In 2010 and 2011 Dublin Bus will scrap all current bus routes in a radical revision of the bus system. Last year Dublin Bus engaged in a review of its network to examine all routes and services provided in the Dublin area with a view to changing the entire bus network across the city. After a year of study, it has been announced that Dublin Bus will be scrapping all current bus routes and introducing an entirely new network and system throughout Dublin, including Dublin South East. 

The new system will have a number of advantages. (more…)

Lucinda Creighton, today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement by An Bord Pleanála that an oral hearing would be held to consider the application for the redevelopment of RTE’s Donnybrook campus at Montrose. She also repeated her call for RTE to work with St. Mary’s Primary School to provide space for expansion.

Lucinda stated: “This announcement is to be welcomed as it will allow the concerns of the local community to be heard. This is a major redevelopment which would have both local and national repercussions.

“I fully support RTE’s continued presence in Donnybrook as it adds significantly to the economic and cultural life of the area, and to our capital. RTE needs to change with the times, and it should be allowed to do so on its current site rather than being forced to move to a brownfield site outside the area. But any development must be with due consideration for its residential neighbours.

“At the same time as RTE is making this application for planning permission, St. Mary’s Primary School in Donnybrook does not have the capacity to deal with the demand for school places from local families. They do not have sufficient land to develop to meet the demand for places. I am therefore asking RTE to allocate a portion of its campus to the school as its contribution to community gain as part of this application.”

I am regularly contacted by constituents affected by unemployment who need information on education and training opportunities, social welfare entitlements, and other information related to coping with the recession. To address these matters I have arranged a public information seminar on unemployment issues. I held one recently in the Dublin 4 area that was very well attended, so I am now organising a second one.

Lucinda

Venue: Garda Club, 8-10 Harrington St, Portobello, Dublin 8

When: 21st June 2010, 7:00PM

Participants:

RTE has applied for planning permission to redevelop its Montrose campus. Permission was granted by Dublin City Council, but this has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Lucinda recently made an observation to An Bord Pleanála with observations on the application:

Re: Submission on planning appeal PL29S.236717, The RTE Campus, N11 Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to make a number of observations concerning the appeal against the recent grant of planning permission for redevelopment of the RTE Montrose Campus.

Community Gain

It is important to remember that this site ultimately belongs to the State, and therefore to the public. At the same time as RTE is making this application for planning permission, St. Mary’s Primary School in Donnybrook does not have the capacity to deal with the demand for school places from local families, not does it have sufficient land to develop to meet the demand. I am therefore asking RTE to allocate a portion of its campus to the school as its contribution to community gain as part of this application. (more…)

Dáil Statement by Lucinda on the Diversification of Primary School Provision

I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak in this important and long overdue debate. There is no doubt that we live in changing times. Ireland’s demographics have changed dramatically in the past 15 years and we have many new cultures. The country has modernised and acquired a diverse outlook in a very short period. It is essential that we accept and reflect this diversity in our schooling and education systems.

At the same time, it is not necessary to throw out everything that is traditional or has stood the test of time. Much of our education system is of a high quality, particularly at primary level. Given that the system is not broken, we must be careful about initiating a process of fixing it.

What is certain is that we do not have sufficient school places. This is not a question of diversity but one of practical numbers. The problem is probably most acute in Dublin. (more…)