Work is to start on the long-awaited Urban Centre Strategy for Howth.  This plan includes both Howth village area and the Techcrete site which recently changed hands.  This Strategy will be of great importance for the future of Howth.

At this stage, the Council is looking for public comments before work starts on the Strategy.

I would encourage all Howth residents as well as regular visitors to Howth to make their views known by 12th December. 

Full information is here.

In accordance with the Urban Development Policy of Part IV of the Fingal County Development Plan 2005-2011 Objective UO2 the County Council intends:
‘To produce an urban centre strategy for Howth Village’
The aim of the Urban Centre Strategy is to create a vision for Howth village centre which will provide a guide for future development proposals for the enhancement of the vitality and viability of the village whilst having regard to the special historic and architectural character of the area and its special amenity and tourism value. The Urban Centre Strategy will include the preparation of detailed urban design guidelines and actions for the village centre, the harbour area and the lands located to the west of the Dart Station comprising the SC zoning “ to protect and enhance the special physical and social character of major sub-urban centres and provide and/or improve urban facilities”. Possible issues for consideration in the strategy will include:
g Character and sensitivities
g Coordinated and integrated development
g Environmental improvements
g Need for new facilities/services (such as retail, leisure, hospitality, recreational, health)
g Design
g Access and parking associated with specific development site
The County Council hereby invites all interested parties to make submissions on the future development and use of lands in Howth Village.
A map and brief outlining the extent of lands which are the subject of the future strategy is available at the following locations: –

Fingal County Council Offices: –
County Hall, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin. Mon – Thurs 9.00 am – 5.00 pm & Fri 9.00 am to 4.30 pm
Baldoyle Offices, Baldoyle Library, Baldoyle ,Dublin 13, Mon – Thurs 9.00 am – 5.00 pm & Fri 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Website: www.fingalcoco.ie/planningitemsondisplay

Other Locations:
Howth Public Library – check locally for opening hours.
Submissions should be made in writing to, Senior Executive Officer, Planning Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, or they can be e-mailed to devplan@fingalcoco.ie on or before 5.00 pm, Wednesday 12th December, 2007.
Dated: 14th November 2007.

The Irish Independent is making a deal out of the fact that I and other Green Party activists have been appointed by John Gormley as advisors. 

I think I should put what I consider to be my qualifications for the job on the record.  The following is from my letter to John Gormley asking him to consider me for an advisor role, and will also be laid before the Oireachtas as required for all advisor appointments.     
With reference to my qualifications as an advisor:

I have a degree in Law and a M.Sc. in Environmental Science, both from TCD.

As a County Councillor (1991-1999 and 2004-date) I have been involved in bringing about and overseeing the implementation of planning specifications for reduced energy demand in Fingal, involving negotiations, networking and cooperation with public servants, stakeholders and politicians.  I have also worked on energy issues through the Fingal Development Board, which is likely to lead to the appointment of an Energy Officer within Fingal County Council with a remit of developing a Climate Change Strategy for the Council.  I would bring a keen awareness of the potential for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to facilitate progress in and through local government.

I have worked as a planning and environmental consultant, on various cases, including many of the major environmental battles of the last 10 years, gaining experience of the operation of the planning system and the EPA, as well as of the legal framework within which they operate and of the Courts and a wide knowledge of the environmental movement.

I have been active in both Feasta and Friends of the Irish Environment on policy issues, including lobbying and making submissions to the DoEHLG and other Departments and Agencies. This has been in relation to a wide range of issues, but in particular the implementation of EU Directives, the operation of planning and environmental licensing systems, energy and climate change policies.  I have also been involved in making many complaints to the EU Commission in relation to non-implementation of EU environmental law in Ireland.

I have led an EPA-funded research project for Feasta on the sustainability assessment of road projects, and been co-author of a number of briefing papers commissioned by Comhar, on Aarhus issues, transport policy, subsidies to fossil fuels etc.

As a Director of the ENGO Core Funding network, I engaged with DoEHLG and with all of the national environmental NGOs, in particular in devising and negotiating the funding allocation system for NGOs.

As a member of Comhar, representing ENGOs, I worked on a range of sustainability issues, engaging with all stakeholders, including DoEHLG officials, in order to have effective input into the policy-making process.  

I was the Comhar representative on the Monitoring Committee for the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme, (While I failed in my main objective of getting the greenhouse gas impact of the roads programme measured it did give useful insights in to interdepartmental / interagency dynamics.)

I have represented Irish ENGOs as a lobbyist at intergovernmental conferences of the UNFCCC and the Commission on Sustainable Development and thereby gained a familiarity with the international environmental and sustainability policy processes.  I was on the editorial committee of the NGO network Earth Summit Ireland, which published the book “Telling It Like It Is; Ten years of unsustainable development in Ireland” for the 2002 WSSD in Johannesburg.

My apologies for not keeping this website up to date.

I have taken a job as a policy adviser to John Gormley, Minister for
the Environment.  Despite my criticisms (see below) of the agreement to
go into government, I accept the decision of the majority in the
Party.  And I do acknowledge the major opportunities which now exist to
move sustainability to the core of the political process.

So the last few months have been particularly busy.  But I am fully
committed to continuing as a Councillor and that includes keeping the
website properly updated, which I will be doing again from now on.

An outbreak of fireblight has been identified on a number of whitebeam street trees in the Bayside area.  Due to the severity of the disease, the trees will have to be felled.  The notice from the Council Parks Department is below.

Despite Ireland’s protected status, there doesn’t seem to be any public information on the web from the Department of Agriculture.  The UK government has a very informative leaflet at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/fireblight.pdf

(Update (July 2008) – Dept of Agriculture information is at: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/index.jsp?file=crops_and_plants/plant_health/plant_health.xml )

Fireblight is a serious disease of plants in the rose family which

includes hawthorn, rowan/mountain ash and whitebeam. If the disease were

to become established in Ireland, particularly on hawthorn, it would be

catastrophic. The disease is covered under plant hygiene regulations and

the Department of Agriculture must be notified if it is found. Plants

with the disease must be removed immediately and destroyed by burying or

burning. Whitebeam is particularly susceptible.

In May 2007 fireblight was found on 2 street trees (whitebeam) on

Seagrange Avenue. The Department was notified and the inspector

confirmed that it was fireblight. The trees were removed and destroyed

under the supervision of the Department. In July 4 more whitebeam trees

were found with the disease on Verbena Avenue and these have also been

removed. This week a further 16 whitebeams have been identified with the

infection at

Bayside Blvd North No. 27

Verbena Avenue No.’s 106/108, 45/47, 37/39, 33/35, 29/31, 82/84, 13/15,

50/52, 22/24,

6/8, 26/28 and the first tree on the

left as you enter from Kilbarrack

Road. 3 trees at No.’s 17/19, 62/64, 66/68 are suspected of being

infected but not confirmed at this stage.

Alden Park No. 42/44

Verbena Grove No. 5/7

All of the trees with the infection will be removed in the next few

weeks and destroyed.

It is intended to replace all of the trees with species resistant to the

disease. Residents will be notified when the trees are being removed but

there is no possibility of retaining trees where the disease has been

identified.

Barnmore waste have applied for a renewal of the waste permit for their waste transfer and sorting facility in Baldoyle Industrial Estate.  This facility has no planning permission and should never have been given a permit.  An Bord Pleanála has also ruled against the company.  My letter of objection is below.
A chairde,

I refer to the application by Barnmore Ltd. for a waste permit for 21A Baldoyle Industrial Estate, received by the Council on 6th July 2007.

I object to this application on the following grounds

1.    The works and the use on site including the use for which a waste permit is being sought are unauthorised development and being carried out in contravention of the Planning and Development Act, 2000.  This has been confirmed by means of a Section 5 reference by a local resident in relation to the use on site.  (Ref 5/40/2006).  

Enforcement proceedings have been taken by the Council against works carried out on site, specifically the erection of a screen wall of shipping containers. (report to Malahide /Howth Area Committee, 18th May 2006)  

As a matter of policy and in the interests of coherent and effective regulation, Fingal County Council should not grant waste permits for facilities which do not have planning permission.  Some local authorities, e.g. Kildare County Council already operate this as a definite principle.  If this permit were to be granted it would amount to one Department of the Council undermining the work of another Department.

2.    The County Development Plan, which the Council as a whole is bound to implement zones the area with an objective  “to facilitate opportunities for science and technology based employment” and “to formulate and implement a strategy for the densification and an environmental improvement scheme for Baldoyle Industrial Estate”.   The obligation to comply with the Development Plan falls on the entire Council and not just the Planning Department.  An Bord Pleanála has ruled that the use of a nearby site in the Industrial Estate by the same company for the same purpose  

“would conflict with those objectives and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”  

(Ref F05A/0935)

3.    The operation of this facility to date has caused severe nuisance to local residents and neighbouring businesses, in the form of noise, dust and litter.  I know that details of this nuisance have been submitted in other objections to this application.

This is not in any sense an appropriate location for a waste transfer and handling facility.  An Bord Pleanála ruled in relation to the application at no 24 that :

“Having regard to the nature and scale of the proposed development and its proximate location to residential and recreational land uses, it is considered that the proposed development, both in itself and in conjunction with an associated similar development in the immediate vicinity would seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity, the amenities of the area and would be prejudicial to public health.”  

4.     The application is incomplete and therefore invalid in that it does not refer to the planning application for no 24 referenced above, nor even to Reg. Ref. F06A/0066 an application for this site itself.  Reg Ref. f06A/0066 was deemed withdrawn in September 2006 when no response was received to an Additional Information request.

In the interest of proper operation of regulatory consent and enforcement systems in Fingal, it is essential that this application be refused.  Refusal is also vital to the Council’s Development Plan objectives for the Baldoyle Industrial Estate.  Most of all, refusal of this permit application is essential for the health and well-being of local residents.

Is mise, le meas,

David Healy

Councillor David Healy
Green Party/Comhaontas Glas
Howth ward / Dublin North East
 
www.davidhealy.com
01 8324087
54, Páirc Éabhóra, Beann Éadair
54, Evora Park, Howth
 
 

The Transport SPC has agreed to my proposal for a Fingal Cycling Forum.
Proposal for Fingal Cycling Forum
 
Membership
·        FCC Transportation Dept
·        FCC Community Dept (re liaison with schools and community organisations and sports clubs in particular re cycling training and health promotion)
·        Dublin Cycling Campaign
·        Fingal Safe Cycling
·        Representative of body responsible for health promotion
·        Councillor representative from SPC

Terms of reference

a)  Develop Cycling Strategy to contain
·        Objectives
·        Actions
·        Implementation
·        Indicative budget
Timescale – months 1 and 2

b)  Put draft strategy to public consultation
Open consultation on website plus targeted consultation with
·        Transport SPC
·        FCC Planning Dept (routes and design, planning enforcement)
·        FCC Awareness officer/publicity expertise
·        FCC Parks Dept (re routes through parks and amenity areas)
·        Green Schools
·        Fingal Community Forum
·        Dublin Cycling Campaign
Month 3

c)  Finalise and adopt Strategy
Formal adoption by Transport SPC then by County Council
Month 4

d)      Implement strategy, monitor implementation of strategy
Month 5 onwards

Note: The draft strategy should rely on good practice elsewhere, successful examples etc.

Actions are likely to include:

·        Cycling officer with resources and access to a backup team to drive the strategy.
·        Cycling promotion  (including engagement with media)
·        Cycling training for adults
·        Cycling promotion and training in schools, link to Green Schools
·        Fingal Co.Co. as a cycling employer
·        Policy in relation to road design/infrastructure issues
·        Safety auditing of road schemes and proposing remedial measures
·        Strategy for amenity routes
·        Strategy for engagement between Forum/Co.Co. and other relevant bodies

Garda Síochána
Public Transport Organisations: Irish Rail, RPA, DTA, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, etc.
Health promotion bodies
Schools
Other road-user organisations: mobility impaired, pedestrians, motorists, hauliers."

A very welcome development of housing for older persons and a primary health care centre is going onto the Christian Brothers’ site in Baldoyle.  However, the current site includes the Pastoral Centre which is the most important venue for community activity in Baldoyle
I raised the importance of community facilities in my submission.

As a result of this and of discussion at the Area Committee, the Bereavement Counselling Service are being accommodated in the new buildings.

However, other activities which use the Pastoral Centre are not being facilitated.  The Community Department of the Council has been looking for alternative accommodation but has not found any yet.

As a result, I proposed the following condition to the plans at last Monday’s Council meeting:

"The plans will be adjusted to provide for an area of at
least 200m2 to be made available to voluntary and community organizations and
services currently
facilitated by the Pastoral Centre on this site unless this is found not to be necessary."

This was defeated.  I hope that alternative accommodation will be provided, but the very slow pace of movement on community facilities in both Howth and Baldoyle is not encouraging.

A number of people have been asking me my views on the decision by party members to support the Greens going into government with FF and PDs.

I voted against.  Unfortunately my name was not among those picked by lot to speak at our Convention.  In conscience there is no way I could support a programme for government which will see a continuation of military use of Shannon Airport.

But even if I were to ignore my conscience, and the victims of war,  the deal struck is a terrible one.  No key Green demand has been met:

• No end to corporate donations
• No change to M3 through Tara valley or to any of the road-building programme
• No new public transport commitments
• Hospital co-location to go ahead

What about climate change?  The programme for government contains a 3% target for annual reduction of greenhouse gases.  There is no earthly way that this will be met without a fundamental change in transport policy.  And there is no change to transport policy.  Presumably that’s why its just a government target instead of the legally binding commitment NGOs have been looking for.

As to why a majority of those at the Convention voted for this, I don’t know.  I remain amazed.

The Green Party today reminded voters that climate change is the
greatest political challenge of our time and reiterated that a change
of Government is the only way to ensure climate change solutions are
delivered in Ireland. 21 May 2007

Political climate change needed, says Green Party

The Green Party today reminded voters that climate change is the greatest political challenge of our time and reiterated that a change of Government is the only way to ensure climate change solutions are delivered in Ireland. Speaking in Dublin city centre today where the Party unveiled a banner with the words ‘Climate Change – It’s time to act’, Green Party Chairman and Director of Elections John Gormley TD said there was definitely a mood for change out there, despite the findings of latest opinion polls.

"The Green Party is committed to real change and to achieve this, Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats must be removed from Government. We must remove Ministers who are clearly not up to the task of tackling climate change and to do this you must give the Green Party your number one vote. We are the only Party who can deliver on climate change."

Green Party Energy spokesperson Eamon Ryan TD said: "The issue of climate change is top of the agenda at every international summit. The science is now clear; developed economies will have to make radical cuts in their emissions in the next decade to stop the world going past a ‘tipping point’ which would trigger runaway and catastrophic changes. In the lifetime of the next Government we will be faced with much more demanding obligations to cut our greenhouse gas emissions. Buying our way out of the problem is not a sustainable solution. As the Stern Report shows, it makes economic sense to make the necessary changes sooner rather than later.

"With oil prices again close to $70 a barrel and with householders reeling from ever higher gas and electricity bills, the electorate knows that Ireland’s reliance on imported fossil fuels will cost us dearly. A major report to the US Department of Energy has stated that Governments need to prepare for a peak in oil production decades in advance, with major changes to infrastructure investment and planning. The time for such changes in Ireland is now.

"The solutions to both these energy challenges are the same. We need to promote public transport, increase our energy efficiency and introduce new renewable energy supplies. However, none of the other parties have the political will to deliver the necessary changes. It will take a Green Party involvement in Government to get our transport system working right and to push through proper planning and building regulations.

"The absence of any debate on these issues over the last three weeks is a sad reflection on our election contest. We need to go beyond just talking about whether one party or another will make up the numbers, and start discussing what real changes we need to make in the Governing of our country. By voting Green Party number one, a voter is giving a mandate for positive action on these energy issues. If we get enough Green TDs elected then we will be able to implement that mandate in Government."

Green Party Environment Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said: "Climate Change is one of the defining issues of our time; it is the greatest threat to humanity. If we tackle climate change it can improve the quality of our lives. It can mean more Luas lines in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland so that people can rely on public transport as they do elsewhere in Europe.

"It will involve improvements in the construction industry so that new homes are warmer and cheaper to heat. It requires proper planning so that people can spend less time on the road in their cars, and safer streets so that children can be safe walking or cycling to school. Tackling the challenge of climate change requires smart thinking and political will. The Green Party is ready to face that challenge.
 

Green Party Climate Change spokesperson and Candidate for Dublin North-East Cllr. David Healy said: "With the publication of the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report there can no longer be any doubt that climate change is a global challenge on a scale never before experienced by humanity.

"The good news is that the measures needed to reduce our emissions are mostly positive and beneficial changes. They will mean a healthier, fairer, happier society, with a higher quality of life.

The difficulty is facing up to the extent of the changes to systems which we are well used to.

It won’t be easy to convert our economy from a fossil fuel-based energy-intensive economy to a leaner, more efficient, clean energy-based economy. But that economy will be stronger and healthier.

It won’t be easy to convert our transport system to one dominated by public transport, walking and cycling.   But the new transport system will be friendlier, quieter, cleaner, fairer and healthier.

These are achievable and necessary tasks, tasks which the Green Party in Government, are committed to."

[ENDS]

Information

John Gormley TD: 087 275 6135                        Ciaran Cuffe TD: 087 265 2075

Eamon Ryan TD: 086 829 4429                          Cllr David Healy: 087 617 8852

Nicola Cassidy, Press Office: 01 618 4088 / 087 914 8175

I have three youtube videos up: transport; energy efficient housing and climate; fuinneamh tithíochta agus teorann luas 30 km/uair i ceantair tithíochta.