News

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In response to an increase in crimes such as burglaries and car theft, I have written to Superintendent Ronan Galligan, An Garda Siochana to ask for increased Garda patrols and presence in affected areas. I also placed a Question to Fingal County Council (copied below) seeking support to reconstitute the Swords Community Policing Forum. As a Community representative on the now defunct Swords CPF, I recognised the benefits of a well-coordinated communication and action forum for residents in order to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. As you will see the response is not very supportive. However, I am continuing to work to see if I can support any crime prevention measures through my role as a County Councillor through:

Liaising with Safer Blanchardstown to see what can be learned from them and applied in Swords

Working with my colleague and friend Cllr Joe Newman to explore the feasibility of a text alert scheme for certain estates. Cllr Newman is doing great work in setting a text alert scheme up in Rivervalley

Continuing to explore options for a replacement to the Community Policing Forum

In the meantime, I am encouraging all residents to remain vigilant, take the usual precautions, look out for neighbours, particularly the older and vulnerable and to report any suspicious activity. (Swords Garda Station number 6664700)

I would appreciate any comments or feedback on this matter.

Duncan

Swords Community Policing Forum

Question: Councillor D. Smith

“To ask the Chief Executive if efforts could be made by the Council in 2015 to restart the Swords Community Policing Forum in light of ongoing crime and in the interests of sharing information on crime prevention and community engagement?”

Reply:

Local Policing Fora for Swords and Balbriggan which were in place up to 2013 were funded solely North Dublin City & County Regional Drugs Task Force, through the Fingal LEADER Partnership. Regional Drugs Task Forces are funded by the Department of Health. In 2013, a comprehensive review was carried out by the North Dublin City& County Regional Drugs Task Force which identified scope for improved front-line services targeted at the needs of the service user.

This resulted in structural changes whereby the funding was re-directed to the provision of these front-line services. In May 2014, the North Dublin Community Care Service was established, funded through the Regional Drugs Task Force (from the Department of Health) and with a remit to respond to drug/alcohol based problems. They operate an U18 and an adult service with over 100 referrals since May 2014 and an 80%+ retention rate. Referrals are from Swords, Balbriggan, Rush, Lusk, Donabate and Skerries and the services are targeted and structured around Assessment, Key Working, Care Planning and Case Management. They also have a formal referral arrangement with Mental Health services in Swords and Balbriggan. The system as it operates at present allows for direct communication and engagement between the North Dublin Community Care Services and relevant LocalAuthority Departments and local Gardai. The North Dublin Community Care Services would not be in favour of a duplication/overlap in service provision as this would divert essential resources. Without a source of funding available, it is not feasible to re-establish the Local Policing Fora at Swords and Balbriggan.

The Fingal Joint Policing Committee, established under Section 36 (2) of the Garda Siochana Act serves as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the local authority’s administrative area, and in particular, keeps under review: a. The levels and patterns of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in that area (including the patterns and levels of misuse of alcohol and drugs), and b. The factors underlying and contributing to the levels of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the area. The Joint Policing Committee meets quarterly and is constituted as follows: 15 Local Authority Elected Members; 5 Oireachtas Elected Members; 2 Local Authority Officials; 2 Senior Gardai and 7 Community representatives. In addition, the JPC holds 4 public meetings per annum, offering members of the public an opportunity to meet Gardai and Local Authority officials and raise items of concern directly. The 2015 public meetings are provisionally scheduled to take place in March and April 2015, and will be advertised and promoted when times, dates and venues are confirmed. The Joint Policing Committee is a structured mechanism for engagement on the matters of crime, anti-social behaviour and the underlying factors, and it is not desirable to increase demands on the resources of both An Garda Siochana and the local authority by effectively duplicating a structure already in place.

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Last week I received confirmation from the Council that should the controversial Bus Rapid Transit proposal get the go ahead, the Council would provide an alternative site for the Balheary Park Skate park. The current proposal would travel through where the skate park is now and it is a concern of mine and our community that this amenity is safeguarded.

Hopefully, the skate park won’t be impacted at all and that the Minister for Transport chooses a light rail/LUAS option to serve our community.

I am in favour of a LUAS or light rail option and made this clear in my recent submission to the National Transport Authority for the North Dublin Transport Study.

http://m.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/skatepark-lies-in-the-path-of-bus-route-30937412.html

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Leaflet drop and canvas this morning in Swords spreading the word about the North Dublin Transport Study, speed limits within estates and the weekly Labour clinics offered by Brendan Ryan TD and myself in Swords.

CANVAS DUNCAN_NEWHOMES

Also great to see construction has begun on new social housing units in Swords. Fought for on the previous Council by Labour’s Gerry McGuire and Tom Kelleher.

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Do you have 5 minutes this weekend to send an important email on the future of Transport for Swords?
Monday is the deadline for the people of Swords to make their voices heard on teh future of transport for our town. We have six proposals to choose from and I am supporting a light rail LUAS or Metro option as the only long term solution for Swords!
Please have your voice heard. A one line email indicating your preference will suffice (of course longer, more detailed submissions would be ideal).

WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THE DECISION MADE IN THIS STUDY WILL BE THE FINAL CHOICE FOR THE LONG TERM TRANSPORT NEEDS OF SWORDS! WE MUST HAVE OUR SAY!

If you have a couple of minutes to spare, please send an email to northdublintransportstudy@nationaltransport.ie indicating your Transport preference.
The NTA have been carrying out a Public Consultation on the North Dublin Transport Study, considering the 6 options put forward. The options include:
• heavy rail options
• two light rail options, Metro North/Luas
• two combined bus & rail options – bus to Clongriffin or Maynooth train stations
• bus rapid transit system – BRT (Swiftway)
Deadline for submissions to the NTA is this MONDAY 19th JANUARY at 5pm.
Email is northdublintransportstudy@nationaltransport.ie

LUAS LUAS FOR SWORDS

Further information on our website including RPA presentation, route maps and the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study are available at:

http://www.nationaltransport.ie/consultations/public-consultation-on-the-north-dublin-transport-study/

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This evening I arranged a meeting between representatives from local residents groups with the RPA MANRailwayProcurement Agency to discuss their proposals for a LUAS to Swords and optimised Metro North.
The briefing was in the context of the North Dublin Transport Study which is currently taking submissions from the public. This is a very important process as it will, once and for all, decide the long term transport strategy for Swords.

SUBMISSION
One of the options on the table is a LUAS line to Swords and this was the focus of this evening’s briefing. I will post further details tomorrow but for those of you interested, the closing date for submissions is Monday 19 January at 5pm. Further details can be found at the below link.

A big thank you to all the resident groups who braved the weather and turned up this evening for what was a very informative briefing. Thank you also to Brendan Ryan TD for assisting in getting the RPA to Swords this evening.

http://www.nationaltransport.ie/consultations/public-consultation-on-the-north-dublin-transport-study/

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I have been lobbying for the provision of new paths in Castleview, through the main green and another path at the exit onto the Glen Ellan Road, in order to allow residents on the western half of the Estate, enter and exit more safely. Particularly for parents bringing children to an from Gaelscoil BB and Swords ET. Work will commence in four to six weeks.

Question: Councillor D. Smith
“To ask the Chief Executive to provide an update on when work will begin on new paths in the Castleview Estate?”

Reply:
A contractor has been appointed to carry out these works. The contractor has a small number of other similar works in the north county to complete first. The wet weather at the end of last year has somewhat delayed these works. It is expected that the works will be completed in the next 4 to 6 weeks if weather allows.