Lucinda welcomes the news that Rathmines swimming pool and leisure centre will finally open on 27th September. Swan Leisure, as it will be known, will be open to the general public and will offer a 25 metre swimming pool, gym, fitness studios and a sports hall.  The Centre  is operated by Dublin City Sports and Leisure Services Ltd. on behalf of Dublin City Council for the community of Rathmines and the surrounding area. The pay as you go swimming rate for an adult will be €6. Please click below for more pricing information.

Opening hours:

• Monday to Friday – 7am to 10pm
• Saturday & Sunday – 10am to 6pm

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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:

Lucinda’s speech on the dissolution of the Board of St. Luke’s Hospital

I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this important Bill but I am disappointed that the Minister is not present for the debate. It would be fitting that the Minister would see fit to appear in the House to take this legislation given its important and far-reaching ramifications for the health service in the future. It is important it is noted that the Minister did not see fit to come to the House.

The purpose of this Bill is the dissolution of the board of St. Luke’s hospital and the transfer of staff in the hospital and the hospital’s assets and liabilities to the HSE. I take the opportunity to express some degree of concern at that development. It is well-recorded that politicians and the public have almost lost all confidence in the Health Service Executive. It is difficult to have confidence in that body.

The original concept of the HSE was a good one. The aspirations of the Minister and the Government in establishing it were well-intentioned but the objective of eliminating bureaucracy and the parochial element associated with the old-style, traditional health boards was not achieved. What replaced the traditional health boards is essentially an ever-expanding and pretty frightening monster, namely, the HSE.

What we have been left with is a complete absence of the streamlining of services. (more…)

Latest Report from Dublin City Council – Friday 26th February

The water supply situation has been stabilised to the point where we are now in a position to lift all restrictions on supply with effect from this evening (Feb 26th).

The lifting of restrictions will result in a rise in demand. The level of increase will dictate whether it will be necessary to re-introduce restrictions in the coming days.

Essential maintenance work at the water treatment plants has commenced and will be ongoing for the next number of months. This should not impact on our ability to supply unless the level of demand rises further for whatever reason or problems arise at the plants. (more…)

Lucinda recently contacted Dublin City Council again to complain about the lack of communication with local residents and businesses about what exactly is happening with the water supply, when they should expect cuts, and when they can expect normal service to resume. She also complained that certain areas are taking the brunt of the cuts in way which seems unfair and unequitable. She reseived the following response, which although lengthy, is worth reproducing in full, as it deals with Sandymount, Rathmines and other areas of Dublin South East as well as giving an overview of the situation.

Update on the Water Supply Situation February 5th 2010

At the City Council Meeting on 1st February 2010 it was agreed that a further report on the water supply situation would be issued. The situation since Monday night has been somewhat difficult. Due to the continuous high level of demand being placed on the Roundwood Water Treatment Plant and the necessity to carry out essential filter bed cleaning works there has been a reduction of 15 million litres per day in output from the plant. Coupled with this a rise in demand occurred when some restrictions were eased in order to improve levels of service to customers. (more…)