Neale Richmond; Ballinteer, Leopardstown, Sandyford and Stepaside » News

Druid Valley completion saga comes to an end – Richmond

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:11:11 +0000

Following years of negotiation, lobbying and delays – Druid Valley Estate in Cabinteely has finally been Taken in Charge by the Council. The order was officially passed at the County Council meeting earlier this month whilst Cllr Neale Richmond pushed the Manager for a final outstanding works list at yesterday’s meeting of the Dundrum Area Committee.

“This news is a welcome relief for the residents of Druid Valley who for years have been waiting for their estate to be completed. It has taken a great amount of lobbying from residents, Councillors and officials but finally the Council has come to agreement with the Developer over the remaining issues relating to the Taking in Charge process.

“As of the 9th January, the Council is now fully responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the roads, lighting, pathways and green areas of the Druid Valley as well as the adjacent parkland.

“The Developer was not in a position to complete the necessary works in the Druid Valley parkland but has come to a financial agreement with the Council whereby the Council will complete the works needed.

“It is a satisfactory result to a lengthy process that is unfortunately a product of the collapse of the property boom.”

Editor’s Note: Please see Manager’s report below

MEETING OF DUNDRUM AREA COMMITTEE

23 JANUARY 2012

Full Report on Works Carried Out in Druid Valley

Motion: Councillor N. Richmond

“That the Manager provides a full report on works being carried out in Druid Valley in

relation to bringing the development up to standard.”

Report:

The contractor has satisfactorily completed the outstanding works as agreed with

Building Control. These works included the widening of existing pedestrian paths,

the extension of some paths to the site boundary, the erection of railings and the

provision of public lighting to certain pedestrian paths. These works were required to

be completed before the taking in charge process commenced.

The Taking in Charge of the development was agreed by resolution at the meeting of

the County Council on 9th January 2012.

Operation Transformation- Free Walking Event in Marlay Park- 14th January 2012

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:52:35 +0000

As part of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnerships aim to encourage residents of the County to get active, a free walking event will be held on the morning of the 14th January in Marlay Park. This event is being held in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council and RTE’s Operation Transformation programme. On this day every County in Ireland will have a similar walking event to cater for all levels of fitness, but in particular those looking to start exercising again.

Meeting at 10.45am beside the new playground at the College Road entrance to Marlay Park, the 4km route will be around the picturesque park, based on pathways and suitable for all levels of walker. Supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, this event will provide the perfect chance to put those New Years resolutions into action.

For further information on this event and to register your interest please contact Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership at 01-2719502 or
sportspartnership@dlrcoco.ie.

Budget 2012

ExSite — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:07:42 +0000

Key points of Minister Michael Noonan’s Budget 2012:

No increase in income tax
First-time buyers will get mortgage interest relief at 25%
Measures to help those who bought houses between 2004-2008
€100 household charge waived for those on mortgage interest supplement
Increase in Motor Tax from 1 January
25 cent increase on 20 cigarettes
Corporate Tax Rate remains at 12.5%
5% surcharge on investors with income over €100,000
Carbon Tax increased from €15 per tonne to €20 per tonne
Corporate tax exemption for start-up firms extended to 2014
Stamp duty on commercial property to be reduced
PRSI to be extended to cover rental, investment and other forms of income
Foreign Earnings Deduction to support firms in emerging markets
€100,000 of R&D expenditure can be used as tax credit
Special Assignee Relief Programme to be introduced
Section 23 tax relief changes
Universial Social Charge exemption level raised to €10,000
VAT rate raised to 23%
Capital Acquisitions Tax raised to 30%
Capital Gains Tax raised to 30%
Capital Gains Tax incentive for property purchased up to end of 2013
Citizenship condition for Domicile Levy payment abolished
Tax exemption for first 36 days of Illness Benefit ended

VOTE LAURALYNN HOUSE – “Irish Building project of the Year 2011″

ExSite — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:18:26 +0000

Please just click on the link, and select LauraLynn House, and click on vote.

LauraLynn House is Ireland’s firs CHILDREN’S HOSPICE. It is part of the Sunshine Home.

Laura and Lynn were two beautiful sisters. The younger girl died from cancer, and on the day she died her older sister was diagnosed with Leukaemia. This Hospice has been built entirely with voluntary donations.

http://www.commercialmediagroup.ie/cmgbuildinganddesignawards2011/irishbuilding2011vote.html

Letter to the Minister for Education ref: pupil-teacher ratio in fee paying schools

ExSite — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:01:07 +0000

F/A: Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn TD
CC: An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD

Dear Minister,

I am writing to you in relation to the supposed planned changes to the pupil-teacher ratio as part of the upcoming budget.

While I fully appreciate the dire situation that we are in and the fact that a number of unsavoury decisions must be taken in the short term, I am writing to you to ensure that any changes, however unsavoury, are at least carried out in an equitable manner.

I am referring to the situation whereby the pupils of fee paying protestant secondary schools will once again bear the brunt of such a move. Many families have opted to educate their children in a school of a suitable ethos (ie Protestant), as is their right under the Constitution.

In many cases, this means that they have to attend a private secondary school, for which they have to pay fees, as there is only five non-fee paying protestant schools in Ireland.

If your Department proceeds with such alterations to the pupil-teacher ratio without exempting protestant schools, it will be the pupils of fee paying protestant secondary schools that will be discriminated against.

During the last Dail, as Labour Party spokesperson on Education you made a number of passionate contributions to the Dail when the then Minister Batt O’Keefe removed funding from fee paying protestant secondary schools as did a number of your counterparts in my own Fine Gael Party.

I would truly hope that a progressive and informed Minister such as yourself, if he his to push ahead with changing the pupil-teacher ratio, would at least exempt fee paying protestant secondary schools in the interests of equality.

Yours sincerely,

Neale