dermot.lacey@labour.ie

Dublin Bay South – Pembroke

Councillor Dermot Lacey

Latest News

Councillor Dermot Lacey Report to Constituency Council AGM -17th January 2011

2010 has been a busy year on the City Council. Work centered on the new City Development Plan where I pushed for positive constructive planning policy with real public engagement. Work also took place on the Regional Authority to adopt new Regional Planning Guidelines. Given the collapse of the Public Finances there was the difficult task of agreeing a Budget for 2011 without affecting services too much. My belief remains that, if let, a reformed Local Government system can transform Ireland. My hope is that Labour commits itself to that task in Government. It is, in my view, impossible to have real Political Reform without Local Government Reform.

Pembroke-Rathmines

Locally, there was some progress on a new Voluntary housing scheme I am working on. The Herbert Park Users Group was finally established and much was accomplished through the Rathmines Pembroke Partnership Company. It was particularly good to see the new Rathmines Swimming Pool and Centre open and much credit is due to Mary Freehill who pursued this vigorously over the years. Despite considerable odds I was delighted to win my appeal to An Bord Pleanala against an appalling development that UCD wished to impose on the area. I have remained a member of the Lansdowne Road Stadium Monitoring Committee.

City Council

On behalf of the Council, I continue membership of the Dublin Regional Authority, the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly and the VEC. During the year I was elected to the Executive of the Association of City and County Councils and continue to serve as a Commissioner of Irish Lights and a member of the Protocol and Finance Committees of the City Council. I also joined the Traffic Committee during the year. I have continued as Chairperson of the South Inner City Local Drugs Task Force and the Board of the Royal Hospital Donnybrook Voluntary Housing Association. I am continuing to push for the opening of Fitzwilliam Square Park.

Thanks

A lot of people gave me a lot of help over the year for which I am grateful – to all the members in Pembroke –Rathmines and particularly my colleagues in the Donnybrook Branch for their assistance. Denise, Gerry and Ian in Leinster House who do far more than any of you will ever believe and I hope will have an even more fruitful year ahead. Working with Ruairi, Mary, Oisin, Kevin and Maria makes life interesting and I believe together we have made a difference. Special “thanks” must go to Jill for her support. Last year, at the AGM, we were asked for “one year on one page”. I have tried to do that. Thanks to you all. I believe it has been worth it. Hope you do too.

18/01/2011
Scout Leaders Campaign for Ireland’s Biggest Ever Charitable Act

Two Dublin Scout leaders have come together to start the biggest charity fundraiser campaign of their lives.

Yesterday, Richard McGrath and Conor Mulvagh began a Facebook campaign appealing to the good will of AIB workers to donate their €40MILLION worth of Executive Christmas Bonuses to charity, and spread a little cheer, in the spirit of Christmas, and make the single most significant act charitable donation the state has ever seen.

Join their group or get more information here.

10/12/2010
Christmas Waste Collection Arrangements

Dublin City Council has released details of the 2010 Christmas period waste collection arrangements.

As Christmas Day falls on a Saturday this year, normal black and brown bin collections won’t be affected. Christmas tree recycling will be available at a variety of locations from January 2nd to 20th. Full details can be found here (pdf).

06/12/2010
Grow it Yourself

If you’re interested in growing your own food, you might like to know that there is a GIY (Grow It Yourself) branch in Rathgar/Terenure. The group meets on the first Monday of each month at 8pm in Rathgar Junior School on Grosvenor Road in Rathmines. Entry is free.

The next meeting is on December 6th, when the guest speaker will discuss the various traditions around Christmas food. There will also be a demonstration on making your own Christmas wreath from fruit and veg, plus the usual growing tips and gardener’s calendar. Visit www.giyireland.com for more information.

12/11/2010
St Luke’s Hospital Book

I’ve just seen a copy of the new book “Cancer in a cold climate” by Enid O’Dowd. Subtitled “The story of the shafting of St. Luke’s Hospital”, Enid addresses the letdown of St Luke’s and its patients by the Department of Health and the HSE.

The book is available directly from www.originalwriting.ie at €15 + p+p or Easons It can also be obtained directly from the author at 087 2319056 and she will deliver locally.

09/11/2010
Your Dublin, Your Voice – And a Free Helicopter Trip!

I would like to bring your attention to an exciting new initiative that we have just launched for the Dublin region called “Your Dublin, Your Voice“. This initiative will give people an opportunity to tell us what they think about Dublin.

By establishing an opinion panel and surveying on a regular basis we will better understand the issues that affect people who work, live or study in Dublin. We want to know what is great and what is not so great about Dublin. Over time the survey results will provide us with a barometer of personal views and experiences on issues affecting Dublin.

For further details see: www.yourdublinyourvoice.ie . All participants are entered in a prize draw and two lucky winners will each receive a voucher for two people for an exclusive “Your Dublin, Your Voice” scenic helicopter tour of Dublin with Irish Helicopters (announced 10^th December).

30/10/2010