin in to Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou Mc- “merely paid lip service” to the promise of the months ahead, Mary Lou McDonald said Donald TD. the 1916 Proclamation to ensure “equal the party in Dublin and across Ireland is de- “The people of Dublin voted for change rights and equal opportunities” for all termined to push for: in 2016 but instead in 2017 we have got a citizens. “The right to a home and the • Real solutions to the Housing Crisis Fine Gael-led Government propped up by right to healthcare are the most basic through State funding for social and Fianna Fáil and implementing the same of rights yet are being denied to our affordable housing construction failed policies that have caused misery and people.” by the four Councils in the Dublin division, making the wealthiest wealthier and penalising the majority of people on region. low and middle incomes”, says Mary Lou HOUSING CRISIS • Rent certainty and enhanced rights McDonald. However, Mary Lou McDonald is for tenants in the private rented Pointing to the Housing Crisis, Deputy Mc- hopeful that real change is com- sector; more support and protection Donald said it is a “gross scandal”. She said: ing. “The mass movement led by the for people in mortgage distress. “As we ended the Centenary year of the Right2Water campaign forced the Gov- • Complete abolition of domestic 1916 Rising we saw more families with chil- ernment to back down on water charges. water charges. dren than ever before in emergency ac- The battle is not over yet and we • Recruitment of additional staff in commodation, more people than ever on must ensure that the charges our public health services, including Council housing waiting lists, peo- are gone and gone for primary care and hospital care, to ple in mortgage distress still good. Likewise struggling and with no relief the huge pub- address the recurring crises in our from the State, rising private lic support hospitals. rents crucifying tenants, for the Home Mary McDonald concludes: “We urge Dub- and working people un- Sweet Home liners to join us in this challenge. Bí linn i Sinn able to afford mortgag- campaign Féin.” Dublin Sinn Féin MEP • Dublin City Council • Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown DÁIL AND Lynn SINN FÉIN ON SEANAD THE COUNCILS SINN FÉIN Boylan • South Dublin County Council • Fingal TEAM enian F1867 Risingth Éirí150 Amach Fenian Rising 1867 DUBLIN th 2 NEDUBLINWS NEWS 150 www.sinnfein.ieÉirí Amach SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL enian F1867 Rising É1irí5 Amach0 150TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION • Sinn Féin on South Dublin County Council: (left to right) Cllrs Dermot Richardson, Mark Ward, Brendan Fearon, Louise Dunne, Jonathan Graham, Cathal King, Enda Fanning, Cora McCann, Danny O'Brien and Sarah Holland, with Senator Fintan Warfield PROGRESSIVE BUDGET PASSED FOR 2017 South Dublin County Council’s Budget for 2017 "We reduced the » Councillors will forego expenses was passed by Councillors, led by Sinn Féin and to provide for a participatory has ensured a range of progressive measures to budgeting scheme for the benefit citizens on a range of issues including Local Property Tax Traveller community and a housing, disability and roads. security project for homes for The Sinn Féin group, who lead the council which made a saving elderly people 2pm majority alliance, represents South Dublin from » €500,000 will be allocated to the Rathfarnham to Lucan. Welcoming the passing Play Space programme of the budget, Sinn Féin group leader Cathal for local families and still » €300,000 for estate roads SUNDAY King said: » €250,000 has been provided to “The council functions are primarily funded managed to deliver fund a third tree pruning crew through rates and the Local Property Tax » A new provision for €100,000 for (Family Home Tax), which councillors voted traffic calming measures 5 MARCH to reduce by the maximum 15% earlier in the a first class budget” » Maintaining a reduction of 15% in year. the Local Property Tax "We reduced the Local Property Tax which » A new provision for €150,000 has 2017 made a saving for local families and still in funds being made available which includes been made for traffic signal renewal managed to deliver a first class budget. annual allocations in specific areas. and replacement “We have a serious housing crisis in this The Budget for 2017 has a number of ASSEMBLE county and need to build more social housing, highlights: In addition increased spending will be provided but are constrained by the Government » Homeless Budget increased and now across a number of areas including villages programme. stands at €2.6m enhancement works, boiler replacement, “Within these unfair constraints, we have » €1 Million provided for the backlog electrical repairs, sports pitches, replacement done the best we could with an increased of Disabled Persons Extensions and of public lighting columns, tourism promotion, provision for emergency accommodation, signage, provision of playgrounds and the Citywest improvement works an extra €1m to clear the backlog of disabled » €1 million will be allocated to the Windows library book fund. person grants and €1m for the Windows and and doors maintenance programme Sinn Féin Councillors welcome this Budget Doors Programme, among others." » The provision of school meals for 23 and will continue to work to deliver this fair Shopping The 2017 budget shows an overall increase schools budget to the citizens of South Dublin. Contact your Dublin Sinn Féin Public Representatives Centre The Sinn Féin MEP, TDs, Senators and Councillors across MARCH TO Dublin are here to represent you and your community. For contact details for our elected representatives go to: Tallaght www.sinnfein.ie/ga/dublin Village DUBLIN www.sinnfein.ie NEDUBLINWS NEWS 3 DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL Support Dublin Fire Brigade’s emergency service Dublin Fire Brigade’s excellent ser- vice is currently operating without enough resources, including ambu- lances. With all crews trained as pa- ra-medics, Dublin has a Fire-Based Emergency Medical Service (EMS) which is best practice international- ly in urban areas. Sinn Féin on Dub- lin City Council recently backed an all-party motion calling on Council management to urgently request the Government to fund four additional fully crewed ambulances for the ser- vice, the minimum number needed. The Sinn Féin-backed motion in Tallaght. This was not a recom- noted with concern the sugges- mendation of either a 2014 HIQA Re- tion that the Dublin Fire Brigade call port or an Expert Panel Report. The and dispatch service based in Tara Council backed fire-fighters in op- • Sinn Féin on Dublin City Council: (front row left to right) Cllrs Daithi Doolan, Anthony Connaghan, Chris Andrews, Noeleen Reilly, Street Station would be transferred posing this and voted unanimously Seamas McGrattan; (middle) Críona Ní Dhálaigh, Ciarán O’Moore,Cathleen Carney Boud, Edel Moran, Ray McHugh, Janice Boylan, or amalgamated with the National that any changes must be subject to Gaye Fagan; (back) Greg Kelly, Larry O’Toole, Emma Murphy, Mícheál Mac Donncha Ambulance Service call and dispatch agreement of Councillors. Sinn Féin leads fight Save Moore Street to end housing crisis There is a huge housing crisis in Dublin. Record numbers of people are without homes. 23,352 applicants are on the Dublin City Council housing lists, with over 4,000 on the list longer than 10 years. Over 5,000 people are officially homeless, including over 2,000 chil- dren. Over 1,000 of these families are living in unacceptable conditions in emergency accommodation such as hotel rooms and B&Bs. Tenants are struggling to pay rising rents in the private sector with many being forced out; people are burdened with inflated Celtic Tiger mortgages Sinn Féin on Dublin City Council ter of Dublin city centre, a fitting trib- and many working people are unable helped to stop the plan to demolish ute to the men and women of 1916 to afford to buy even modest homes in most of the Moore Street 1916 Bat- who were honoured so well by mil- the capital. tlefield site to make way for a giant, lions of people during the Centenary The crisis has been talked about for unwanted shopping mall. We have year. We are working with the Moore long enough. The primary solution is been working with the 1916 relatives Street traders to ensure that the great to greatly increase the supply of hous- improvement on what went before, would have been built on these sites. and other groups and campaigns to tradition of street trading is continued ing, especially social and affordable falls far short of what is needed. Increasing this to 50% was a victory. ensure that this site is saved and that and that the street traders get all the housing in Dublin. Now is the time for It has been a battle a day for the Sinn Sinn Féin’s Dublin City Council team it becomes an historic cultural quar- support and resources they require.