Ciaran Cuffe Newsletter Summer 08

Summer 2008 Dún Laoghaire, Ballybrack, Blackrock, Booterstown, Cabinteely, Carrickmines, Clonkeen, Corke Abbey, Dalkey, Deansgrange, Foxrock, Glasthule, Glenageary, Killiney, Kill O The Grange, Kilternan, Leopardstown, Loughlinstown, Mount Merrion Avenue, Monkstown, Mountown, Old Connacht, The Park, Rathmichael, Rathsallagh, Sallynoggin, Sandycove, Seapoint, Shankill.

www.CiaranCuffe.com

Printed on 100% recycled paper

An end to Car-Free Dún Laoghaire ? Georgeʼs Street Lower in Dún Laoghaire will no longer be pedestrianised under a new traffic plan approved by Councillors at a Dún Laoghaire Area committee meeting last month. The proposal seeks to reintroduce traffic westbound along Georgeʼs Street Lower, removing the priority for pedestrians, buses and cyclists. All the Green Party councillors were against allowing cars back into the pedestrianised areas of Dun Laoghaire at the meeting, arguing we should be trying to get cars out of our town centres and making them more pedestrian friendly, rather than the other way around.

Minister For Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Eamon Ryan TD, Senator Deirdre De Burca & Deputy Ciaran Cuffe, publicising the Green Energy Fair

Green Energy Fair

Some concerns have been raised about the downturn in commercial business in the area, but introducing yet more traffic is not the way to address this. It is footfall that gets people into shops - not passing traffic. We must be the only country in Europe removing pedestrianisation in a shopping area! The new proposals will also increase bus journey times and delay services by removing their priority along Georgeʼs Street Lower as well as raising safety concerns by bringing traffic and pedestrians into closer contact. Web

www.ciarancuffe.com/dunlaoghaire

Sunday June 8th Leopardstown Hosted by the Dún Laoghaire, Dublin South and Wicklow Green Party, the second Green Energy Fair will take place in the Tote building at Leopardstown Racecourse on Sunday 8th June, from 11am until 6pm. Promising to be an action packed day, the Green Energy Fair will bring together a wide range of green companies under one roof. Whether you are involved in a new build or are interested in retrofitting your existing house, our exhibitors and speakers will offer solutions for future proofing against rising energy costs. Headline speakers for the talks and workshops include Duncan Stewart and Davie Philips from Cultivate, as well as Ministers Eamon Ryan, John Gormley and myself. Come and view the latest products and get up to date information about making your home more energy efficient, cutting those heating bills and reducing your carbon footprint. Browse the great selection of stands showcasing organics, fair-trade, locally produced crafts and food. A day for the whole family, the Green Energy Fair will have a dedicated children’s area upstairs and a relaxing chill out area where home made cakes and refreshments are sure to go down a treat! Admission is €5 with children and OAPs free. Leopardstown is close to both the 46A Bus route and Sandyford Luas station. Plenty of free parking will also be available.

George's Street in Dún Laoghaire, without cars!

Web

www.greenparty.ie/fair

One of the proposals for the Baths site commissioned by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown county Council

Dún Laoghaire Baths and Coastal Plan Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has commissioned two costly plans for the coastline between Dún Laoghaire and Sandycove. These plans include, among other things, creating an artificial beach adjacent to the East Pier and surface car parking at Newtownsmith Green. Local councillor Gene Feighery and I called a public meeting in

April to repeat the Green Partyʼs call for a modest development to restore the baths and protect the marine environment of Scotsmanʼs Bay. Over a hundred residents gathered in the Kingston Hotel and unanimously supported such a move. There was clear anger from the floor that the consultants have produced such costly, inappropriate

and potentially damaging plans. It has been eight years since I first called for a modest development on the baths site with a heated swimming pool, a toddlerʼs pool and a café. Such a proposal need not be more than two or three storeys high and would be a fantastic amenity for the people of Dún Laoghaire and beyond. Web

www.CiaranCuffe.com/DunLaoghaire

Insulting your attic is an easy way to improve the energy efficiency of your home

Improving your Home's Energy Efficiency Green Party Minister Eamon Ryan has announced the first phase a new energy saving grant scheme which will eventually see €100 million invested in improving the energy efficiency of Irish homes.

The scheme will cover two-thirds of the cost of a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessor to come to a household and advise on what

works need to be carried out. They may suggest attic insulation, low emissions double-glazing, heating control or, in some cases, replacement of the boiler. The Government will then cover up to 30% of the cost of these works, to a maximum of €2,500.

The current pilot scheme in North Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Dundalk will be evaluated

to inform the roll-out of a full scale scheme in 2009. It is worth remembering that you can still apply for grants under the Greener Homes Scheme. The Scheme provides assistance to homeowners who intend to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for either new or existing homes. Web

www.sei.ie/greenerhomes

Graffiti at Blackrock DART station

Ban on Junk Food Advertising on the Way

Anti Graffiti funding for your community Green Party Minister John Gormely recently allocated €3.75 million in 2008 aimed at reducing graffiti in the community. The initiative empowers communities to combat graffiti by allowing local groups who have the experience of working on environmental and community safety issues to tackle the problem head-on. The scheme takes a broad look at the problem by addressing the short-term problems of removing graffiti and also looks at long-term preventative measures through education and raising awareness. Funding will be available for community wide initiatives designed to divert young

people from graffiti and offer them alternative outlets to express their creativity. The scheme brings the community together to tackle the damage caused by graffiti through involving residents, local groups and business owners. Funds will be available to buy graffiti cleaning kits and for landscape design to reduce the targeting of individual sites. Any local groups (including tidy towns groups) interested in applying for funding under the new Community Graffiti Reduction Programme can apply from midMay through Pobal, by calling 448 4876. Web

www.CiaranCuffe.com/DunLaoghaire

Front Line: Defending Human Rights In April, I was honoured to be invited to the launch of the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk and to announce one of the nominees. Front Line is an international human rights organisation, founded in Dublin, with offices in Blackrock and Brussels. The organisation works to protect the lives of courageous people who fight for human rights around the world, often in very difficult situations. They provide practical support to human rights defenders at risk, ensuring they are safe to continue their work protecting the rights of others. I was especially fortunate to be given a nominee working on environmental issues, Padre Andres Tamayo of Honduras. He is part of an environmental movement which protects local communities’ rights to their natural resources and prevents the destruction of the rainforest. The Front Line Award aims to increase the profiles of these individuals which contributes to their security and protection. It is also an opportunity to highlight the important and courageous work of human rights defenders around the world. Web

www.frontlinedefenders.org

Proposals to restrict the advertising of junk food during children’s television programmes were recently included in the Broadcasting Bill launched Green Party Communications Minister Eamon Ryan. The bill will allow for a Children’s Advertising Code to specifically prohibit the advertising of foods high in fat, sugar or salt content. As a parent of young children, I’m well aware of the power advertising can have on young minds and I’m glad to see this long standing Green Party policy come into force.

New Irish Film Channel Green Party Minister for Communications has unveiled plans for a new Irish Film Channel which will show a mix of Irish, European and World cinema. It will be available nationally as a free to air service and will not carry any advertising. The channel will also provide an outlet for the many high quality Irish films that have been made over the years.

Changes to Motor Taxes Changes to the way cars are taxed will come into effect from July first. The purpose of the new emissions based system is to encourage car owners to switch to ‘greener cars’. Under the new motor tax system, there will be seven bands with charges ranging from €100 a year for the greenest Arated cars to €2,000 for cars with the highest emissions rating.

Vehicle Registration Tax will change from being based on engine size to CO2 emissions from 1 July 2008 for all new cars bought in the state and imported from abroad. Web

Noeleen Blackwell (FLAC), TDs Ciaran Cuffe, Róisín Shortall, Simon Coveney at the Front Line Awards

www.ciarancuffe.com

Calculate your Carbon Footprint...

Your Green Team BLACKROCK WARD

www.change.ie

Green Party Minister for the Environment John Gormley launched the “Change” campaign last month to raise awareness about climate change in Ireland. The campaign includes a website – www.change.ie – where you can calculate your carbon footprint and learn how you can play your part to reduce carbon emissions by making some simple lifestyle changes. Whilst online, why not check out my new blog – 12 Green Steps - at http://twelvegreensteps.blogspot.com to discover ways to save money by making your house more energy efficient and more ways to reduce your individual carbon footprint.

Win a smart meter! This clever little gadget (worth €69, courtesy of www.ecologics.ie) shows you instantly how much electricity you are using, how much it is costing you and how much CO2 is being emitted. A smart meter can help reduce your energy consumption

With energy costs set rise over the coming months, this fun tool will enable you to reduce your energy consumption, save money and help the environment.

To be in with a chance to win a smart meter just answer the following question:

COUNCILLOR NESSA CHILDERS is a Psychoanalyst and lectures in Trinity College. She is on the Transport and Housing Committees of the Council. Her interests include traffic management for Blackrock, and Safe Routes to school. You can contact Nessa directly [email protected], M 086 818 6712, 14 Gledswood Avenue, Dublin 14

at

DÚN LAOGHAIRE WARD COUNCILLOR GENE FEIGHERY left her career in financial services to become a fulltime homemaker and mother. Gene studied Landscape Architecture and Design and is a member of An Taisce, The Irish Georgian Society, Royal Horticultural Society, and the Garden Landscape & Design Association. Gene is committed to proper planning and sustainable development for Dún Laoghaire and believes that the town’s unique heritage will secure its prosperity. You can contact Gene directly at [email protected], M 086 8501198, 1 Eglinton Park, Dún Laoghaire

Q: Where and When is the Green Energy Fair? BALLYBRACK WARD Answers by e-mail only, to [email protected] - by June 30th

Green Party Comhaontas Glas Justice, Foreign Affairs and Transport Spokesperson 96 Patrick Street (Over the Pet Shop) Dún Laoghaire Tel 284 6060, Fax. 618 4341 Email: [email protected]

www.CiaranCuffe.Com

COUNCILLOR TOM KIVLEHAN is from Cabinteely and has a business and tourism background. He is on the Economic Development and Planning, and Environment Committees of the Council. He is Chairman of the Board of Management of Cabinteely Community School and sits on the Health Executive Forum. His priorities are good planning for new communities, supporting small businesses, and protecting the Green Belt and the local environment.

Block Capitals please

Get Active! Fill in the form and send it back to us at 96 Patrick Street Dún Laoghaire. We meet each month in Dún Laoghaire. Check Ciarán's website for details.

Name

Address

Phone / Mobile

Email

You can contact Tom directly at [email protected] H 204 3916, M 086 818 6717, 33 East Courtyard, Tullyvale, Cherrywood, Cabinteely