Councillors' Voting Record on Clamping

HOW OUR COUNTY COUNCILLORS VOTED ON CLAMPING

County's Coastal Towns to Suffer - Trade Down, Businesses Closing

COASTAL AREAS OF THE COUNTY

John Bailey, Fine Gael, Dún Laoghaire, NO
Jane Dillon-Byrne, Labour / Lucht Oibre, Dún Laoghaire, NO
Cormac Devlin, Fianna Fáil, Dún Laoghaire, NO
Gene Feighery, Green / Comhaontas Glas, Dún Laoghaire, YES TO CLAMPING
Mary Mitchell-O’Connor, Fine Gael, Dún Laoghaire, NO
Tom O’Higgins, Fine Gael, Dún Laoghaire, NO
Maria Bailey, Fine Gael, Ballybrack, NO
Gareth Crowe, Fianna Fáil, Ballybrack, NO
Tom Kivlehan, Green / Comhaontas Glas, Ballybrack, YES TO CLAMPING
Dónal Marren, Fine Gael, Ballybrack, NO
Denis O’ Callaghan, Labour / Lucht Oibre, Ballybrack, NO
Carrie Smyth, Labour / Lucht Oibre, Ballybrack, NO
Marie Baker, Fine Gael, Blackrock, YES TO CLAMPING
Niamh Bhreathnach, Labour / Lucht Oibre, Blackrock, NO
Nessa Childers, Green / Comhaontas Glas, Blackrock, YES TO CLAMPING
Barry Conway, Fianna Fáil, Blackrock, YES TO CLAMPING

INLAND PART OF THE COUNTY

Louise Cosgrave, Fine Gael, Stillorgan, YES TO CLAMPING
Gerry Horkan, Fine Gael, Stillorgan, YES TO CLAMPING
Geróid O’Keefe, Independent / Neamhspleách, Stillorgan, YES TO CLAMPING
John Byrne, Fianna Fáil, Glencullen, YES TO CLAMPING
Tom Joyce, Fine Gael, Glencullen, YES TO CLAMPING
Lettie McCarthy, Labour / Lucht Oibre, Glencullen, Abstained
Aidan Culhane, Labour / Lucht Oibre, Dundrum, Abstained
Ciáran Fallon, Green / Comhaontas Glas, Dundrum, YES TO CLAMPING
Tony Fox, Fianna Fáil, Dundrum, YES TO CLAMPING
Pat Hand, Fine Gael, Dundrum, YES TO CLAMPING
Trevor Matthews, Fianna Fáil, Dundrum, YES TO CLAMPING
Jim O’Leary, Fine Gael, Dundrum, YES TO CLAMPING

Litter Pollution Act, 1997

For the purposes of information it has come to the attention of the Community Association that persons associated with the "Anti-Bin Tax Campaign" have advised residents that the following sections of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 provide, in their view, the legal basis upon which householders may lawfully place household refuse in the back of the Council’s Bin Lorries.

However, please note that the Community Association is not currently in a position to ascribe such a broad meaning to these sections and therefore, it continues to advise residents to refrain from such direct action.

Litter Pollution Act, 1997

SECTION 3

3.—(1) No person shall deposit any substance or object so as to create litter in a public place or in any place that is visible to any extent from a public place.

(2) No person shall—

( a ) deposit any thing that is commercial, household, industrial or municipal waste in any place for collection by or on behalf of a local authority or by another person, or

( b ) load, transport, unload or otherwise handle or process any thing or carry on a business, trade or activity in such circumstances as to create litter or lead to litter in any public place or any place that is visible to any extent from a public place.

(3) No person shall place municipal waste into or near a litter receptacle.

(4) No person shall move or interfere with a litter receptacle that has been provided by a local authority or other person unless the movement or interference is authorised by the local authority or other person.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (3), "municipal waste" has the meaning assigned by section 5 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 .

(6) A person who contravenes any provision of this section shall be guilty of an offence.

SECTION 5

5.—Nothing in section 3 shall be construed as prohibiting—

( a ) the deposit of waste in a receptacle or place provided for the purpose of such waste,

( b ) the deposit in any place of a receptacle containing any commercial, household, municipal or industrial waste for collection by or on behalf of a local authority or by another authorised waste collector within the meaning of the Waste Management Act, 1996 , or

( c ) the deposit of waste at a civic waste facility, within the meaning of section 38 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 ,

provided that reasonable care is taken to prevent the creation of litter.

EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURS DAY

On Tuesday 27th May 2008, communities throughout the European Union will mark "European Neighbours Day" with social events and fairs aimed at promoting social inclusion and at encouraging communities to tackle loneliness, especially amongst our senior citizens in our neighbourhoods. The Community Association warmly welcomes suggestions for possible local initiatives on the lines of "European Neighbours Day". For further information please checkout the website:- http://www.european-neighbours-day.eu/

UNWELCOME DEVELOPMENTS IN THE "BIN TAX" DISPUTE

There is much disquiet and general concern at recent developments in the long-running “Bin Tax” dispute which have been brought to the attention of the Community Association by residents in the Cross Avenue area.

Following an incident on Monday 12th May 2008 in Desmond Avenue involving local residents and unidentified “officials” of the County Council, the Chairperson of the Community Association was requested by a number of residents, mainly elderly, to investigate the incident.

It is alleged by the local residents that a number of unidentified men rushed into Desmond Avenue seeking to prevent some of the local residents placing their refuse bags directly into the County Council’s bin lorry. They described the incident as frightening and extremely intimidating causing considerable distress to older residents, many of whom, had only one or two tiny plastic bags of household refuse.

The placing of refuse bags directly by local residents into the County Council’s bin trucks and thus avoiding the need to purchase “Bin Tags” was a central part of an initiative directed and implemented by persons associated with the countywide “Anti-Bin Tax” campaign.

Irrespective of the justification or otherwise of the so called “Bin Tax” the Community Association has consistently advised residents against this form of direct action as it could clearly lead to injury and, depending on circumstances, to legal action been initiated against those involved. Advice to the residents from some quarters to the effect that they have some "legal right" to place their bin bags directly into the Council's bin trucks is not supported by the Community Association.

On Friday 16th May 2008 a photocopy of a notice purporting to have been issued by the County Council’s Environment Department was delivered to each household in the Cross Avenue area of central Dún Laoghaire.

Residents, especially the elderly, were alarmed at the perceived threatening tone of this notice and, once again, contacted the Chairperson of the Community Association.

The text of notice is as follows:

TO OWNER/OCCUPIER,

It has come to the attention of the Council that some residents are leaving bags of rubbish for collection by the Council on the public footpath/roadway without proper labels. It should be noted that this constitutes littering and is in breach of the litter Pollution Acts for which fines/prosecutions may be initiated. Only bags of household rubbish with prepaid Council labels should be presented for collection by the Council. The green bags for recyclables, which are provided and collected by Oxigen, should only contain items for recycling.

Some residents have also been placing their bags of rubbish directly into the Councils bin trucks themselves. This practice is both illegal and dangerous. No member of the public is allowed to deposit rubbish in Council bin trucks.

The Council will take all steps necessary which may include use of CCTV to address this illegal practice.

Please note that bag collection labels can be purchased at the Council offices on Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire and Dundrum.

Environmental Services Department
DLR CO CO

(Council Logo etc)

(END TEXT)

As the County Council can very easily obtain the names and addresses of each purchaser of “Bin Tags” from own its records, the Community Association views this type of general notice to be unnecessarily provocative and, in many ways, counter-productive.

Individually addressed letters should have been sent to each household which has not purchased “Bin Tags” asking for assurances as to their lawful disposal of household waste and, if necessary, proof thereof. In response to the County Council claims of local illegal dumping of black bags, this course of action was suggested to the County Council over a year ago by the Community Association.

The threat to install CCTV in the small streets with terraced houses and no gardens in the Cross Avenue area is regrettable and may, in fact, represent a direct, unwarranted and possibly unlawful invasion of the privacy of the citizens residing in these streets. The question as to whether such a draconian measure would ever be considered by the County Council for any areas other than those with social housing has been raised several times by local residents.

In the hope of an early and amicable resolution, the Community Association urges the County Council to reconsider its course of action in respect of this on-going dispute.

"TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION - A BLUNT INSTRUMENT OF FEAR"

Dún Laoghaire Community Association

Press Release

21st April 2008

Details obtained by Cllr. Denis O’Callaghan on the numbers of County Council parking meters operative in each of the Electoral Wards in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown has generated considerable anger amongst residents and businesses in the Town of Dún Laoghaire.

Coming on the back of the recent disastrous decision by the County Councillors to approve the introduction of Car-Clamping by 14 votes to 11, this new information has the potential to bring the whole decision making process of the County Council into serious disrepute.

The coastal areas of the County including Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey and Ballybrack account for 245 of the 291 Pay-and-Display parking meters operated by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. Dundrum has merely 27, Glencullen 19 and Stillorgan surprisingly has not a single County Council parking meter.

The concentration of the parking meters in the coastal areas, overwhelmingly in the residential streets adjoining the town centres of Blackrock, Dalkey and especially, Dún Laoghaire, indicates that the area is nothing but a large municipal car-park.

With 165 meters in the Dún Laoghaire Ward alone, residents and visitors to the Town of Dún Laoghaire are wholly justified in describing the Pay-and-Display system as a local taxation measure penalising those living in the Town and actually driving business out of the Town.

The overwhelming majority of the County Councillors representing the coastal areas of the County were vehemently opposed the introduction of Car-Clamping because it would adversely and solely affect their electorates in Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey and, in fact, inflict serious damage on business and thereby, destroy local jobs.

But they were outvoted by County Councillors from the rest of the County representing areas wholly untouched by the Council’s Pay and Display scheme. This is simply “taxation without representation” imposed by County Councillors who will never have to face the ire of the electorate which has been forced, by their vote, to bear the brunt of this unnecessary and draconian measure aimed at protecting the revenues generated by the County Council’s vast municipal car-park.

The Pay and Display scheme is a locally imposed tax on vehicle owners residing, visiting or doing business in the Town of Dún Laoghaire and Car-Clamping is a blunt instrument of fear imposed to ensure the collection of this unjust and iniquitous local tax.

The Community Association calls on Minister Gormley to intervene immediately and to order an independent examination of the imposition, against the wishes of the electorate as expressed by their public representatives in Dún Laoghaire, of this local taxation and the blunt instrument of enforcement and fear – Car-Clamping.

The manner in which Car-Clamping was introduced has ensured that the festering divisions in the County of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown have suddenly become more entrenched. The civic cohesiveness, much desired and loudly trumpeted by the County Council itself, has been rendered meaningless and foolishly sacrificed for the sake of Car-Clamping.

COUNTY COUNCILLORS VOTE FOR CLAMPING

At the meeting of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council held on Monday 14th April 2008, fourteen County Councillors voted for the introduction of Car-Clamping, eleven voted against with two abstentions. The County Manager is now free to introduce Car-Clamping bringing this county into line with Dublin City. The Community Association and the Dún Laoghaire Business Association strongly opposed the introduction of this measure as it would seriously damage business activity in the Town. Local jobs may now be lost as a result of the needless introduction of such draconian traffic management measures. Five of our six Ward Councillors - John Bailey, Cormac Devlin, Jane Dillon-Byrne, Mary Mitchell-O'Connor and Tom O'Higgins voted against the introduction of Car-Clamping with the sixth Ward Councillor, Cllr. Gene Feighery, voting for the motion. An Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Denis O'Callaghan, was also strongly opposed to Car-Clamping and pointed out the negative impact this measure would have on business and local jobs. Unfortunately, the issue of whether this proposal was in the interest of the community as required by Article 28A.1. of Bunreacht na hÉireann was not raised. Most certainly a very bad day for the local community, local business and especially, local jobs.

VOTE NO TO CLAMPING

Cumann Phobail Dhún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire Community Association

Press Statement
12th April 2008

COUNTY COUNCILLORS TO DECIDE FATE OF LOCAL JOBS

On Monday 14th April 2008 County Councillors in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown are to be asked to vote for the introduction of Car-Clamping as a measure to combat illegal parking and the non-payment of parking fines.

Residents and businesses are united in their total opposition to the introduction of this unnecessary and utterly draconian measure by the County Manager.

Dún Laoghaire has become a large and very expensive municipal car-park since the introduction of the pay-n-display system in 2002. Originally intended to free-up and rotate the existing parking spaces in the Town Centre, it now deters shoppers and frightens off visitors to the Town. It’s now nothing short of a municipal tax on vehicle owners and ultimately, a stealth tax on business.

With high parking fees and over eager Traffic Wardens ready to pounce, shoppers are going elsewhere and local businesses are suffering as a result. Residents are forced to purchase parking permits for themselves and for anybody visiting their homes wishing to park on the street outside. Once proud citizens of the Town many residents now simply describe themselves as living in a vast municipal car-park and merely customers of the County Council.

Dún Laoghaire currently has in excess of thirty vacant retail units on and around its main street, George’s Street. Undoubtedly this number will greatly increase as the existing shoppers, already very resentful of the excessively high parking fees, will not risk falling prey to private contract clampers and simply shop elsewhere.

Local jobs, already under extreme pressure from the existing parking regime, will most certainly be lost on the introduction of car-clamping. This alone shows the absolute folly of this proposal from the County Manager as any fines and penalties recovered will be miniscule in comparison to the loss to the Council in commercial rates through business closures.

Dún Laoghaire Community Association urges all of our County Councillors to protect local jobs by VOTING NO TO CLAMPING and by demanding that the County Manager give an explanation as to how his proposal on car-clamping is in the interest of the community as required by Article 28A.1 of Bunreacht na hÉireann.

Michael Merrigan
Chairperson
Dún Laoghaire Community Association

PRESS RELEASE 10 April 2008

Cumann Phobail Dhún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire Community Association

ICONIC MONUMENT TO IRISH HIGH KING
WHO MET SAINT PATRICK

Dún Laoghaire Community Association has intensified its long-running campaign to have an iconic monument erected to the eponymous founder of the “dún” or stone fortress that gave its name to the Town of Dún Laoghaire, just 11kms south of Dublin City.

High King Laoghaire who reigned at Ireland’s ancient capital of Tara between 428 and 461AD was the great monarch who reputedly met with St. Patrick and allowed him and his followers to proceed unmolested with their mission to Christianize the Irish. This gesture by the High King ensured that Ireland has no Christian martyrs from this period—a testament to the sophistication of its Celtic cultural and religious establishment in the fifth century AD.

This campaign has also received the support of a number of County Councillors on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as the Strategic Policy Committee on Culture, Community Development and Amenities voted to recommend the project to the County Council.

The commissioning of the statue or monument would also commemorate another historical event for the County Hall in the Town of Dún Laoghaire.

In 2019 when the whole country will be commemorating the centenary of the convening of the First Dáil and the Declaration of Irish Independence on the 21st January 1919, Dún Laoghaire has its own linked centenary to celebrate. In 1919 the predecessors of our current public representatives at County Hall decided to reclaim the town and its environs for the people of Ireland by restoring the ancient Gaelic name of the area to the Council and then the Town in 1920. This was certainly a peaceful, dignified and democratic expression of support for Irish independence and the newly convened Dáil Éireann. An act of defiance and self determination as the Councillors chose the Gaelic name “Dún Laoghaire” to replace the name “Kingstown” which had existed since 1821.

The process of commissioning a scaled monument on the lines of that to Vercingetorix in Alesia, France, for erection in our Town’s centre during the 2019/20 national commemorations should commence now to allow for tendering, design, fabrication and planning matters. Therefore, Dún Laoghaire Community Association, whilst, seeking the proactive support of each of our County Councillors, looks to the wider community at home and abroad for assistance with this important campaign. Can this monument be commissioned and erected through public subscription alone or can a single benefactor be found to see this very significant heritage project through to a successful conclusion? This is essentially what this campaign seeks to ascertain.

Dún Laoghaire Community Association welcomes donations towards the cost of this important campaign to have a beautifully designed and crafted monument to High King Laoghaire in the centre of the Town that proudly bears his illustrious name, Dún Laoghaire.

For further information contact: Hon. Secretary (e-mail on side panel)

"Dún Laoghaire News"

The latest edition of the Community Association's newsletter "Dún Laoghaire News" is now available at http://www.dun-laoghaire.com/dir/DunLaoghaireNews.pdf The newsletter has been delivered to households in the central Dún Laoghaire area and copies are also available at Costello Flowers, 1, Northumberland Avenue, Dún Laoghaire

High King Laoghaire Statue for Town Centre

Pictured (from left) Cllr. John Bailey, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; Ian M. Kane, Director & Co-Founder, Dún Laoghaire Town Football Club; Stephanie Batt, Dún Laoghaire Tidy Towns Committee and Michael Merrigan, Chairperson, Dún Laoghaire Community Association at the photo shoot to launch the Community Association's public campaign for the commissioning of a statue of High King Laoghaire. This photography by Ken Finlay features the statue of Vercingetorix erected in Alesia, France to commemorate the great Gaulish leader. The Community Association suggested that a scaled version of this type of statue would be very appropriate for the Town Centre as above. This type of statue would be an iconic monument for the centre of our hometown - the first to recognise and commemorate the eponymous founder of the "dún" which gave its name to the Town.

REOPENING OF LOWER GEORGE'S STREET DEFERRED AGAIN

The Executive Committee of the Dún Laoghaire Community Association is appalled at the delay in implementing the long-promised Traffic Management Plan for the Town Centre of Dún Laoghaire. The decision by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at its meeting on Monday 3rd March to defer the matter for another month is irresponsible and unwarranted.

This decision is unacceptable to the overwhelming majority of the residents of central Dún Laoghaire who have endured nearly seven years of inaction by the County Council on the disastrous effects on the local community caused by the closure of Lower George's Street to all traffic except buses. This has resulted in the creation of "rat-runs" through the narrow residential streets in the neighbourhood of Lower George's Street. The main users of these streets are the many elderly residents of the area and the children attending the two primary schools in the vicinity.

Furthermore, the Executive Committee of the Community Association is strongly opposed to any proposal to preserve Lower George's Street as a pedestrian zone. The attempts to have such a proposal adopted will most certainly cause a totally unwarranted and unacceptable delay in resolving the appalling traffic problems, upon which, the local community and this Association have campaigned for seven years.

Those County Councillors seeking to maintain the current situation on Lower George's Street would do well to consult the local community in the vicinity of Lower George's Street before embarking on any further attempt to frustrate the expressed will of that community as shown by three protest marches held by the community over the years.

The adoption of any ideologicaly driven proposal to maintain the current pedestrianisation of Lower George's Street will ultimately condemn the local community to many more years of traffic hell, hazardous streets and "rat runs" - a point that will not be forgotten by the local community in the run-up to the Local Government Elections next year.

Therefore, Community Association demands that our County Councillors fully respect and implement the views of the local community by the reopening of Lower George's Street to one-way traffic and to finally return the local residential streets to the community of central Dún Laoghaire without any further delay.

Michael Merrigan
Chairperson
Dún Laoghaire Community Association

SPC RECOMMENDS COMMISSIONING OF STATUE

At the meeting of the County Council's Strategic Policy Committee for Culture, Community Development & Amenities held in Cabinteely House on Wednesday 27th February 2008 members passed a resolution recommending to the County Council that it explores a proposal to commission a statue of High King Laoghaire to commemorate the part played by the Town Hall and the people of Dún Laoghaire in the national struggle for independence. The proposal envisages that a statue of Laoghaire would be unveiled in 2019/2020 during the national commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1919 and the fact that the Councillors in the Town Hall at the time, as part of the national struggle, voted to restore the name "Dún Laoghaire" to the area in a demonstration of our national sovereignty and in celebration of the area's ancient heritage. In proposing the resolution Michael Merrigan told the SPC that the restoration of the old name to the area was an act of defiance by the predecessors of the current County Councillors - a clear and unambiguous statement of support for the first Dáil. Above all, he said we can be proud of the fact that it was a peaceful, democratic and dignified assertion of our national identity and our right to independence. It is vitally important that the contribution to the national struggle made by our hometown must not be overlooked during the 100th anniversary commemorations. Indeed, what better way to mark the occasion than to have a statue erected of the eponymous founder of our Town, High King Laoghaire. The 5th century High King Laoghaire is reputed to have met St. Patrick and indeed, permitted him to continue his mission unmolested. Surprisingly there are no early Irish Christian martyrs as the conversion of a religiously sophisticated population was achieved peacefully. The resolution at the SPC was proposed by Michael Merrigan and seconded by Cllr. Jane Dillon-Byrne. In addition to seeking the pro-active assistance of the County Council in this endeavour, the Community Association also will bring the proposal to the wider public in an effort to attract a single individual benefactor for the project who would commission and erect the statue for and on behalf of the citizens of our Town. The suggested model for any statue is the memorial to Vercingetorix in France - see side panel.

____________________________________________________________________

Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire Link Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The member oganisations of the Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire Link will celebrate its tenth anniversary at a function to be held on March 15th 2008 in the Trearddur Bay Hotel outside Holyhead, north Wales. This unique international organisation promotes cooperation and friendship between the communities in Ynys Mon (Anglesey) and the Dublin region through regular meetings, workshops and other events. This Association has been an active member of the Link since 2001 and has greatly valued this type of international cooperation. Currently the Link is involved in formulating a proposal for INTERREG funding for the its activities and to encourage innovation, development and enterprise. Our shared cultural heritage is a central theme running through the Link’s activities and objectives. Individual members of the participating organisations, like this Association, are invited to attend the 10th anniversary celebrations. For further info. contact John Paul Durkan, Link Secretary, E-mail: durkanjp@gmail.com for costs, reservations etc.

Environmental Enhancement Plan

Dún Laoghaire Community Association

COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT PLAN

(PHASE ONE)

Area:

For the purposes of this proposal the “area” covers Library Road, Rosary Gardens East & West, Oratory Court, St. Mary’s Street, Northcote Avenue, Northcote Place, Cross Avenue, Dominick Street, Tivoli Terrace East (north end), Desmond Avenue, Wolf Tone Avenue, Mills Street, Covent Road, Patrick Street (north end), Mulgrave Street and the laneways in the vicinity of the above.

Objective:

By achieving a consensus amongst the residents of the “area” on the various options, ideas and proposals on improving the general appearance of the area, to formulate a set of proposals for action by the community in partnership with the County Council and to seek the implementation of these proposals as part of a sustainable and fully inclusive “Community Environmental Enhancement Plan”.

Status:

This is a discussion document upon which, the Community Association will base a proposal for presentation to the County Council.

Actions:

The following actions are only suggestions for discussion amongst the residents prior to the formulation of a more definitive list of proposed actions for discussion with the officials of the County Council. Please note that the proposed actions are not listed in any order of priority.

1. The “greening” of the area in line with the County Council’s Biodiversity Plan to improve the environment and the quality of life in the area.

2. Encourage the use of window boxes, hanging baskets, and flower troughs where there are no gardens.

3. Encourage the proper maintenance of the appearance of the housing stock in the area by regular painting and, where appropriate, produce a voluntary scheme for certain streetscapes.

4. To aggressively tackle the scourge of graffiti by the prompt removal of such by the County Council.

5. To formulate, in conjunction with the County Council, an anti-litter, anti-dumping and anti-fly-tipping strategy to include an area cleansing regime.

6. To seek the regular maintenance and clearing of all roadside drains by the County Council to prevent flooding and the clogging of the drains by vegetation and litter.

7. To seek the vigorous implementation of the Litter Acts in respect of abandoned shopping trolleys throughout the area.

8. To seek the erection of permanent public notices concerning the refuse collection days, including green bags, and to state that it is illegal to place refuse bags on the street for collection at any other time.

9. To arrange for community clean-up days where residents can cooperate in the cleaning or clearing of communal areas with the assistance of the County Council to remove rubbish thereafter.

10. The metal shutters on shop fronts should conform to the specifications in the County Development Plan.

11. Road signage should be improved in order to encourage and direct traffic away from the residential areas.

12. A pedestrian crossing should be sited on Cross Avenue just before the junction with Convent Road to facilitate the safe crossing of the road by children attending the schools and other pedestrians.

13. Encourage the proactive participation in the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.

14. To seek the erection of Garda CCTV cameras on Convent Road (west & north) to cover the School and the junctions with the two laneways and Lower George’s Street.

15. To ensure that no public seating areas are sited in any proposal involving the narrowing of Cross Avenue as per the 2003 proposal.

16. To seek the County Council’s assistance in obtaining an appropriate piece of public art to be located on Cross Avenue and/or St. Mary’s Street.

17. To prevent the gable ends of the houses on Cross Avenue and Library Road being attacked by graffiti provision should be made by the County Council for the placing of climbing plants in each area.

18. To seek out, in conjunction with the County Council, an appropriate design for flower troughs to be sited at the base of the exterior walls of houses without gardens to permit the growing of climbing plants or roses etc.

19. To seek the County Council’s proactive support for the erection of an appropriately designed residential development at the junction of Cross Avenue (east) and Patrick Street to act as a “book-end” building to enhance the appearance of the streetscape.

20. To seek the erection of signage indicating to vehicle drivers the use of the area’s roadways by children and the elderly. The demographics of the area will attest to the necessity for such signage.

21. To seek the erection of bollards at the southern end of Desmond Avenue to prevent cars turning in this cul-de-sac from either mounting the pavements or damaging properties. There is a dangerous camber on this street.

22. To seek the erection of gates by County Council at the southern end of the laneway running parallel to Convent Road and Patrick Street and to erect the same at the laneway running parallel to Patrick Street and Mulgrave Street.

23. To seek the taking into public ownership and ultimately the proper maintenance of the laneway between Convent Road and Patrick Street.

24. To ask the County Council to investigate the title to the plot of land between the Granite Shop and the former tattoo parlour on Cross Avenue and to explore the possibility of the County Council acquiring this land for residential development.

25. To establish a Tidy Towns initiative throughout the area and to encourage pride of place by promoting a knowledge, appreciation and awareness of our community, town, local history, environment and the need to cherish and protect this heritage.

26. To support the residents of Desmond Avenue and Wolf Tone Avenue in their campaign to have their houses properly insulated and maintained by the County Council.

27. To seek the placing by the County Council of “tree boxes” containing relatively sized blossom trees along Cross Avenue, Desmond Avenue, Dominick Street and possibly, placed in a central position in St. Mary’s Street.

28. To consider the proposed Traffic Management Plan and its impact on the overall objectives of this “Community Environmental Enhancement Plan”.

29. To establish an on-going liaison mechanism between the appropriate officials in the County Council and the Community Association’s group overseeing the implementation of this “Community Environmental Enhancement Plan”.

30. Any actions considered by this plan should ultimately be included, where appropriate, in the wider proposed Dún Laoghaire Area Plan.

Methodology:

It is proposed that an “Action Group” under the auspices and direction of the Dún Laoghaire Community Association will be established forthwith to swiftly progress matters.

Then a meeting will be arranged with the County Council to explore the possibilities of implementing the various actions proposed by this “Community Environmental Enhancement Plan – Phase 1”

Michael Merrigan
Chairperson
Dún Laoghaire Community Association
mailto:michael_merrigan@hotmail.com

Constitution of the Dún Laoghaire Community Association

Cumann Phobal Dhún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire Community Association

Constitution

(Adopted 2001)

1. Name
The organisation shall be called the Dún Laoghaire Community Association or in the Irish language, Cumann Phobal Dhún Laoghaire, and hereinafter, “the Association”

2. Status & Area
i. The Association shall be a non-sectarian, non-party political, community representative organisation.
i. For the avoidance of any doubt as to the status of the Association, Ministers of Religion, Town, Urban District, City and County Councillors, Seanadóirí, Teachtaí Dála and Members of the European Parliament shall be deemed ineligible for election to the positions of Chair, Vice-Chair, Hon. Secretary or Public Relations Officer of this Association.

ii. The community shall be defined as residing in the area of Dún Laoghaire bounded by the sea, Glenageary Road Lower, Glenageary Road Upper, York Road, Cumberland Street and Old Dunleary.

iii. The area covered by the Association may be amended to include adjoining areas wishing to participate in the Association.

3. Aims
The aims and objectives of the Association shall include:-

i. To represent the community of Dún Laoghaire and to raise issues of behalf of the people residing in the Town with the local authority, An Gárda Síochána and other state or semi-state agencies as may be required.

ii. To advise and liaise with the elected County Councillors and Teachtaí Dála on matters of concern to the community in Dún Laoghaire.

iii. To provide a forum for public discussion on matters of concern to the community in Dún Laoghaire.

iv. To seek the establishment of a Community Council to further co-operation between the business community and the residents of Dún Laoghaire.

v. To support the establishment of Community Resource Centres in Dún Laoghaire.

vi. To support the community tourism initiative in Dún Laoghaire as represented by Dún Laoghaire-Dublin’s Riviera Ltd. and, tourism throughout the county as represented by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Tourism Company Ltd.

vii. To support and liaise with the Dún Laoghaire Tidy Towns committee.

viii. To support initiatives to encourage the use of the Irish language in Dún Laoghaire in co-operation with Foras na Gaeilge.

ix. To formulate policies in relation to crime, litter, drugs, parking and other such matters of concern to the community and to seek membership of such national or local organisations or bodies as may further the aims of the Association.

x. To publish a newsletter on matters concerning the community.

4. Community Representation
The Association seeks the participation of the widest possible representation of the community of Dún Laoghaire, therefore, the following categories of Community Representative (CR) shall be established:

i. Representatives of existing Residents’ or Tenants’ Associations nominated to represent their organisation and their area. One CR per organisation.

ii. Representatives of areas not covered by Residents’ or Tenants’ Associations. These areas shall be defined by the Association to facilitate the election of Community Representatives by the residents in these areas.

iii. Two Community Representatives to be nominated by the Dún Laoghaire Active Retirement Association.

iv. One Community Representative to be nominated by the management company of the Dún Laoghaire Community Resource Centre on Library Road.

v. The Association may from time to time consider applications for representation by community organisations dealing with young people, immigrants, travellers or persons with disabilities.

5. Observer Status
The Association may offer observer status to representatives of An Gárda Síochána and the Dún Laoghaire Business Association in order to foster co-operation in areas of mutual concern.

6. Governance of the Association
The governing body of the Association shall be an Executive Committee consisting of Community Representatives, from and by which, the following officers shall be elected, Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and Public Relations Officer.

7. Terms of Office

i. The Community Representatives shall be nominated and/or elected to serve a term of not more than two years, following which, they may seek re-election or re-nomination for further terms of not more than two years.

ii. The officers of the Executive Committee shall retire annually but be eligible for re-election at the first meeting of the Executive Committee following the Annual General Meeting.

8. Meetings

i. The Executive Committee of Community Representatives shall meet at least four times in each calendar year to receive officer reports and to oversee the business of the Association.

ii. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in the month of March each year on a date to be determined by the Executive Committee.

iii. Special General Meetings or Public Meetings may be held at any time at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

iv. The Association may organise special area or sector meetings to facilitate the election of Community Representatives or to address a special issue of concern.

v. As a general guideline the Association shall adhere to Roberts’ Rules for Meetings and shall conduct its business accordingly.

9. Funding
The Association may make such provisions as are required to secure adequate funding for the operation of the Association, however, donations from all corporate bodies shall be declared and made public. Donations from individuals over Ir£500 (€635) shall be declared and made public.

10. Amendment of the Constitution & Winding Up

i. This Constitution may be amended by a ballot of Dún Laoghaire residents present at the Annual General Meeting of the Association or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose.

ii. The Association shall be wound-up by a vote of the Community Representatives and any funds remaining following the settlement of all and any liabilities shall be donated to a recognised charitable organisation or organisations determined by the Executive Committee.