CLLR PADDY COSGRAVERATHFARNHAM WARD NEWSLETTER

YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE

m: 085 1742709e: pcosgrave@sdublincoco.iew: paddycosgrave.eu

Dear Resident, I would like to thank everyone who contacted me since my last update. If you have any queries or issues you would like me to raise at theCounty Council feel free to contact me by phone or email.

At April’s council meeting Councillor Paddy Cosgrave proposed a motionasking that council officials consider other uses for heritage buildings inthe county - a case study to be Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham.

Stakeholders will include the Council’s Heritage Officer, OPW officials atRathfarnham Castle & Pearse Brothers Museum. Officials from theDepartment of Education (who now own Loreto Abbey) should beconsulted to come up with a plan of action.

Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh will open in the main building in Loreto Abbey.Cllr Paddy Cosgrave recognises that there is huge potential for tourism inLoreto Abbey, which will link with the Rathfarnham Village CouncilInitiative to include a tourism hub of the village, Rathfarnham Castle,Loreto Abbey and St Enda’s. “With public access to Padraig Pearse Museumin St Enda’s Park and Rathfarnham Castle, opening Loreto Abbey willfurther cement Rathfarnham as the top historic tourist hub of South Dublin.The abbey and the chapel on the grounds will attract great interest from ar-chitectural enthusiasts”, Councillor Cosgrave said.

Paddy has also requested that the auditorium, which has a stage, be usedfor drama and local exhibitions. The abbey chapel was designed by therenowned 19th century architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin.

Councillor Cosgrave commented “The purchase of the Loreto Abbey willstem the decay of disrepair that has fallen upon the site in recent years. Thestructure of the building will be secured and the grounds around the abbeywill be brought back to its former glory.”

HERITAGE SITES

The Department of Environment, Community and LocalGovernment is currently undertaking a targeted consultationexercise regarding the content of the LEADER elements of the2014-2020 Rural Development Programme and localauthorities have been invited to participate in this process.The consultation process primarily considered what actionsshould/could be delivered to best achieve the key priority (EUpriority 6) for LEADER under this programming round:

Promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas, with a focus on the following areas:• Facilitating diversification, creation and development of

small enterprise and job creation:

• Fostering local development in rural areas:

• Enhancing accessibility to, use and quality of informationand communication technologies (ICT) in rural areas.

“The overall draft Rural Development Programme for Ireland willbe prepared and submitted to the EU Community by July 2014.Areas in the county that will be able to access funding from theLeader Program include Edmondstown, Rockbrook, Kilakee andBoharnabreena” Councillor Cosgrave said

RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2014-2020(LEADER)

May 2014 Newsletter

Provision of a Play Space in the location of Woodstown, Knocklyon will be constructed in 2014. A series ofmeetings have taken place to agree a draft proposal in advance of a full public meeting on and specifically atWoodstown estate.

In relation to the areas off Stocking Avenue, the Council is in discussion with the Receiver for Stocking Wellto advance the development of the parkland associated with the development. It is intended to includeprovision for a Play Space in this parkland area.

A series of meetings have already taken place with residents to agree a draft proposal in advance of a fullpublic meeting.

A Local Play Space serves a local area and in particular children up to 8 years of age. This will allow - whenthe programme is complete – for parents and guardians to be able to locate a play space within 1km andhopefully within 500m of their houses.

They are not called Playgrounds now as theyhave a combination of elements that use formal manufactured units and natural materials such as trees, logs, bark, rocks,water, wildflower areas and so on. This stimulates children’s imagination so theycan actually create the play themselvesrather than having to rely on play directed at them.

PLAY SPACE FOR KNOCKLYON

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Cosgrave

Vantastic is an initiative used by Dublin City Council in the North Central area of the City and a pilot project is starting in the South Dublin County Council area in Tallaght this year. Councillor Cosgrave will be proposing that Leader funding for Edmondstown, Rockbrook, Kilakee and Boharnabreena be put in place to establish Vantastic in those isolated communities. Having considered this initiative in conjunction with the Age Friendly County Alliance Group the Council is working with a local organisation that has acquired the transport and intend to put in place a 6 month pilot project which will be evaluated as to the use of the service and its impact on local communities. Councillor Cosgrave strongly supports this initiative. This project also has the potential of a social employment opportunity within the county and the evaluation of the pilot will take this into consideration.

This is a Door-to-Door Transport Service for Older People. Many elderly people are dependent upon public transport. For olderpeople, public transport service is a vital link between them and the wider community but they face barriers in terms of:

● Difficulties associated with walking. ● Difficulties associated with boarding /alighting ● The perception of risk of accident due to vehicles moving off before passengers are seated, overcrowding and

driving practices ● Feelings of Intimidation and vulnerability ● Weather conditions

Vantastic provides Accessible Door-to-Door Transport Services for Individuals (People with Disabilities & Citizens 65 plus) &Not for Profit Groups/Organisations in the Dublin Area.

Low-cost transport service for older persons forhealthcare and other needs

The Environmental Services Dept isfinalising its work programme for2014. The programme will includethe provision of an enhanced VillageCleaning and Maintenance Service inthe County's towns and villages inline with the budget for the currentyear. As part of the plan, collectionof litter bins in the villages will bereorganised in such a way that theywill be serviced on an “as requiredbasis “each day, Monday to Friday,with certain bins in high usage areasbeing serviced more than once ineach day where this is deemednecessary. Extension of the Village CleaningService to provide a weekend serviceis currently being examined andcosted as part of the Work Programme.

WEEKEND EMPTYING OF LITTER BINS INOUR COUNTY'SVILLAGES

Work on the extension of the allotments at Friarstown,Bohernabreena is continuing. The number of newindividual allotments to be provided will be 160 andthere will be a number of group allotment sites also.

Paths have been constructed and the erection of theperimeter fencing is due to commence shortly. This willbe followed by the planting of hedgerows and thecreation of a wildflower meadow on the margins of theentrance road to the allotment site. The cultivation ofeach individual plot is normally the responsibility of theallotment holder but the Council will make every effort,subject to the available resources, to provide a site thatrequires the minimum initial cultivation.

It is anticipated that the allotments will be available foruse at the end of April 2014.

ALLOTMENTS AT BOHERNABREENA

The emphasis of the 2014 Arboriculture Programme will be on tree maintenance.A limited tree planting programme is also planned for 2014 at selected locationsacross the county. Tree planting proposals have been included in the 2014Arboricultural Programmes presented to the Area Committees.

Planting will be carried out in the following locations:

Butterfield Park 5 No. Corylus colurna

Glenlyon Estate 5 No. Corylus colurna

Longwood Estate 10 No. Acer camp. 'Elsryk'

Stonepark Estate 10 No. Acer camp. 'Elsryk'

Castleside Drive 10 No. Corylus colurna

Hermitage Estate 10 No. Acer camp. 'Elsryk'

Woodstown Estate Anti Graffiti beech Hedging

The roll out of Wi-Fi to our villages in conjunction with local businesscommunities continues. The following villages have been completed and areoperational:● Lucan ● Templeogue ● Rathfarnham ● Newcastle

Official launches will be organised for the Rathfarnham and Newcastle VillageWi-Fi services shortly.

PLANTING OF APPROPRIATESTREET TREE SPECIES

WI-FI IN OUR VILLAGES

Staff from the Council's PublicRealm and Roads Sections have andcontinue to remove "Cash for Cars"signage throughout the Countywhere they come across them. Inexcess of 1,000 of these illegal signshave been removed to date.

The Council has been working withan Garda Siochana and other LocalAuthorities to identify thoseinvolved in this activity involvingillegal signage and illegaldepollution/transfer/shipment ofend of life vehicles across a numberof Counties.

All opportunities to progress investigations are being taken withsome useful information havingbeen recently submitted bymembers of the public which ishoped will lead to the identificationof those involved.

CARS FOR CASH

Councillor Cosgrave asked the Manager how much money is available to the Council in 2014 for footpath repairs and renovationin the County? He was informed that a sum of €300,000 will be allocated to that purpose in 2014

FOOTPATH REPAIRS

The fees in relation to Bohernabreena Cemetery and all other SDCC burialgrounds are set out below:

Purchase of Burial Right in Grave Space - Single Plot €2,400

Purchase of Burial Right in Grave Space - Double Plot €4,800

Purchase of Cremation Plot €1,000

First Opening Fee (only applicable for Advance Purchases of Burial Right in Grave Space) €460

Headstone Permit €490

Transfer of Ownership €80

Weekend/Bank Holiday Interment Fee €185

There is no fee for the opening of gates in burial grounds.

BOHERNABREENA CEMETERY

with John Tracey at his allotment at Bothernabreena