Councillor Kieran Binchy at the Dodder walkway

This section of the route will run mostly along the banks of the River Dodder, from its mouth at Grand Canal Dock, through Ringsend, Lansdowne, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Clonskeagh, Milltown, Dartry, Churchtown and Rathfarnham, then joining with the section through South County Dublin which has recently been through planning. The route will cross into Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown in the vicinity of Clonskeagh, Milltown and Churchtown. It is intended that the route will utilise the various parks along the corridor, including Herbert Park, Dartry Park, Orwell Park, and the linear parks between Clonskeagh and Milltown.

The general principle of the scheme is to provide an attractive leisure and commuter cycle route that would be on par with other routes of its kind in Europe. To achieve this a holistic design approach has to be exercised, taking into account not only journey times and comfort of cyclists but also various other aspects including but not limited to, consideration of pedestrians and local walkers, impact on flora and fauna, benefiting local communities through enhancing existing and providing new amenities, increasing accessibility to and providing good connectivity between local businesses, village centres, and other cycle paths. The proposals will incorporate a number of rest places with bike parking facilities, linkages to cafes and restaurants, potential for Dublin Bike stations, and various heritage places of architectural or historical interest, which will be consistently sign posted, and easy to locate and access. It is the intention that the greenway will be branded, and a signing strategy will be developed as part of the design.

Currently we are developing the route options, and consulting with the relevant statutory bodies and key stakeholders including DCC and DLR departments, to determine the particular requirements for the scheme.

We also intend to consult with other interested parties including business groups, local community groups, and affected landowners, etc, to gather any comments or observations in relation to the scheme and to assist with identification of constraints that must be taken into consideration as part of the design of the greenway route.

It is envisaged that a preferred option will be identified in November, which can then be circulated for comment. It is also intended to hold a public consultation on the preferred option early in the New Year, with any feedback forming part of the development of the preliminary design. Once the preliminary design is complete, a further statutory public consultation will be held as part of the planning process, which is likely to be Summer/Autumn 2016.

Q.126 COUNCILLOR KIERAN BINCHY

To ask the Chief Executive for an update on the formation of a community liaison forum for the Poolbeg incinerator.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPLY:
Membership:
The committee shall comprise 10 members having an independent chairperson, 3 local community representatives, 3 elected members of Dublin City Council, 2 officials of Dublin City Council and 1 representative from the operators of the waste to energy facility.

The Independent Chair
The Chief Executive has appointed Peter McLoone as independent Chairperson of the CGLC. Peter has considerable experience on various Boards, Committees and Agencies in a variety of organisations and sectors.

3 Local Community Representatives
An Assessment Panel comprising the Chair, the Lord Mayor and the Executive Manager, Environment & Transportation Department met on the 3rd June to assess the applications received for membership of the Committee from the following sectors:
(i) community/voluntary/disadvantage (ii) education/sports/art/culture/environment and (iii) business. The Panel has nominated one group from each sector to the Chief Executive who will then appoint the 3 community representatives on confirmation from them that they are agreeable to the appointment.

3 Elected Representatives
The 3 elected representatives have been selected by the South East Area Committee (SEAC) at its meeting on the 9th March. The SEAC has agreed that the following 3 councillors will sit on the CGLC from March 2015 to April 2017:
Cllr Chris Andrews
Cllr Claire Byrne
Cllr Kieran Binchy
The following 3 councillors will sit on the CGLC from May 2017 to May 2019:
Cllr Dermot Lacy
Cllr Frank Kennedy
Cllr Paddy McCartan

2 Officials of Dublin City Council
The Chief Executive has appointed the South East Area Manager and the Senior Executive Officer, Environment & Transportation Department to the CGLC.

1 Representative from the Operator of the facility
Covanta has nominated its General Manager, John Daly to the Committee.

When all the appointments have been made, it is intention of the Chair to convene the first meeting of the committee which is likely to be before the end of June.

Public Consultation June 11th – July 16th

• Dublin City Centre Transport Study proposes major changes to ensure city continues to function efficiently and accommodate future growth

• €150 million NTA investment in public transport forecast

• Public transport, cycling and pedestrian only links along North and South Quays and at College Green plus pedestrianisation of Suffolk Street and St. Stephen’s Green North

• Increases in public transport capacity plus implementation of city wide cycle network

• New interchange hubs, bridges, coach and taxi facilities to ease city flow

Public’s views sought – consultation open from June 11th to July 16th 2015 on www.dublincity.ie/TransportStudy

The National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council today (June 10, 2015) published their joint “Dublin City Centre Transport Study” – a set of proposals to enhance overall movement in the city and achieve the objectives set out in the current Dublin City Development Plan – “ … modal share targets crossing the canals of 55% for public transport, 15% for cycling, 10% for walking and 20% for private car use in the annual cordon count by 2017”. A period of public consultation on the Study will run from tomorrow, June 11th until July 16th 2015, so that the views of members of the public, and interested parties, can be heard before final decisions are made.

Anyone with views they wish to express can do so online on www.dublincity.ie/TransportStudy. A comprehensive public information pack on the study is also available at this location.

Submissions can also be made, and the Study consulted, at Dublin City Council’s public libraries, Area Offices and Customer Services Centre in Wood Quay.

Traffic congestion levels in Dublin are already rising, and, with an additional 42,000 morning-peak journeys into the City Centre anticipated by 2023, plans need to be put in place now to meet the Development Plan targets and to ensure that the capital city continues to function efficiently into the future. In addition, the construction and operation of Luas Cross City will require a significant reconfiguration of current traffic arrangements.

Measures proposed in the Study work together to form a cohesive plan. They include:

• A rebalancing of road space and junction capacity to enable increased public transport provision;

• the introduction of the high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system;

• increasing the frequency and capacity of the DART;

• running new rail passenger services between Kildare and the Grand Canal Dock area through the Phoenix Park Tunnel;

• enhancing interchange opportunities between modes at key points across the city;

• developing a high-quality cycle network in the City Centre;

• improving pedestrians’ experiences with wider footpaths and crossing priority at key junctions; and

• reorganising city centre space for taxis and for coach-parking.

Specifically, the Study proposes extending the current ‘bus gate’ at College Green to exclude cars, vans and taxis on a 24-hour basis, restricting the street permanently to Luas, buses, cyclists and pedestrians and developing a much-enhanced civic space in front of Trinity College.

On the North and South Quays, Bachelors’ Walk would be reconfigured as a public transport / cycling / walking only corridor, between its junctions with Jervis Street and O’Connell Street. Across the river, this arrangement would be mirrored, either on Aston Quay, Burgh Quay or George’s Quay – with this decision to be made following a more detailed analysis. General through-traffic would be re-routed around the city’s central area – freeing up road-space in this currently congested part of the city.

As a result of the new traffic restrictions on College Green, Westmoreland Street too would cease to be a through route for car traffic, and can therefore be reconfigured to provide a high quality pedestrian environment, linking the city centre’s two major retail/leisure destinations – O’Connell Street/Henry Street and the Grafton Street Quarter – with wider paths, priority pedestrian crossing onto O’Connell Bridge, BRT and Luas interchange and enhanced cycling facilities.

D’Olier Street would also benefit directly from car-traffic realignments in the city centre. A new central median to accommodate additional bus stops, segregated cycle lanes and ready access to the DART at Tara Street would make this street a key interchange location in the city.

Developing Luas Cross City has opened up the opportunity to pedestrianise Suffolk Street, complementing the Grafton Street commercial area. And a new civic space can be created on St Stephen’s Green North between the Dawson Street and Grafton Street junctions, and extending southwards onto St. Stephen’s Green West.

In addition, investments will be made in improving key transport interchange locations across the city – at Connolly Station / Busaras and Heuston Station as well as at Westmoreland Street / D’Olier Street as outlined above. Three new Dockland Bridges – including a new road-bridge linking Thorncastle Road (Ringsend) to Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, are proposed, as well as imaginative new ways to accommodate the requirement for coach-parking facilities and city centre taxi ranks.

Michael Phillips, Dublin City Council’s Director of Traffic said: “The changes proposed in the Dublin City Centre Transport Study would affect everybody with an interest in Dublin. That’s why we want to hear people’s views and opinions. Our public consultation runs until 16th July, we will also be engaging with transport stakeholders on these proposals and look forward to hearing people’s opinions .”

A protected structure is a structure that a planning authority considers to be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical point of view. If you are the owner or occupier of a protected structure, you are legally obliged to prevent it becoming endangered whether through damage or neglect. The ESB owns the Poolbeg Chimneys.

Although they are of recent industrial provenance, the chimneys are considered by many Dubliners to be iconic because of their visual impact and social and artistic influence. On this basis the Dublin City Council Conservation Section has agreed to produce a report on whether the chimneys meet the criteria for being listed as a protected structure. It will report to the Councillors on the South East Area Committee (SEAC), which is the area that covers the Poolbeg Peninsula and Ringsend and Sandymount.

The following is the most recent reply (December 20014)  to Cllr. Kieran Binchy from the South East Area Manager of Dublin City Council:

The Conservation Section has commissioned an architectural historian to research and report on the chimneys at Poolbeg. The report is expected to be completed by the end of January, at which time the Conservation Section will review it and examine its findings. Therefore, a report on the chimneys for the South East Area Committee is not likely to be provided until the March meeting at the earliest.

The matter is therefore on hand, but it will take a number of months before the initial report is before the Councillors. In the meanwhile the ESB has not indicated that it has any plans (either positive or negative) for the chimneys, but any plans that it did have would be subject to the normal planning permission procedure.

Councillor Kieran Binchy

Dear Chief Executive,

I understand that the Minister for Transport has issued Circular RSD 01/2014 on the control of Vehicle Speeds in Housing Estates, which calls on local authorities to examine speed limits in residential areas and housing estates to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians, especially children.

I understand that the circular requests the Chief Executive to initiate consultation with residents with a view to determine the need for new bye-laws for 30 km/h limits for residential estates and additional selected safety zones.

Many residential streets in the inner suburbs such as in Sandymount and Portobello are currently used by rat-running commuters and other drivers moving at a speed that may be within the national speed limits but which is totally unsuitable for residential streets with many young families. I am strongly of the view that such streets would benefit greatly from such a change of speed limits. This could be implemented while keeping the normal limit on the primary commuter routes.

Can you therefore provide an update on the implementation of this circular?

Kind regards,

Cllr. Kieran Binchy

Fine Gael Councillor has welcomed news that all local authorities are to examine speed limits in residential areas and housing estates. The directive was issued to local authorities by the Minister for Transport, Sport and Tourism, Paschal Donohoe TD.

“Minister Donohoe has contacted all local authorities, including Dublin City Council Council, directing them to review the speed limits in residential areas and in housing estates.

Cllr. Kieran Binchy stated: “A 50km/h speed limit in highly populated areas is dangerous. We need speed ramps, lower limits and traffic calming measures to ensure the safety of children, cyclists and pedestrians in these areas.

“There are many residential streets locally which have a high volume of traffic passing through. Some are used as rat runs for the morning and afternoon school drop-off and collection times, or by commuters, with vehicles often travelling at speed. Not everyone is cognisant of the fact that small children may be on the footpath or even on the road playing with their friends – and this is where tragedy can strike,”

“I would like to thank Minister Donohoe for making this move. I would encourage Dublin City Council to implement the circular in order to secure the safety of everyone living in these areas, especially our young children.”

Cllr. Kieran Binchy announced as new Pembroke South Dock Councillor, May 2014

I look forward to working for all of the residents and businesses across the area, from Sandymount to Portobello, from Ringsend to Milltown, from Donnybrook to Temple Bar, from Ballsbridge to the Docklands, and from Merrion/Nutley to the Inner City.

Please do not hesitate to get in contact by email or telephone.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards,

Kieran

Ringsend and Irishtown councillor Kieran Binchy in Ringsend Park

Councillor Kieran Binchy has represented Ringsend and Irishtown for the last three years. He has consistently worked for the area, maintaining a visible presence with his clinic in the Community Centre, and working with the local community for a better future for the village.

• Kieran has worked with Dublin City Council and the Gardai to tackle anti-social behaviour in Ringsend Park, and on the streets leading to the Park.

• He also introduced a Sli na Sláinte in the park to encourage walkers to use this great facility, and has worked with local clubs to secure the all-weather 5-a-side pitch to protect this amenity.

• As a board member of the Ringsend Community Services Forum, Kieran has supported local organisations and clubs in the fight for a better future for the young people of Ringsend and Irishtown.

• Kieran secured a specially-designed footpath cleaner for the area. It now cleans and tackles dog-dirt in Ringsend Village, the Dodder walkway, Aviva Walkway and Londonbridge Road (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays). Kieran is seeking more and better street-bins to prevent littering in the village.

• Kieran supported a new streetscape for Barrow Street, but ensured it was amended to take into account the concerns of local residents about traffic. He also sought traffic calming for Sean Moore Road, to protect local residents both young and old.

• Kieran is supporting the campaign for a permanent home in the area for a Dublin Dockworkers Museum.

• Kieran campaigned for three years for the expansion of the Dublin Bikes scheme into the Docklands and South Lotts. The expansion arrived in Spring 2014. Ringsend and Irishtown should be next.

Pembroke South Dock local election candidate Councillor Kieran Binchy (Fine Gael) has launched his campaign video, outlining his vision for a better Dublin.

In the short video, Kieran highlights some of the improvements he has successfully campaigned for in your area.

Kieran has made a difference in his three years on Dublin City Council: he has fought successfully for better cycle lanes and an expansion of the Dublin Bikes scheme; he was instrumental in getting the marina at Grand Canal Dock opened up; he has opposed inappropriate development in residential areas; he has lobbied to make the city’s parks and canal banks safer and cleaner; he has prioritised flood protection and battled for a deal for insurance for residents affected by flooding.

Kieran also underlines his commitment to working for the people of Pembroke South Dock to make Dublin a better city for everyone.

This brief video explains why you should vote Binchy No 1 on Friday, 23 May.

Q: Where did you grow up?

Kieran: I grew up in Charleville, Co. Cork with my sister and two brothers. Growing up in a small town where everyone knew each other and there was a great mixture of people was a brilliant apprencticeship for representing Pembroke-South Dock, which is an exceptionally vibrant and diverse constituency stretching from Grand Canal Dock to Milltown.

I moved to Dublin in 1995 to study Law and French in Trinity and, having studied in France, I caught the travel bug and worked overseas in Morocco, Cuba and Canada for most of my twenties.

Q: How did you get involved in politics?

Kieran: When I came back from Canada, I was taken aback by the ‘Celtic Tiger’, then in full flight. The county seemed to be slightly out of control with the huge property bubble and the banks’ lending policies. People were being told they’d never had it so good but I could see my friends saddled with huge mortgages and yet living miles from where they worked because the property market was so inflated.

Quality of life seemed to have reached a new low despite all the rhetoric from Fianna Fáil that we’d never had it so good. I’m not one to sit on my hands, so I got involved with Fine Gael on the ground in Dublin South East (now Dublin Bay South) and worked towards a change of Government. After that election I worked in Leinster House for a few years and I was co-opted to Senator Catherine Noone’s Council seat in 2011 after her election to the Seanad.

As a barrister, I’ve found my legal training very helpful in terms of being focussed on problem solving and being an effective advocate for the communities I represent. I can bring my problem solving ability to bear when dealing with the issues affecting individuals as their intermediary with the Council and I can bring my advocacy skills to bear when speaking up for the communities of Dublin South Dock at Dublin City Council meetings, e.g. on planning matters, parking, bins, illegal dumping, addressing the issue of derelict sites

Q: Why Pembroke South Dock

Kieran: This is where I live – I live in the Docklands and, as I’ve said, I think this is the most diverse and interesting constituency in the country. In scale, it’s huge, taking in Sandymount, Ringsend, Irishtown, Bath Avenue, Beggars’ Bush, South Docklands, Temple Bar, Christchurch, Aungier Street, Charlemont St, Portobello, Ballsbridge, Merrion, Nutley and Milltown. It is bordered by both the Canal and the Liffey and every area has a distinctive character and an interesting history in the context of the evolution of Dublin as a city.

I’m very passionate about the area because I know it well. I’ve been knocking on the doors here for years, getting to know the people, helping to resolve their issues. I have regular clinics in the area. I am very involved with a number of residents’ associations and, I must say, I get a great satisfaction from seeing the results of my work, especially given the patience needed to make progress in politics.

For example:

• I led the Councillors in introducing a new development plan for the Docklands area, to bring new jobs and communities into the area.
• One of my proudest achievements is that I successfully fought to open up the Grand Canal Marina, which had lain idle for 7 years;
• I supported better cycle lanes and the expansion of Dublin Bikes
• I worked to introduce traffic calming in Portobello and to protect pedestrians at busy junctions
• I believe in better and safer parks and, over the last 3 years, I worked with the Council and the Gardai to tackle anti-social behaviour in Ringsend Park.
• I have worked to protect the Canal as an amenity. And I introduced a Sli na Slainte in Ringsend.
• Flooding has been a problem for many residents. I was on the ground at Bath Avenue in 2011 during the floods, and I have prioritised flood relief works since then. I have also worked with the Council and the OPW to secure a deal on insurance.

Q: What are you hoping to achieve in your next term if you’re successful on 23rd May?

Kieran: I have three key priorities.

1. Transport: we need a coherent and integrated transport system that allows people to get easily from A to B whether that’s on foot, on a bike, on a Luas, Dart or bus.
2. My second priority is planning. Dublin City Council has a huge responsibility in creating and delivering on a vision for Dublin that fosters the vibrancy of new industries and businesses while ensuring that people of every age and families of every combination can live and work in the city if that is their desire. We’ve seen too much of the short term approach and too much thinking in silos instead of a broader vision. I am passionate about the development of Dublin as a city of vibrant neighbourhoods.
3. My third priority relates to the Local Property Tax (LPT). The simple fact of the matter is that the cost of living is higher in Dublin so we need to ease the burden on people where possible by ensuring that services are delivered in teh most cost effective way possible. The Local Property Tax take in Dublin is huge due to the population size and I believe we can afford to reduce the LPT while delivering excellent services. I will be seeking the maximum legal reduction in the LPT if re-elected next term.

Finally, I’d like to say: it has been my privilege to represent Pembroke-South Dock for the last three years. I have worked hard to vindicate the faith placed in me in 2011. I am hoping the people of Pembroke South Dock will renew my mandate on 23rd May.

For more information on Cllr. Kieran Binchy’s election platform please watch his short campaign video:

Pembroke South Dock candidate, Councillor Kieran Binchy would like to thank everyone who attended his public meeting, with guest speakers former Taoiseach John Bruton and Eoghan Murphy TD.

Councillor Binchy informed the meeting of the main local issues he has been working on since becoming a councillor in 2011. These include opening up the marina in the Docklands as part of the regeneration of the docklands and his commitment to fight dereliction and promote good planning.

Kieran spoke about his work on the Council Transport Committee on the expansion of Dublin bikes and of the importance of pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and public transport sharing the road. He himself uses all four modes.

Kieran Binchy with John Bruton and Eoghan Murphy

Kieran mentioned his work on prevention of illegal dumping, improved parking and, an important issue for many, the elimination of dog fouling. He said that there must be a 3-pronged approach to dog-fouling: education, enforcement and cleaning.

He also referred to his work on the Council’s Housing Committee and the challenges of providing social housing and combatting homelessness.

Regarding the Local Property Tax, Cllr Binchy made an upfront pledge that if re-elected on 23^rd May he would vote in favour of the maximum reduction of the LPT of 15% thereby reducing the burden on local residents while not compromising local services.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton said: “Councillors like Kieran, who take the job seriously and are dedicated to better politics and to bringing the Council closer to the people, are what Dublin needs today.”