“I have today written to Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny asking him to create a specific Front Bench portfolio for Dublin and to commit Fine Gael in Government to appointing a Minister with specific responsibility for the Dublin region. This is not a new proposal, Brian Hayes was previously Fine Gael Front Bench spokesperson for Dublin from 2002 – 2007 while it is an idea that has been raised by numerous academics such as Conor Skehan of DIT.

The figures released today to Leo Varadkar TD hint that Dublin may not be getting its fair share of public spending and investment. Parts of Dublin benefit from LUAS and the DART and Dublin is home to many of our national institutions, international facilities and universities.

“However, Dublin also suffers most from overcrowded school classrooms and choked up hospitals and A&E Departments. It is home to many of the most disadvantaged communities in the country and the highest levels of crime. Public spending in Ireland is incremental with existing services getting an increase (or decrease) every year based on the allocation they got the previous year. This system does not reflect shifts in population that have occurred in the last few decades.

“It is a bit rich that the Gaeltacht region with such a small population has its own Minister when Dublin is ignored by this Government. If we are to rebuild Ireland as a strong entity we must focus first on renewing Dublin. Dublin is the social and economic driving force for this country, it deserves recognition of this as opposed to a watered down, directly elected Mayor as is proposed by the Green Party.

“Put simply, it is time for a Minister for Dublin”

Supporting information includes:

The figures show the tax take broken down by county or ‘bailiwick’ for income-tax (PAYE and non-PAYE), VAT, Corporation Tax and Capital Gains for the year 2002 to 2008 inclusive. In total, the Government raised €31.76 billion from these taxes in 2008 with €16.769 or 52% of that coming from Dublin.

A breakdown of figures shows that:

Income Tax (PAYE):
• Dublin paid 50.6% of all PAYE in 2008 raising more than €5 billion for the Government. This works out at €4,441 per inhabitant.
• Cork came next providing 8% or €1,722 per person.
• Westmeath provided 5.4% or €7,025 per person, Galway 4.5% or €2,046 per person, followed by Kerry (3.5% or €2,571 per person), Limerick (3.3% or €1,881 per person) and Kildare (3% or €1,668 per person).
• All other counties provided less than 2% to the pot.
• The average is €2,449 per person.

Income Tax (Non-PAYE):
Dublin paid 38.8% followed by Cork at 11%, Galway 4.5%, Kildare 4%, Limerick 3.9%, Meath 3.5%, Wicklow 3.4% and Tipperary 3.0%

VAT:
Dublin contributed 55.6% of all VAT, followed by Cork at 8.8% and Kildare 3.4%. All other counties accounted for less than 3% of the VAT take individually.

Corporation Tax:
Dublin-based companies paid 62.4% of all Corporation Profit Tax yielding €3.2bn out of a total tax of €5.1bn in 2008. Cork provided 7.7% and Limerick 4.3%

Capital Gains Tax:
Dublin paid 41% of all Capital Gains Tax with Cork on 7.6%, Kildare on 5.1%, Galway on 4.6%, Wicklow on 4%, Meath 3.5% and Sligo 3%

Note: Of course, there are caveats to these figures. Income Tax is collected at the place where an employee is paid rather than where they live and Corporation Tax is collated based on the county address of the company’s office or relevant branch at which contact is established for tax purposes.

All the figures were received through parliamentary questions, tables showing a county-by-county breakdown of the total amount of tax taken, the amount taken per capita and the percentage of the over all take can be found here. http://is.gd/dtd3e
An explanatory memorandum can be found here: http://is.gd/dtcWL

Both the new playground and refurbished 9 – hole golf course in Marlay Park were officially opened at the end of May.

There will be one large concert in Marlay Park this summer. Green Day will play on Wednesday 23rd June, usual traffic restrictions and security provisions will be in place while gates open at 5pm.

Dublin Bus

From November next, as a result of reduced funding, Dublin Bus will introduce a new schedule of bus routes in this area.

No final decisions have yet been made and Dublin Bus intends to consult with the public before finalising routes. However, the main changes proposed are:

The abolition of the 14A, 16A, & 48A routes.

The 14 will now terminate in Malahide.

The 16 will now rune every 8 minutes from Kingston to the airport via the Grange Road.

A new orbital service, the 175, will run from Tallaght to Dun Laoghaire along what is referred to as the Green Route, including stops at Taylor’s Lane, Grange Road, Ballinteer, Wyckham Bypass (Dundrum Centre and LUAS) and Sandyford. This service will run approximately every 15 minutes at peak time. The existing orbital route, the 75, will omit the diversion to Ballinteer and will instead serve Churchtown Road, Dundrum, Sandyford Road and the Industrial Estate.

Council Matters

Grangefield Estate will now also be cleaned with a mini-sweeper as the Council’s road sweeper was too large to clean certain parts of the estate.

A yellow box will soon be painted at the entrance of Kingston, Ballinteer.

Over the next month the Council will be repairing the damaged street signs at the end of Kingston Lawn and Kingston Heights.

The signage for the new housing scheme known as Brehon Grove has been ordered and should be put in place in the next couple of weeks.

A safety barrier will be erected on Brehon Field Road opposite the new pedestrian entrance from Brehon Grove.

In the interests of health and safety the footpath at The Glade, Ballinteer will be reinstated.

Following the erection of a 4m high Environmental noise barrier to the rear of College Park, the Council have instructed m50 concessions to clear out the space in between the noise barrier and rear walls, removing litter, excess water, graffiti and also to plant trees to replace those previously uprooted through the course of drainage works.

Arrivals & Departures

Cllr. Jim O’Leary (Dundrum Ward) has resigned from the Council due to work commitments. His replacement will be selected by Fine Gael on the 24th June. Cllr. Gearoid O’Keefe (Stillorgan Ward) has joined Fine Gael; he had been elected as an Independent Councillor in 2004 and 2009.

The proposed changes will have a profound effect on our area. The first major piece of news is that the 47 bus will now go from Belarmine all the way into the city centre, terminating at Merrion Square. This service had previously terminated at Donnybrook. The route will be largely the same with a slight change being that it will now call at Mount Merrion. The frequency of the service will also remain the same with buses departing every 15 minutes at peak time and every 30 minutes during off peak hours.

There will also be a re-alignment of the 63 bus which will now go from Kilternan to Dun Laoghaire DART station with an increased frequency. The 11A, 11B, 14A, 16A and 48A will all now be cancelled but thankfully there will be no cuts to the 44 route.

These changes will be fleshed out in more detail over the coming months and the new timetables should be operational from November.

Dublin Bus will also hold an information roadshow on Wednesday May 12th in Stillorgan Shopping Centre from 12.00pm to 6.00pm.

–
Cllr. Neale Richmond
Glencullen – Sandyford Ward

086-7814514

www.nealerichmond.ie

Drivers who have to wait longer than four weeks for their National Car Test (NCT) are entitled to a free test but many drivers and NCT staff are unaware of this according to Local Fine Gael Councillor Neale Richmond.

“Across the country there seems to be a backlog for the NCT. However, many drivers and NCT staff members are unaware of a rule that results in drivers being entitled to a free test.

“According to the NCT customer charter, the NCT aims to:

‘….ensure that an average lead-time for an appointment at an individual test centre is less than three weeks with a free test if this is greater than four weeks.”

“Although the wording is slightly ambiguous, it is clear to me, when a driver is booking a test and can’t be given one within four weeks, he is entitled to a free test. With a backlog of applications, I have been contacted by drivers who have been given an appointment six weeks away.

“However, not only are customers unaware of this important clause, but it seems some staff in test centres are not making people aware of it either. I have been contacted by drivers who booked their test, were given a six week waiting time and were not told that they are entitled to a free test.

“This may not be the staff’s fault as they just handle booking and may not be instructed to make drivers away of their rights.

“To obtain a refund, a driver must write or email the customer service department and they will issue it. I advise people who have had to wait over four weeks to contact the NCT immediately to get their refund. More importantly, the NCT needs to put proper procedure in place to ensure people know their rights.

“Many drivers who had to wait over four weeks for their test have already paid the €49 NCT. This must be reimbursed to them without delay.”

Welcoming the news Cllr Richmond said “This will be an excellent opportunity for Councillors to raise the many issues relating to bus services that are affecting people in our area.

“This will enable Councillors to also raise the question of how Dublin Bus will dovetail with the LUAS extension when it becomes operational in October and see if any feeder bus or route changes are planned to accommodate this.

“This meeting will be the first concrete opportunity of this Council term for Councillors to engage in a meaningful discussion with Dublin Bus about when and where services our needed most.”

ITEM A 26 from Meeting of the County Council on 6th July 2009

Cuts in services – Dublin Bus

19th April 2010

Question: Councillor N. Richmond
“To ask the Manager what discussions he has had with Dublin Bus in relation to cuts in services implemented and cuts in services expected in the County?”

Reply:
“Arrangements have been made for a presentation to be made by Bus Atha Cliath on the implications for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown of the bus network review at the Area Committee meetings on Monday 26th April 2010. This will be an opportunity for Councillors to raise bus service issues at that meeting