Kevin Humphreys TD

LOCAL NEWSUPDATE Working with

Cllr. Dermot Lacey

KEVIN HUMPHREYS TD Tel: 01 618 3224

Email: kevin.humphreys@oir.ieDáil Éireann, Dublin 2

Web: www:kevinhumphreys.ie

Flickr: kevinhumphreystd

Kevin Humphreys

@KHumphreysTD

DODDER FLOOD RELIEF WORKSThe long sought after Dodder Flood Relief works took an important step forward when attheir July meeting the City Council adopted the proposals to continue the measures all theway from Ballsbridge to Clonskeagh Bridge. This was proposed by the Labour Group LeaderDermot Lacey.

Councillor Dermot Lacey and Deputy Kevin Humphreys have championed these measureswith Kevin pursuing the funding in the Dáil and Dermot pressing for the Plan to be agreed atCouncil level. The simple truth is that the people who live along the Dodder have beendenied a safe environment for too long – that is now about to be changed.

Working together and with the different Residents Associations along the Dodder and otherPublic Representatives, Dermot and Kevin have secured a scheme that provides direct floodalleviation, protects the environment of the Dodder and its built heritage.

This includes raising the wall with stone and glass panels along Beatty Avenue and DodderView Cottages, wall strengthening andraising of same along the Anglesea Roadstretch and with a new raised seating areaalong Herbert Park. From Donnybrook Bridgeto Clonskeagh there will be a mixture of newwalls and protective higher embankments. Acore principle of the scheme is to enable theeventual creation of a linear walkway theentire length of the River.

Work will commence immediately and isexpected to be completed by the middle of 2015.

Delivering this long awaited scheme is an example of what Politicians can do throughworking together and working with communities. That is the Labour way. Next step isto, once and for all, secure Scully’s Field in Milltown for the people as a Public Park.

WORKING WITH CLLR. DERMOT LACEY

For over 20 years, I have worked with my colleagueDermot Lacey on behalf of communities in Sandymount,Donnybrook and Ballsbridge, and he is one of the mostexperienced members of Dublin City Council havingrepresented the South East Inner City from 1993-1999and the Pembroke Rathmines area up to the present. Hehas taken over my old position as Leader of the LabourGroup on Dublin City Council since my election to DáilÉireann, continuing to pursue policies that work forDublin such as the expansion of the Dublin Bikes schemeand flood relief schemes.

Inside...� Herbert Park Upgrade

� New National Maternity Hospital

� LUAS Cross City

� St. Marys Belmont School

� Local Electoral Boundaries

� Iron Footbridge Protected

� Grafton St Refurbishment

� St Alban’s Flood Protection

� Scoil Mhuire New Classrooms

� Dublin Bikes Expansion

Cllr Dermot Lacey and Deputy Kevin Humphreysviewing the Ballsbridge works on the Dodder

€150 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON NEW NATIONAL MATERNITYHOSPITALThe Government has committed to co-locating the NationalMaternity Hospital, currently sited on Holles St, in a new buildon the St. Vincent’s University Hospital campus at Elm Parkthat will cater for up to 10,000 births per year.

€150 million will be invested in a state of the art, custombuilt, modern health care facility, providing care tointernational standards in the most appropriate surroundingsand with access to the facilities and staff of a major acutehospital; in short - the best care in the best environment.

In the early 2000’s when I served on the Board of Holles Street,this was a long held dream – but the €150 million of fundingcommitted by the Government will make it a reality. This is anissue I have raised many times in the Dáil with the Minister,and I am delighted he has proceeded with what will be a majorcapital investment in the healthcare infrastructure in our area.Labour in Government is focused on investing in the infrastructure we need for tomorrow that will also stimulate job creation.

While the National Maternity Hospital has been sited on Holles St for over a century and delivered over 9,000 births in 2012, the fabricof the 19th century building was at breaking point, and it is time we provided a modern building to cope with the population boom. Co-location for Holles St was recommended in the 2008 KPMG Independent Review of Maternity and Gynaecology Services in the GreaterDublin area. Experts agree that a maternity hospital should be co-located with adult acute services, and this will ensure modern,specialised care for mother and baby.

LUAS CROSS CITY

Work on the €370 millionLUAS Cross City project toconnect the Red and Greenlines has started, and willcreate over 600 constructionjobs up to the end of 2017when it is due to open with afurther 60 permanent jobs oncompletion. There will be 13stops and it will also link to thenew DIT campus atGrangegorman. The phase of work currently underway is focused on heritagework, cellar infill and utilities diversion with work taking place on city centrestreets. Regular updates are posted on www.luascrosscity.ie

The National Transport Authority has also committed €5 million to the newLiffey Bridge that will carry the LUAS and is currently being built. Theshortlist for a new name is now down to five including Rosie Hackett, WillieBermingham, Frank Duff, Kay Mills and Bram Stoker. My colleague Cllr.Dermot Lacey has been running this naming competition in his capacity asChairperson of the Naming Committee.

DUBLIN BIKES EXPANSION

In May Dublin City Council approved the expansion ofthe Dublin Bikes scheme. €2.6 million was provided bythe National Transport Authority to support this and Iwill continue to push for investment from theGovernment to support this excellent scheme. Thenumber of bicycles is to increase from 550 to 1,500,alongside a doubling in the number of stations to 102focused on the areas to the east and west of the citycentre along theLiffey, with many in the Docklands.

The Labour Group on the City Council, led by Cllr.Dermot Lacey has championed this project from thebeginning and there are long term plans to expand thissuccessful project city wide over a number of yearsdependent on funding.

GRAFTON STREET REFURBISHMENT

Phase 1 of the Grafton St refurbishment has nowstarted but pedestrians and shoppers will continueto have access. This work is long overdue and willdramatically improve the environment of thestreet as the cobble lock paving has become wornand damaged. The street will be repaved with greyand pink granite, and the works will take up to November2014, costing €4 million. Also as part of the LUAS track laying works, theMolly Malone Statue will be temporarily moved from its current location.

Planning proposals to improve Grafton Street were also recently approved bythe Council, and a motion proposed by Cllr Dermot Lacey to delete the banon charity shops was overwhelmingly carried.

Proposed Location of New National Maternity Hospital on the Elm Park campus

Work underway on LUAS Cross City

SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE FOR HERBERT PARKWork is currently under on a significant upgrade to Herbert Park.

Following his successful championing of the establishment of the Herbert Park UsersForum by Councillor Dermot Lacey, a real programme of work has now commenced. I amdelighted that this work is finally taking place.

After many years of lobbying Dermot Lacey and the Labour Party have ensured thatmoney was provided in the City Council for the upgrade of the pitches and a majorimprovement of the changing room facilities. Work has commenced on the pitches andthe plans we have secured the agreement of the City Council to invest significantly indealing with the drainage problem at the football pitch and the upgrade of the changingrooms, and the Pavillion at the Tennis Court.

REAL PROGRESS AT LASTFOR BELMONT AVENUENATIONAL SCHOOL

As a former pupil, as a parent of formerpupils and as a Donnybrook residentCouncillor Dermot Lacey was delightedto see his colleague Minister RuairiQuinn announce funding for the longpromised refurbishment of St. Mary’sNational School. This much neededupgrade for what is universally regardedas a superb school is especially welcomein these straitened financial times.

Congratulations are due to the Principal,Staff and Board of Management on securing this Government approval. It will protectand secure the place of St. Mary’s in the community and enable the continued provisionof top quality education to children from the area well into the future.

Work will start as soon as possible.

LOCAL ELECTORAL BOUNDARYCHANGES

Following the review of electoral boundaries for theupcoming local elections, the old Pembroke ward has beencombined with the area inside the Grand Canal to form aneight seat local electoral area called ‘Pembroke-South Dock’.This re-unites the village of Sandymount.

Also last year, our Dáil constituency of Dublin South East wasexpanded in size to include Terenure, Harold’s Cross andparts of Kimmage and is now known as ‘Dublin Bay South’but will continue to elect four TDs.

� 3 new classrooms to be built in ScoilMhuire (Lakelands) National Schoolon Gilford Road to replace twoprefabs and cater for the growingschool age population.

� New primary school to be built onHaddington Road on the site of theold secondary school and willaccommodate St Brigid’s and ScoilMhuire.

� Selection process for new patron forprimary school in the Dublin 4underway with announcement duein the autumn. Both EducateTogether and a Gaelscoil haveexpressed interest.

Work underway on new pitches

Cllr Dermot Lacey & Kevin Humphreys TD on site ofworks

Dermot Lacey and Kevin Humphreys visiting the siteof Belmont Avenue National School which is to berefurbished

Proposed new Pavilion for Herbert Park

The boundaries of the new local electoral ward

SCHOOL NEWS IN

DUBLIN BAY SOUTH

DODDER IRON FOOTBRIDGE TO BE PROTECTED

Following representations from many residents concerned at thefuture of the old Iron Bridge across the Dodder Dermot Lacey securedan assurance from the City council that every effort will be made toprotect this much used and appreciated local amenity.

Replying to a question submitted by Dermot Lacey the Manager said“The Iron Bridge at Brookvale Road / Beaver Row is supported at midspan by a pier located in the Dodder. A crack developed near the baseof the river support pier and a temporary steel clamp was installed atthe crack to protect the bridge.

Dublin City Council Roads and Traffic Department have engagedconsulting engineers to provide a structural design for a number ofoptions to provide a permanent solution for the strengthening of theriver support pier so that the existing temporary clamp can beremoved. As part of this work a survey of the bridge was carried out.When the options have been structurally designed and detailed Roadsand Traffic Department will be in a position to discuss and presentoptions to secure and protect the Bridge.

FLOOD PROTECTIONFOR ST. ALBAN’S PARK

In the course of the City CouncilBudget negotiations Dermot Laceysuccessfully secured agreement forthe allocation of funds to begin totackle the flooding problems in St.Alban’s Park. Arising from thiswork has commenced on installinga new 400mm ductile iron risingmain. This will work in conjunctionwith the existing 300mm risingmain, allowing a greater volume offlood water to be pumped duringhigh rainfall events. It is expectedthat this work will takeapproximately 6 weeks. This is anissue that has been on-going formany years and I am delighted it isnow to be addressed.

� BELMONT VILLAS - Public lighting on the lane leading to St. Mary’s Tennis Club to be assessed

and considered as part of a future programme of improvement works subject to finances

made available.

� ANGLESEA ROAD – a brief is being prepared for the site of the former Public Toilet block on

Anglesea Road and the City Council intends to seek expressions of interest in the near future.

� MILLTOWN - Integrated traffic plan for Ramleh Park Milltown to be examined by Traffic

Advisory Group

� SANDYMOUNT - Site investigations into the structural integrity of the existing sea wall at

Beach Road and Strand Road are planned to take place this Autumn as part of long term plan

to address flooding risk.

� DOG-FOULING - on-going problem with people not cleaning up the mess left behind by their

dog and it is both a nuisance and a public health issue. The City Council is taking action to

tackle this by co-ordinating activity across city services. The Dog Warden is liaising with the

Parks Office to identify problem areas and arrange scheduled patrols in public parks. Waste

Management has two Dog Fouling (Pavement Cleaning) machines that use suction to clean up

dirty streets operating in our area, and dog poo bags are being made available through area

offices. The South East area office is planning an awareness campaign in local schools &

community centres, and also in identified problem areas, and high profile public places,

alongside the erection of more dog fouling signs.

Dermot & Kevin examining the Iron Bridge at Beaver Row/BrookvaleRoad

Working with your Local Labour Team

Kevin Humphreys TDCllr. Dermot LaceyPhone: 087 264 6960Email: dermot.lacey@labour.ie

Ruairi Quinn TD01 618 3434minister@education.gov.ie

Emer Costello MEP01 874 6109emer.costello@europarl.europa.eu

Cllr Gerry Ashe 087 2959571gerry.ashe@dublincity.ie

Cllr. Maria Parodi087 682 1420maria.parodi@dublincity.ie

Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2Phone: 01 618 3224 Email: kevin.humphreys@oir.ie Web: www.kevinhumphreys.ie

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