These are my priorities for our area that I will pursue if I am re-elected on the 7th June in the Local Elections. I am a candidate for the Glencullen-Sandyford area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which I have been representing for the past 3.5 years.
Please ensure that you are registered to vote by going to voter.ie before 11.59pm on Monday the 20th May (it takes 2 minutes). If you are resident in our area, you are eligible to vote. You do not need to be an Irish citizen.
WELL-PLANNED HOMES
The housing crisis has affected every family, and my generation especially. I can be your voice, advocating for renters and ensuring an effective planning process that will deliver more affordable homes.
With your vote, I will continue working to:
- Approve plans that support efficient local land use for housing, while retaining our natural and amenity spaces.
- Deliver housing for social housing, affordable purchase and affordable rental.
- Support retro-fits for council housing and assist home-owners to do the same.
- Ensure that developers deliver amenities along with new housing – such as childcare.
- Highlight breaches of construction rules that can impact your quality of life. Such as this instance of out of hours construction in Sandyford.
BETTER TRANSPORT
Our legacy transport system didn’t work well for anyone. We need to plan and design for people who wish to use different transport options. This includes people who cannot drive as well as people who take journeys by car.
With your vote, I will continue working to:
- Prioritise parking for Blue Badge holders that’s fit for purpose and genuinely accessible.
- Ensure children can safely walk or cycle to school – just as their parents and grandparents did.
- Deliver pedestrian priority measures. This includes more zebra crossings, safer kerbs and footpaths for wheelchair users.
- Advocate for improved Luas frequency from Bride’s Glen to Sandyford, particularly at peak times and weekends.
- Deliver new pedestrian crossing points on Ballinteer Avenue and safe cycling infrastructure connecting the area to local schools and Marlay Park.
- Campaign for our bus services. We need better services to secondary schools and universities, more bus shelters and more bus priority measures. I have been campaigning for improvements to new Bus Connects routes, a Dublin Mountains service and an improved 114.
- Progress fully accessible footbridges over the M50 at Ticknock, Leopardstown and Carrickmines.
- Introduce more bike parking at Luas stations and in residential developments.
- Pursue the enforcement of illegal parking that puts people’s safety and independent mobility at risk.
- Roll-out more publicly-available EV chargers.
LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES
This is a fantastic place to live, enjoy life and raise a family but, there are shortcomings. I am committed to making it even better.
With your vote, I will continue working to:
- Provide more facilities for the 12-17 age group and support programmes that help occupy young people positively.
- Advocate for the council to build new playgrounds and refurbish existing playgrounds. Ensure that developers provide high quality play facilities in new residential developments.
- Reduce or end the financial incentives that result in buildings being left vacant for long periods.
- Deliver the Sandyford and Stepaside Village Improvement Projects for public spaces that people want to spend time in.
- Encourage the development of more public and community spaces in Sandyford Business District.
- Ensure our public spaces are inclusive for people of all ages, abilities, cultures and neurodiversities.
- Advocate for more community-based policing, which is vital for public safety and security.
BALANCED DEVELOPMENT
For too long, the council has provided fewer amenities and infrastructure in our area compared to coastal parts of DLR. With a growing population, this imbalance has worsened.
With your vote, I will continue working to:
- Ensure that local clubs, including non-sporting groups, can access local facilities and grants.
- Reinvest €1m a year of proceeds from Marlay Park concerts directly into improvements in Marlay Park and the local areas most impacted by these events.
- Keep the provision of a Community Centre for Ballinteer top of the council’s agenda.
- Ensure the delivery of essential amenities without further delay. This includes Jamestown Park, Ballyogan Swimming Pool, Ballyogan Library.
- Complete the world-class, publicly-accessible athletics and multi-sports campus at St. Thomas in Tibradden, for athletics and other sports without dedicated facilities in the area.
ENVIRONMENT
A Green councillor is a strong advocate for your natural environment. I will act on issues of the environment, climate change and biodiversity loss.
With your vote, I will continue working to:
- Plant more trees and leave more pollinator areas to grow.
- Roll out the DLR Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 and ensure that emissions reductions are not put on the long finger. Including pushing the council to keep reducing its own emissions and to minimise our own impact on the environment.
- Support communities and citizens to reduce their emissions.
- Provide bins in suitable locations, including dog waste bins.
If you would like to learn more about my priorities if I am re-elected as a councillor for Glencullen-Sandyford, please get in contact.
If you are interested in helping my campaign in any way, here’s how you can help.
