Cllr David McGuinness has today expressed “a renewed confidence that the key Dublin West rail projects, which were cancelled by the Government last year, can now be proceeded with in conjunction with EU funding.”

Cllr McGuinness said “The recent political developments across the EU have meant that a fresh look is now been taken at how funding major infrastructure projects can help to kickstart our economy and provide much needed employment - particularly for those in the construction industry.”

Last year, our local Minister Varadkar cancelled key projects – namely Metro West, Metro North, the Interconnector and Rail Electrification on theMaynooth line. Now the political climate has changed significantly and means that funding for these projects may become available through a European stimulus package.

I am calling on Minister Varadkar, along with Minister Burton and the rest of the Government, to now make a strong case for the rail projects which are central to the development of instrature in Dublin West.

MONDAY, 14TH May, 2012.

ITEM NO.12

Question: Councillor David McGuinness
“To ask the Manager provide a detailed report on the household-charge uptake
in Fingal including;
(i) The total who paid in number and as a percentage of the overall number
of liable households;
(ii) The breakdown of paid and unpaid households within each LEA of Fingal
(iii) Total revenue accrued through this measure and,
(iii) total cost to the council through its involvement with this charge?”

Report:

The Household Charge Bureau, under the aegis of the Local Government
Management Agency, processes payments in respect of the Household Charge
on behalf of all Local Authorities.
It is estimated that there are 90,286 residential properties liable for the
household charge in Fingal. The number of household charge registrations that
have been processed for payment as at the 1st May 2012 for Fingal is recorded
as 46,322 being 51.3% of properties estimated as being liable for the charge.
The Council does not have information outlining paid or unpaid charges within
LEA. The revenue generated from the charge is €4.6m approximately. It is
expected that this figure will increase once all post received by the Household
Charge Bureau has been processed.
The costs incurred by Fingal to date in relation to the administration of the
charge is estimated at €20,000. This relates primarily to staffing and
advertisement costs.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Fingal County Council hereby gives notice of its intention to temporarily close each of the following roads, for a period of 1 to 5 days during the period from Friday 1st June 2012 to Friday 30th November 2012.

Church Road, Mulhuddart
Old Navan Road – at sections from Mulhuddart Village to Castleknock
Tower Road/ Knockmaroon Hill junction
Castleknock Road
Hadleigh Court
Luttrellstown Road

Details of alternative routes will be available for inspection at the offices of The Operations Department, Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Local access will be maintained at all times and diversion signs will be in place.

Any interested person may lodge an objection in writing with Rita Sheils, Senior Staff Officer, Castleknock Mulhuddart Operational Area, Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, to arrive no later than 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday 16th May 2012.
Fingal County Council regrets any inconvenience caused in relation to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Rita Sheils
Senior Staff Officer
Castleknock Mulhuddart Operational Area

In a circular sent to parents today, school Principal Charlotte MacMunn outlined how ‘thieves/vandals…stole lead flashing from the roof,’ leading to ‘a huge number of leaks in classrooms’ and leading to ‘damage, Disruptions and upset within the school community.’

McGuinness is echoing the school appeal for witnesses: ‘Children in Blakestown are suffering from a disgusting act of theft and vandalism. The school has even issued a safety warning that loose tiles could still be overhead. This is nothing short of scandalous and anybody who can shed light on these criminals should inform An Garda Siochana in full confidence of anonymity.’

‘I am committed to raising this issue at the highest levels of the Department of Education to ensure Blakestown students have a safe and secure premises in order to receive their education. These school children can not suffer from this disgusting act of thieves and I am calling on the department to assist the school in their efforts to have this issue resolved for all of the children and staff involved,’ concluded Councillor McGuinness

I wish to advise you that Deeds of Dedication have been completed in respect of the above open space areas. The deeds were sealed by the Council on 26th April 2012 – Operations have been requested to make arrangements to have the open space areas maintained by the Council.

Regards,
Susan Curran
Parks & Heritage Properties

Fingal County Council has now made an order temporarily closing Ratoath Road from its junction with the Hollystown Roundabout (R121) to its junction with Bay Lane from Monday 14th May 2012 to Friday 18th May 2012 to facilitate the carrying out of essential construction works associated with the Tyrellstown to Cherryhound Link Road Project.

For eastbound traffic from Hollystown Roundabout the alternative route available is via Church Road, Cruiserath Road, Corduff Road, Ratoath Road (Part of), Kilshane Way and Cappagh Road.

For westbound traffic the alternative route is via Cappagh Road, Kilshane Way, Ratoath Road (Part of), Corduff Road, Cruiserath Road and Church Road to Hollystown Roundabout.

Local access will be maintained.

Yours sincerely,

Rita Sheils
Senior Staff Officer
Castleknock Mulhuddart Operational Area

Dublin motorists could soon see the benefit of cheaper petrol and diesel prices if the Government backs a Fianna Fáil Bill due to be debated in the Dáil this week. The Motorists Emergency Relief Bill, published on Tuesday 24 April, would result in an immediate reduction of 5 cent a litre in petrol and diesel costs. This is part of a Fianna Fáil campaign to bring fuel costs in this country under control.

Those who want to support the campaign can visit www.facebook.com/fiannafail. Fianna Fáil Dublin West Councillor David McGuinness said, “If this legislation is passed it will bring immediate relief to thousands of Motorists, families and businesses across Dublin. People feel they are being squeezed from every angle at the moment and the rapidly rising cost of fuel is just another cost they simply cannot afford. An instant reduction at the pumps would make a significant impact on household budgets.

“The Fianna Fáil proposal also calls for a review of fuel prices every three months instead of the current system of annual reviews. It doesn’t make any sense to only have a review of fuel prices once a year at budget time, when the cost of oil on world markets is changing all the time. The Government needs flexibility to respond to this on a regular basis. The Fianna Fáil legislation would allow the Government to act quickly to developing situations in the market place.

“The rising cost of fuel is crippling so many families in Dublin, and instead of taking any action to alleviate this pressure the Government made things worse by a 2% hike in VAT this year. I am urging local Government TDs across Dublin to support the Fianna Fáil legislation this week and bring about some much needed relief for the capital’s motorists. It will help boost consumer confidence and will have a positive impact on the economy.”

ENDS

“After the issue of burglaries being raised with me recently by a significant number of constituents, I have carried out research that shows that in the months from April to December last year, there has been a rise of 26% of non-aggravated burgularies.

Through the Central Statistics Office, I have been able to establish that the number of burgularies rose last year, from 486 in Q1 2011 to 611 in Q4 2011. These are the most up to date figures available and confirm the rise in burgularies in our area.

Just last week the President of the Gardai Representative Association (GRA) accused the Minister for Justice and the Government of being ‘soft on crime’. Based on the huge rise in burgularies, I believe that the were not overstating the problem we have with Government inaction on fighting crime.

It is now vital that the Minister for Justice brings forward measures and legislation which makes criminals pause for thought before they burgle another family home. A key component in those measures must be not proceeding with the closure of more Garda stations and the retention of Garda manpower levels in rising crime areas such as DMR West Region.

The Dáil will vote this Wednesday (9pm) on a special Fianna Fáil bill (Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012) to cut fuel prices by 5 cent per litre immediately.