At the Area Committee meeting on 17th November 2005, Councillors
unanimously agreed to a motion I proposed: "That the Manager bring
forward plans for an extension to Howth Library".

The shed on the Green at Moyclare is an unacceptable eyesore.  To
make it worse, the Council vehicles accessing it have left the area
with broken footpaths, lumpy tarmac and churned-up grass.  I have
raised it at the area committee but have not yet made real progress.{mosimage} The following question was from the meeting of the Area Committee on 3rd November:
ITEM NO. 25

PUMPING HOUSE AT MOYCLARE

Question:    Councillor D. Healy

“To ask the Manager to put the pumping house on the green in Moyclare
underground and to repair damage done by Council vehicles to the green,
footpaths and kerbing in the area?”

Reply:

The pumps and sump of this pump station are located underground.  The
control equipment is located directly above the pumps and sump and
housed in the structure at the corner of the green in Moyclare.  It
would not be possible to place the control equipment underground
because of the risk of water entering any underground chamber housing
this equipment.  

In mid 2005, Water Services Dept. carried out refurbishment work at
this pumpstation (replacing pumps and control equipment, replacing the
rising main exiting the pump station).  The Green is fully reinstated
and minor snags with the footpaths and kerbs will be addressed  in the
near future."

I’m not happy with this so I have put the following motion down for the meeting on 1st December:

That the pumphouse on the green in Moyclare be either moved underground
or incorporated in or near the new housing development so that it is no
longer an eyesore.
{mosimage}

Design of new road in Balgriffin/ Belcamp

The local Area Committee has agreed to my proposal to alter the brief
for the realignment of the Malahide Road to place greater emphasis on
protecting the environment and on walking and public transport.

      
Large new areas of housing are being developed in the
Balgriffin/Belcamp area.  There are new roads proposed for the
area as well.  There is a real risk that the woodlands and habitat
along the Moyne river will be destroyed and that the quality of life of
local residents will be destroyed.  I recently became aware
of  the brief for the engagement of a consulting engineer for
realigning the Malahide Road in Balgriffin.

The brief says: “The proposed roads shall be capable of dealing with
the forecast level of traffic, provide for public transport, taking
into account urban design issues and environmental impacts.”  This
appears to be the core design brief, and is one which I think is
flawed.   I think this because there is no way that the roads
can deal with the forecast level of traffic.  The only rational
response is to ensure that the inevitable traffic congestion does not
interfere with the walkability and quality of the community and with
public transport.   In response, I put down the following
motion for our Area Committee meeting on 3rd November:

"That all design briefs for new roads in the Balgriffin Belcamp area
have as their priority goals the provision and maintenance of a quality
environment for residents, the protection of the local environment and
the creation of walkable communities easily accessed and traversed by
public transport and by bicycle."

This motion was unanimously agreed.   This is part of a
process of change in transport planning, turning it away from the
futile attempt to provide for more and more cars.

In response to a proposal of mine, Dublin Bus is to send
representatives to the Howth/Malahide Area Committee meeting on
Thursday 17th November at 3pm in Baldoyle Library to discuss the
31/31B/31C bus service and bus services on the Howth peninsula. 
The public is welcome to attend these meetings.  Additionally, I
would be interested in any new feedback or comments in advance of the
meeting.

It was agreed at the local Area Committee meeting to put traffic
calming proposals for St. Fintan’s Road on public display. Site
notices will go up giving details of the times and
locations for the display and for receipt of comments by the public.

Although the Government has seriously weakened the Freedom of
Information Act, there are other important remedies available to the
public, especially in the area of environmental information. 
Ireland has signed up to the Aarhus Convention on Access to
Information,Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to
Justice in Environmental Matters. (www.unece.org/env/pp) Unfortunately
the government has not yet ratified the Convention so it is not in
force here.

However, the European Union has taken action to implement the Aarhus
Convention.  (europa.eu.int/comm/environment/aarhus)  In
particular, it has implemented two Directives:

• Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
  of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and
  repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC, and
• Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the
  Council of 26 May 2003 providing for public participation in respect of
  the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the
  environment and amending with regard to public participation and access
  to justice Council Directives 85/337/EEC and 96/61/EC

Both of these Directives should have been implemented in Ireland already – in February and June 2005. #

However, you can still rely on the information Directive and on the
existing Irish Regulations , SI 125 of 1998
(www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZSI125Y1998.html) which provide that all public authorities must make environmental information available (with certain limited exemptions). Unlike the Freedom of Information Act, there is no charge for making a request for this information.

Additionally, if there is any way in which I can help you get
information, by putting down questions at Council meetings or if you
would like a Green Party TD to put down questions in the Dáil, please
let me know.

Fingal is part of the Eastern River Basin District (www.erbd.ie), set
up to comply with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive.

At the moment the Advisory Council for the Eastern River Basin District
is being set up.  Environmental NGOs are coordinating their input
through the Sustainable Water Network (www.swanireland.ie), whose
website is also a good source of information on the Water Framework
Directive itself.

It was agreed at the local Area Committee meeting to put traffic
calming proposals for the Bayside area (Bayside Dart Station/ Sutton
Park/Sutton Downs/ Alden/ Verbena/Bayside Walk) on public display. Site
notices will go up around the area giving details of the times and
locations for the display  (which will include Baldoyle Library
and Mid-Sutton Community Centre) and for receipt of comments by the
public.

As mentioned in the report below of 11th October I have been working on
getting energy issues onto the agenda at Fingal Development
Board.  There has been some progress, and a more detailed action
including seeking funding for the establishment of a Fingal Energy
Agency was agreed
at the last meeting of the Development Board on 10th November.  As
before I would welcome comments or advice.
   
Action:  Draw up a programme to ensure that all investment in
future development is energy efficient and to facilitate transition to
local sustainable energy systems.

Rationale:  Climate change and increased oil and gas prices means
we need to reduce energy demand and move to renewable energy
sources.  This can be usefully thought of as making correct
investment choices, for example

•    Invest in land use and layout, which minimises transport demand.

•    Invest in low energy transport not high-energy transport.

•    Invest in energy efficient housing, buildings and production systems.

•    Invest in renewable energy and infrastructure not fossil fuel infrastructure.

This shift in investment will follow experience in other countries in
particular Scandinavian countries but also Germany Spain and UK. 
Given the level of infrastructure investment in Ireland there is a
degree of urgency about influencing our investment choices.

Key Steps:

1. Reconstitute Sustainability Monitoring Committee with new terms of reference.

2.    Commission research on transition to sustainable
energy systems at a local level, to include recommendations, as a joint
project with the County Research Bureau (Action 13)

3.    Relying on research and with input from
stakeholders, draw up Fingal Implementation Programme for Transition to
Sustainable Energy Systems including pilot elements

4.    FDB and member agencies to adopt programme

5.    Implement pilot elements

6.    Monitor success of pilots and extend subject to agreement by FDB

Investigate and apply for funding from Intelligent Energy Europe
europa.eu.int/comm/energy/intelligent/index_en.html  In
particular, the establishment of a Fingal Energy Agency (funding
€200,000/year for 3 years at 50% of costs), application deadline 31st
January 2006.

The previous plan had provision for a Renewable energy projects officer
(not implemented).  This would be included in a Fingal Energy
Agency.

Comment:

There are advantages for Fingal Development Board in applying for this funding:

1.    Multi-agency approach attractive

2.    Very high level of construction in Fingal

3.    A lot needs to be changed

4.    But a start has been made (i.e. bona fides are clear) e.g.

a.    Fingal County Hall

b.    higher conditions in Local Area Plans than are required by national Building Regulations

 I would be very interested in any feedback or suggestions.

Have YOUR Say!

On Current & Future Community Facilities in Howth/Sutton

Each household in on Howth/Sutton peninsula is asked to participate in an important survey of Community Facilities.

Fáilteofar roimh freagraí agus tuairimí i nGaeilge

The Howth Sutton Community Council Ltd., Howth Sutton & District
Community Centre Ltd., and the Community, Culture and Sports Division
of Fingal Co. Co. have come together to set up a steering group to
undertake a needs analysis of community facilities which will provide
social, recreational and education needs for the whole Howth Sutton
community. This is an opportunity for Howth Sutton Residents to outline
your views and experiences of current and future community facilities
on the Peninsula.

A copy of the questionnaire will be delivered to every house on the
peninsula. If you didn’t get a copy or if you have any queries, please
contact Frances Murphy in The Old Courthouse, Howth, at 8320405 or by
email to info@pephowth.com