Tag Archives: phoenix park

Local Issues

Phoenix Park Castleknock Gate Closure

Joan has received confirmation from Fingal County Council regarding the closure of the Castleknock gates at the Phoenix Park.

In a letter received from The Roads Dept of F.C.C

Following further discussions with the OPW it has been agreed that the Castleknock Gate will be closed Monday 4th Oct to Friday 8th Oct between 10.00am and 7.00 pm to facilitate the resurfacing works at the Junction of Castleknock Road and the Castleknock Gates of the Phoenix Park. Every effort will be made to finish the work as early as possible in the evenings and complete the works in less than the 5 days however in light of the nature of the works we have to give ourselves a little extra to cover unforeseen incidents or weather conditions.

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Local Issues

Re-opening of Castleknock Gate & Mountjoy Roundabout in the Phoenix Park

Joan Burton TD today welcomed the news of the reopening of the Castleknock Gates of the Phoenix Park.

Following discussions between Joan and the Office of Public Works, it was confirmed that the Castleknock Gate’s will reopen on Monday 23 rd November.

In a statement Park Supt. Margaret Gormley of the OPW said, “I would like to advise that the Castleknock Gate & Mountjoy Roundabout in the Phoenix Park will re-open to vehicular traffic from Monday, 23rd November.

In addition, the Ashtown and Cabra Gates will revert to two-way traffic and the routes which were temporarily opened to accommodate traffic movement within the Phoenix Park will be re-closed.

A gas light will be installed in the centre of the Mountjoy Cross roundabout early in the new year with no inconvenience to the general public.

I would like to thank all of those affected for their patience and forebearance over the last eight weeks and acknowledge the inconvenience caused by the essential works which have been completed ahead of schedule”.

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Local Issues

Minister Mansergh Challenged on Castleknock Gate Closure

Joan has sought clarification from the Minister responsible for the Phoenix Park / Office of Public Works with respect to the roadworks being carried out which results in the Castleknock gate being closed for 2 months or more.

QUESTION NO: *255

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Dr. Martin Mansergh, TD
by Deputy Joan Burton
for WRITTEN ANSWER on Tuesday, 6th October, 2009.

* To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the proposed closure of the Castleknock gates of the Phoenix Park for up to two months; the work which is to be carried out; the estimated cost of these works; the reason this work was not completed during the summer 2009 off-peak period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Joan Burton TD

REPLY.
The closure of Castleknock Gate from Monday 28 September for a period of a maximum of nine weeks is necessitated by essential works that are required to be carried out at the Mountjoy Cross junction in the Phoenix Park. These works consist of a permanent roundabout to replace the current temporary structure, new drainage works to prevent a recurrence of flooding on the Main Road, laying of a new network of gas pipes and the repair of the Castleknock Gates, damaged by a heavy goods vehicle. The estimated cost of the works at the roundabout is €192,000 ex VAT.

The works are part of a very much larger scheme for the complete refurbishment of Chesterfield Avenue, submitted to Dublin City Council for planning permission and subsequently rejected by An Bord Pleanála, primarily because of the bus lane element of the plan.

The works at the Mountjoy roundabout to create a permanent structure for the safety of all users and to alleviate the flooding difficulties that continue to occur at this junction were planned to be carried out as part of the overall Chesterfield Avenue scheme. However, once the planning situation had been clarified, there was a narrow window of opportunity to complete the roundabout works, which are permitted under planning laws, before Garda restrictions on roadworks come into effect at the end of November as part of operation freeflow. As soon as the planning permission was rejected, a tendering process was undertaken and a contract placed. This enabled the urgent works at this dangerous junction to be carried out separately to the overall Chesterfield Avenue scheme, which will now have to go through the planning process again.

It is anticipated that, if a decision to carry out the works had not been taken at this time, it would be 2011 at the earliest before another opportunity would have presented itself to enable the OPW to carry out the necessary works.

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Local Issues

Castleknock Gate Closure

I know that many residents are concerned by the proposal of the OPW to close the Castleknock Gates at the Phoenix Park for up to 2 months from Monday the 28th of September for road works in the park. I am dismayed that these works were not done over the summer when there was less traffic and the schools were off.

I have asked the OPW to consider rescheduling the work to off peak times.

I have spoken with the Commissioner of the OPW to convey local concerns and I am raising the issue with Minister Martin Manseragh who is responsible for the OPW

OPW Statement on the closure of the Park Gate at Castleknock

The closure of Castleknock Gate from Monday 28th September for a period of a maximum of nine weeks is necessitated by essential works that are required to be carried out at the Mountjoy Cross junction in the Phoenix Park. The works will require the junction to be cordoned off and it will not therefore be possible for traffic to cross it.

The Mountjoy Cross junction had one of the highest accident rates in the City for several years and in order to alleviate the dangers at the junction a temporary roundabout was installed in 2007. This proved to be an immediate success by reducing the number of accidents considerably. However, with the increased volume of traffic using this junction it remains dangerous and it is now proposed to replace the current temporary roundabout with a permanent structure, with the primary focus for carrying out this work being the safety of all users who use this junction.

The Mountjoy Cross junction has been flooded on a number of occasions resulting in the closure of the junction. Remedial works associated with this also need to be carried out and are being included as part of this contract to ensure that there is minimum disruption to users of the Park.

In addition to the above major construction projects the OPW has ensured that a further two projects that would also have necessitated the closure of the Castleknock Gate will be carried out while the main construction work is taking place. These are:

Bórd Gais replacement of damaged pipes along Chesterfield Avenue and through the Castleknock Gate. This is necessary on safety grounds.

Repairs to the Castleknock Gate as a result of damage caused by a large truck.

A traffic management plan covering the period of the works has been drawn up in consultation with An Garda Síochána and Fingal County Council. A number of options were considered, including night time working and/or one-way/stop-go options. These were rejected on grounds of cost; prolonging the works into the ‘Operation Freeflow’ period and the noise and inconvenience to residents of night time working.

The plan adopted allows for the re-opening of certain roads within the Park to vehicular traffic; creation of one way traffic movement inward only at the Ashtown Gate and outward only at the Cabra Gate. The advice to the Office of Public Works is that these temporary measures provide the best prospect of balancing the need to get the works completed in a timely and cost effective manner and the interests of the motorist.

We intend to monitor the situation closely over the period of the contract and will take any opportunity that presents to expedite the works.

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Local Issues

Lengthy Phoenix Park Gate Closure to Cause Huge Disruption

The Office of Public Works intends to close the Castleknock Gate of the Phoenix Park from the 29th of September for up to 2 months to facilitate works in the park. The work includes a new roundabout at the Mountjoy crossroads, leading to Farmleigh (replacing the current temporary roundabout), works by An Bord Gais, and work on the Castleknock Gates themselves. Traffic is to be re-directed into the Park through the Ashtown Gate and out of the Park through the Cabra gate.

“I am concerned that this lengthy closure of the Castleknock Gate is going to make life much more difficult for Dublin 15 commuters. The Phoenix Park is one of the main road arteries leading in and out of Dublin 15 and thousands of local people use this thoroughfare daily to get to work.

“The diversion through the Ashtown gate is going to push traffic towards the already clogged N3 and will heap extra pressure on what is already a very dangerous junction (at Ashtown gate / Blackhorse avenue).

“I am very disappointed that these works were not carried out during the off-peak summer period.

“I have approached the Minister for the Office of Public Works, Dr. Martin Mansergh, and the Commissioners, to see if arrangements could be put in place to minimise the inconvenience for local people. For example, similar works are often carried out at night in other areas, or one lane of the road could remain open.

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Education, Local Issues

Carpenterstown Educate Together Must be Recognised Now that Phoenix Park School Postponed

Deputy Joan Burton has called on the new Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe to recognise the proposed Carpenterstown Educate Together School. This school is one of the few schools refused recognition by the outgoing Minister for Education Mary Hanafin, despite the clear wishes of the parents enrolling the children for the school hopefully to be located in the Luttrellstown/Carpenterstown area.

“The refusal of the previous Minister to consult with local parents, school principals, Boards of Management and patrons on the provision of new schools in Dublin 15 was arrogant. This simply added to the difficulties of providing quality primary education for every child in the area. Not only that, but the previous Minister seemed like a rabbit caught in the headlights when it came to the issue of compelling developers to hand over sites designated for schools.

“One of the last acts of the outgoing Minister for Education was to defer indefinitely the development of the proposed Scoil Oisín under the patronage of the VEC at Phoenix Park racecourse. This late announcement from the Department of Education and Science was sneaked out by the Government just as Minister Hanafin left office.

“Scoil Oisín in the Phoenix Park had apparently attracted an enrolment of only nine to fourteen children. Despite the advice of local principals in the Castleknock area that they could cope with all of the demand in the area, the Minister refused to listen.

“Ironically, the Minister was promoting a school for which there was no viable demand while refusing to recognise the Educate Together School in Carpenterstown.

“Over 200 parents have indicated that they wish to enrol their children in the Carpenterstown Educate Together School. In refusing recognition to this school, the Minister appeared to be completely reversing the established policy of the Department of Education which recognises Educate Together as an important patron of new schools. It is important that the new Minster for Education recognises the wishes of parents in Carpenterstown for primary schooling for their children in an Educate Together format.

“I have previously suggested a round-table forum on education in Dublin 15 so that all of the patrons – the churches and parishes, Educate Together, Gaelscoileanna and the VEC – can consult and cooperate with the Department of Education and Fingal County Council on the establishment of new schools and the acquisition of school sites.”

The initial signs from the new Minister for Education, Batt O’Keefe TD, are not encouraging. In a reply to a Dáil question today, the Minister replied as follows:

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn
to the fact that Carpenterstown Educate Together in Dublin 15 has up to 60 children
enrolled to commence junior infants in September 2008 and that they have not
been able to secure a site for the school; if it is proposed to facilitate this
school at the Kellystown site; if other arrangements are being made to
facilitate the opening of this school in September 2008; and if he will make a
statement on the matter.
– Joan Burton.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 8th May, 2008.
Reference Number: 17551/08

Freagra

Minister for Education and Science (Batt O’Keeffe, T.D.)

Following consideration of the report and recommendations of the New Schools
Advisory Committee (NSAC) on the recognition of new primary schools for 2008,
it was decided not to grant recognition to the school to which the Deputy
refers, at this time.

In recognising a new school, cognisance needs to be given to the demand on
resources so that the State can ensure efficiency and equity in the allocation
of constrained resources. In that context, and given the significant additional
levels of primary school provision made in the area in the past 3 years, I am
satisfied that sufficient provision has been made to serve the current and
future population in the medium term. I am satisfied that appropriate diversity
of provision has also been provided.

On that basis, recognition has not been granted to the proposed new school at
this time. This does not preclude recognition at a future date.

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Local Issues

Ahern Must Make Statement On Secret Involvement Of Lottery In Casino Plan

The confirmation by Mr. John Hynes that the Taoiseach was aware of and approved the involvement of the National Lottery in a secret deal with the promoters of a controversial ‘slot machine’ casino, planned for Dublin in the 1990s is an astonishing revelation that raises yet more questions about Mr. Ahern’s record.

“We now know that at a time when Fianna Fail was pretending to oppose the Casino development, the Taoiseach was secretly facilitating the involvement of the National Lottery in the project and his friend and close political associate, Des Richardson, was accepting a donation of $10,000 from one of the promoters.

“Almost on a daily basis there are now new revelations about Mr. Ahern. His reputation is being damaged, his credibility eroded and his authority undermined to such an extent that one wonders how long he can remain in office.

“The Casino project was a massive proposed development for the Phoenix Park site and its promoters stood to make vast sums of money. I opposed it, as did many other local representatives, not just on planning grounds, but also because I was concerned about the arrival in Ireland of a ‘slot machine’ culture.

“The Taoiseach must now make a full statement on the extent of his knowledge of and involvement in this project. He must in particular explain why he involved the National Lottery in the project and why this was never disclosed to the Dail or to the public.


Local Issues

New Phoenix Park Playground…At Last

I have been lobbying the OPW for years to establish a proper Childrens’ Playground in the Phoenix Park accessible to families from the Castleknock end.
Finally the OPW has decided to proceed with the proposal.
They are now at an advanced stage with their plans to locate the playground at a site near the Walled Garden in the Phoenix Park, Visitors Centre.

The site near the Walled Garden emerged as the best location for the play ground, especially in terms of easy access and security consideration. The play ground will enhance the facilities already available at the popular Visitor’s Centre.

The design of the new playground, which was undertaken by the OPW Architectural Services business unit, is well advanced and on schedule. The OPW expects the play ground will take three and a half months to complete. It is expected that to open later this year and will be a great amenity to families who use the Park.

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Local Issues

Public Consultation on Phoenix Park Study

The OPW will be holding a public consultation as part of the Traffic Management Study on the Phoenix Park on Friday the 8th December in the St. Oliver Plunkett GAA Sports Ground, Glendhu Road, Kinvara, Navan Road, Dublin 7. The study will be available for public viewing in a number of locations prior to the discussion to allow people to familiarise themselves with it.

It can be viewed at:

The Visitor Centre, Phoenix Park, (Daily 10.00am to 17.00pm)

Cabra Library, Navan Road, Dublin 7 (Monday to Thursday 10.00 to 20.00pm, Friday and Saturday 10.00am to 17.00pm)

Fingal County Council Offices, Grove Road, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 16.30pm)


Local Issues, Transport

OPW PROMISES MORE CONSULTATION WITH RESIDENTS OVER TRAFFIC PLAN FOR PHOENIX PARK

Deputy Burton has welcomed the promise made by the Commissioner of the OPW Mr. David Byers to consult more with residents of Dublin 15 and Dublin 7 in relation to the proposed changes in traffic regulation in the Phoenix Park.

Following a meeting of the OPW with public representatives, Mr. Byers undertook on behalf of the OPW to arrange for the display of the report on traffic in the Park and to hold a number of public consultations with residents.

There is now a golden opportunity for the OPW to set headlines in relation to a Green Transport Initiative for the Phoenix Park. Their proposal for a shuttle bus service around the Park should be run as Ireland’s first green fuel public transport service.

The report proposes that the existing shuttle bus services in the Park which serve Farmleigh and St. Mary’s Hospital will be replaced by a round the Park shuttle service serving key employment points such as Farmleigh, St. Mary’s Hospital, the Ordnance Survey, Aras an Uachtarain, the Zoo and the American Embassy. There are over 2,000 people working in the Phoenix Park.

I have also proposed to the OPW that the new cycleways should be specifically designed for families who wish to cycle with their children in the park. Dublin is unique in having almost no cycle ways which are child and family friendly, as this is the norm in most European countries.

The Phoenix Park is one Dublin’s greatest amenities and treasures. With proper consultation, the changes could produce a win-win situation for local residents and the Phoenix Park itself, which is coming under increasing pressure from huge increases in car traffic due to a lack of public transport alternatives.

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