In May, I had the honour of unveiling a plaque to commemorate the visual artist and painter Jonathan Wade at his home in 2, Walkinstown Avenue. Jonathan Wade was a Dublin-born Irish artist renowned for his evocative urban and industrial landscapes. He has been described as possibly the finest Irish visual artist of the last century. It was while living in Walkinstown in his teenage years that John began to develop a passion for painting, and this is where he painted many of his earliest works.
Robert Wade, Jean Guidon, Cllr Ray Cunningham (deputising for the Lord Mayor) , Kathleen Courtney and Tommy Wade
His family still live in the same house. It was my pleasure to meet them, and unveil this plaque to commemorate Jonathan, who died tragically young.
Dublin City Council is planning to build 38 apartments on the site of the old Massey’s Funeral Home, on the corner of Rafters Road and Drimnagh Road.
The plans were presented at the March meeting of the South Central Area Committee. Planning permission will be sought this year, but the homes will not be ready for people to move in until 2028.
The complex will be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bed apartments, and will be right beside the new library.
The effect of the M50 toll is to divert traffic from the motorway, a road designed for cars and trucks, onto the streets where people live. This is especially obvious in Chapelizod, where a lot of the cars that fill the streets and make it dangerous for kids to walk to school, are driven by people avoiding the toll bridge. It’s also a big problem in Lucan, on the other side of the motorway. But even in the city centre, there is a substantial amount of traffic that is going from one side of the city to the other, that should be on the road that circles the city for this reason, but instead is filling the streets with noise and air pollution.
The biggest and most important fix we have to traffic, and the emissions it causes, is to improve public transport. Build the Metrolink, expand the Luas, expand the DART, put on more buses and give them dedicated space on our streets. But we should also look at where we are directing cars. The M50 is designed for traffic, the rest of our city is not. We should put cars and trucks where they belong, away from people.
I met the Active Travel team recently to find out when we would be able to open the park. They had planned to start work on this project after 2028. They have been able to move it forward, so they start design work in 2026, but it will be at least a year after that before the work is completed and the park is opened. That’s disappointing, but in the meantime, I’ve been working with local environmental groups to carry out biodiversity surveys in the park. We’ll continue that work until the park is opened to the public (and maybe after!)
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One of the priorities I spoke about in the local elections was to open the old pitch and putt course in Lansdowne Valley as a extension of the existing park. I’ve been working on this since I was elected, and I’m glad to say I’ve been making progress.
The old pitch and putt course is owned by the council. It is not zoned for building on, it must be kept as green space. But it has been locked away for years. There are lots of people living nearby who can’t walk as far as Brickfields or the Blackhorse entrance to Lansdowne Valley to use a park. And while the gates are closed, that hasn’t stopped some people from climbing in and starting fires or engaging in other anti-social behaviour.
The Parks department of the council have agreed to open the land as a park, and connect it to the existing park. That means you will be able to walk or cycle from Walkinstown village through to Inchicore. A lot more people will be able to use the park, which will make it safer – the current park ends in a dead-end a long way from the entrance, which means a lot of people don’t use it as much as they’d like to.
The Active Travel team in Dublin City Council are working on the design for the greenway through the park. When that is finalised, they will work with the Parks department to set an opening date. I’m hoping it will be in 2025, or at least very close to that.
In the meantime, I’m working with local environmental groups on producing a survey of the wildlife in the park. Because there have been so few people in that area, many birds and animals have made it their home. We’ll be aiming to keep as much space as possible for biodiversity, so the park will be a place where people can get in touch with nature.
The plans for Drimnagh library received full approval at the March council meeting. The council can now put out a tender for the construction contract – we hope to see construction start later this year, and the library open in early 2027. It’s been a long time coming, and has taken a lot of pressure from local community groups, but the end is in sight!
The library will be on the site of the old Ardscoil Eanna, on the Crumlin Road. The school building will become a cafe, with office space for the library staff upstairs. The library itself will be built to the right of the school building (the town side). It will have two floors, with the books downstairs, and community spaces upstairs. There will be a lift to the first floor in the library building, and a bridge from there across to the old school building. There will be access to the library from Rafters Lane, and both front and back will be landscaped.
The public consultation on the upgrade of this junction is open until the 9th of August. (Accessible versions of the drawings are available on the consultation site)
What’s wrong with the current layout?
As it stands, there are four arms of the junction (plus apartment access on Grand Canal Way), and a Luas line running across the middle. The junction is very wide, which means drivers often misjudge whether they will be able to get through – they end up sitting in the middle of the junction, blocking traffic, sometimes blocking the Luas. There are no pedestrian crossings on Slievenamon Road or Dolphin Road.
What’s the proposed design?
Basically, to make this a three-way junction, instead of a four-way. That means the junction will be smaller, making it easier for traffic to get through, and there will be safe crossing points across every arm.
Who will benefit from the changes?
Pedestrians will have safe crossing points. People coming from Drimnagh will be able to go directly to the linear park (towards Rialto). People going to Good Counsel GAA from Dolphin Road will have only one road to cross, at a controlled crossing. This means kids walk to and from training safely.
Cyclists will have a safe way through the junction. There’s a cycle route along the canal to the west, and a route beside the Luas line as far as the Liberties, but this junction has always been the most dangerous part of any cycle. (Protected cycle lanes on Dolphin Road are also in design, to support cycling to Harold’s Cross. This upgrade is necessary to make that route work too.)
Public transport users. The 123 bus from Drimnagh (soon to be the 73) will have a bus gate for a fast exit from Slievenamon Road, and both buses and Luas will benefit from the junction being kept clear.
Drivers will be better off too. Right now, the light cycle at the junction takes a long time. There are four major roads converging, with right-turning traffic from three of them, and the width of the junction means a long red cycle to allow traffic to get through. A smaller junction, with only three arms, will mean a faster light cycle.
Another benefit – the increased green space will support benches, more tree planting, and flood prevention.
What is the disadvantage?
Drivers coming from Drimnagh will have to exit onto Davitt Road or Dolphin Road, depending on their destination. For most drivers, there will be no change to travel time. (There is still private car access into Drimnagh on Slievenamon Road, but the exit is bus-only)
I think the overall proposal is very positive. The current layout of this junction is not safe, the proposed design is a huge improvement. I’m very happy to see the improvements to the public realm and sustainable urban drainage included in the plan. I have three suggestions:
Cyclists going west from the linear park can cross Dolphin Road to Slievenamon, but can’t cross beside the Luas lines. To reach the canal, or the cycle lane on Suir Road, they must wait for a second set of lights on Davitt Road. The cycle lane crossing the road beside the Luas line should be two-way.
Cyclists coming from Slievenamon, and going to the linear park are also forced to cross both Davitt Road and Dolphin Road. The cycle lane crossing the south-east of the junction should also be two-way.
Many people will be cycling to and from Good Counsel GAA club. The shared active travel facility on the south side of Davitt Road should be extended to the entrance to Good Counsel.
Green city councillors slam Minister Emer Higgins’ “bizarre intervention” on behalf of car park owners
Dublin City Council should push ahead with their traffic plans for the city centre, the eight Green councillors have said.
They rejected calls by Minister Emer Higgins for the scheme to be delayed, criticising her intervention as “bizarre”.The initial stages of the plan would see two new short bus lanes on Aston Quay and Bachelor’s Walk, plus a new junction layout at Pearse Street. Research found that 60% of car traffic in the city centre is passing through – without stopping to shop. The plan aims to reduce this through traffic and make Dublin city centre a more attractive destination.An extensive consultation process on the plan was completed in 2023, with over 3,500 submissions made by business, residents and charities across the city. The city councillors have debated and voted on the plan several times in the past year, each time recommending its implementation.
The city council has aimed to start work in August of this year, but has faced objections from the Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance, a small lobby group mostly composed of car park owners.Green Party group leader on Dublin City Council, Cllr. Michael Pidgeon said:“Dubliners are sick of waiting. Waiting in traffic, waiting for buses, and now a minister wants them to wait for plans to fix up our city centre.“This last-ditch intervention by Minister Emer Higgins is utterly bizarre. She is doing the work of vested interests – car park owners who fear any progress that would undermine their bottom line.“Dublin city’s design cannot be dictated by car park owners. City council management should stick to their guns. It’s time to implement this plan, improve the bus, and make the core city centre a better place to be.”
Local Green councillor Claire Byrne said:“By talking this traffic out of the city centre, Dublin will be a much better place to work, shop and live. It will improve the air quality and make our streets safer to walk or cycle along. We need to get past the idea that all customers in a city drive.“In short, this plan is about giving the city back to people, making it a living city again rather than one that is dominated by cars racing through it. This is exactly the sort of measure we need to achieve our climate targets.”
Green councillor Ray Cunningham said:“The Dublin City Traffic Plan is aimed at limiting through traffic only – the cars that will never stop and shop in the city centre. It is precisely this traffic that is bad for business. “It means that those who do genuinely want to come into the city, to shop, to eat or for entertainment are getting caught up in horrendous traffic jams. This type of car-jam system doesn’t work for anyone.”
Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Donna Cooney, said:“Retail and tourism thrive in low-traffic areas. We’ve seen this evidence in cities around the world.“When you create space for people to linger and enjoy, it is better for Dubliners and visitors.”
Below is a political agreement reached in June 2024 between Dublin City Councillors from Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Labour Party. It aims to run from 2024 until 2029.
Key principles
The group will provide cohesive leadership for Dublin City Council, increasing services and funding and working collaboratively with the executive to maximise outcomes for the city.
Back to Basics: cleaner streets, well-kept parks, and better housing
A vibrant, climate-resilient city and revitalised city centre
More effective democratic oversight
Inclusion, equality and integration for everyone who calls Dublin home
Making Dublin the world’s first capital to be designated an autism-friendly city
Ways of working
Agendas for monthly meetings will be set and progress monitored at bi-monthly meetings between group leaders and senior management. Councillors of all participant parties commit to be bound to below key policies and will aim to work together where possible on issues beyond them.
Key policies to advance collectively
The streets across the city will be maintained to a high level of cleanliness – delivered by increased budget for cleaning and waste services, hiring more direct labour staff and equipment, developing new street warden roles, implementing a new approach to commercial and bagged waste, and revising related bye-laws.
Projects to improve streetscapes will be delivered in an accelerated manner.
Local Property tax will be set at base rate (0% variation) for years 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this council term with a free vote in year 1. Increased funding from LPT to be ringfenced for housing maintenance, street cleanliness and a new fund for playgrounds. Parties will also seek clear commitments from the central government on improving council funding, including the introduction of a hotel tourist tax, to better support city services and ease pressure on small businesses’ commercial rates.
The Council will expand direct build of public and affordable housing projects on council-owned sites. The Council will also maximise the use of existing buildings such as above shops, office blocks, and derelict sites, through both adaptive reuse and meanwhile uses, for housing, arts and community use.
Funding for housing maintenance to address poor conditions in council homes will be increased and a charter for timely maintenance works will be put in place.
An ongoing focus on elimination of homelessness will be maintained, including support for those impacted, standards in the sector and oversight of budgets, through the re-establishment of the homelessness subcommittee. The Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme will also be reviewed and updated.
Integration and inclusion will be a core principle underpinning the Council’s actions throughout this term. It will be supported with meaningful action throughout each department of the Council and city life, including through the development of a new charter and cross-council committee and the effective implementation of the Local Economic and Community Plan.
Road maintenance priorities will be decided in consultation with the local area committees.
The number of pedestrian crossings will be increased, and more priority given to them in the annual active travel budget.
The Active Travel Network and agreed transport plans will be safeguarded and implemented. The Dublin Bikes and BikeBunker networks will be expanded, along with greater priority to EV charging for the city.
Road safety will be prioritised, through expansion of 30kph and safe school zones.
The Dublin City Council Climate Action Plan and the Biodiversity Plan will be supported and funded, with new internal council structures for climate resilience.
The Dublin City Council Sports Plan, including delivery of more quality facilities, will be prioritised.
Develop a new tree strategy for the city, to substantially increase the tree canopy and improve responsiveness on maintenance issues.
The welfare of animals will continue to be addressed through the provision of a municipal dog shelter and, if necessary, a municipal horse pound.
I’m proud to be running for election for the Green Party. The party is full of brilliant people, all working hard to make this city, and this country, a better place to live. Our Local Election manifesto is online here.
The excellent Dublin Inquirer newspaper have produced a voter guide for the 2024 local elections. They asked their readers to send in the questions they wanted to ask the candidates, and combined all of those questions to identify eight key issues.
