Summer 2008

Dún Laoghaire, Ballybrack, Blackrock, Booterstown, Cabinteely, Carrickmines, Clonkeen, Corke Abbey, Dalkey,
Deansgrange, Foxrock, Glasthule, Glenageary, Killiney, Kill O The Grange, Kilternan, Leopardstown, Loughlinstown, Mount Merrion www.CiaranCuffe.com
Avenue, Monkstown, Mountown, Old Connacht, The Park, Rathmichael, Rathsallagh, Sallynoggin, Sandycove, Seapoint, Shankill.

Printed on 100% recycled paper

An end to
Car-Free
Dún Laoghaire ?
Georgeʼs Street Lower in Dún Laoghaire will no
longer be pedestrianised under a new traffic
plan approved by Councillors at a Dún
Laoghaire Area committee meeting last month.
The proposal seeks to reintroduce traffic
westbound along Georgeʼs Street Lower,
removing the priority for pedestrians, buses
and cyclists.

All the Green Party councillors were against

allowing cars back into the pedestrianised
areas of Dun Laoghaire at the meeting, arguing
we should be trying to get cars out of our town
centres and making them more pedestrian Minister For Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Eamon Ryan TD, Senator Deirdre De Burca
friendly, rather than the other way around. & Deputy Ciaran Cuffe, publicising the Green Energy Fair

Some concerns have been raised about the

downturn in commercial business in the area,
but introducing yet more traffic is not the way to
address this. It is footfall that gets people into
Green Energy Fair
shops - not passing traffic. We must be the only
country in Europe removing pedestrianisation
in a shopping area!
Sunday June 8th Leopardstown
Hosted by the Dún Laoghaire, Dublin South and Wicklow Green Party, the second Green
The new proposals will also increase bus Energy Fair will take place in the Tote building at Leopardstown Racecourse on Sunday 8th
journey times and delay services by removing June, from 11am until 6pm.
their priority along Georgeʼs Street Lower as
well as raising safety concerns by bringing Promising to be an action packed day, the Green Energy Fair will bring together a wide
traffic and pedestrians into closer contact. range of green companies under one roof.

Web www.ciarancuffe.com/dunlaoghaire Whether you are involved in a new build or are interested in retrofitting your existing house,
our exhibitors and speakers will offer solutions for future proofing against rising energy
costs. Headline speakers for the talks and workshops include Duncan Stewart and Davie
Philips from Cultivate, as well as Ministers Eamon Ryan, John Gormley and myself.
Come and view the latest products and get up to date information about making your
home more energy efficient, cutting those heating bills and reducing your carbon footprint.
Browse the great selection of stands showcasing organics, fair-trade, locally produced
crafts and food.
A day for the whole family, the Green Energy Fair will have a dedicated children’s area
upstairs and a relaxing chill out area where home
made cakes and refreshments are sure to go down a
treat! Admission is €5 with children and OAPs free.
Leopardstown is close to both the 46A Bus route and
Sandyford Luas station. Plenty of free parking will also
be available.

George's Street in Dún Laoghaire, without cars!

Web www.greenparty.ie/fair

Dún
Laoghaire
Baths and
Coastal
Plan
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County
Council has commissioned two
costly plans for the coastline
between Dún Laoghaire and
Sandycove. These plans include,
among other things, creating an
artificial beach adjacent to the East
Pier and surface car parking at
Newtownsmith Green.
Local councillor Gene Feighery
and I called a public meeting in
Insulting your attic is an easy way to improve the energy efficiency of your home
Improving your Home's Energy Efficiency
Green Party Minister Eamon Ryan has
announced the first phase a new energy
saving grant scheme which will eventually see
€100 million invested in improving the energy
efficiency of Irish homes.
The scheme will cover two-thirds of the cost
of a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessor to
come to a household and advise on what
One of the proposals for the Baths site
commissioned by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown
county Council
April to repeat the Green Partyʼs
call for a modest development to
restore the baths and protect the
marine environment of Scotsmanʼs
Bay.
Over a hundred residents gathered
in the Kingston Hotel and
unanimously supported such a
move. There was clear anger from
the floor that the consultants have
produced such costly, inappropriate
works need to be carried out. They may
suggest attic insulation, low emissions
double-glazing, heating control or, in some
cases, replacement of the boiler. The
Government will then cover up to 30% of the
cost of these works, to a maximum of €2,500.
The current pilot scheme in North Tipperary,
Limerick, Clare and Dundalk will be evaluated
and potentially damaging plans.
It has been eight years since I first
called for a modest development
on the baths site with a heated
swimming pool, a toddlerʼs pool
and a café. Such a proposal need
not be more than two or three
storeys high and would be a
fantastic amenity for the people of
Dún Laoghaire and beyond.
Web www.CiaranCuffe.com/DunLaoghaire
to inform the roll-out of a full scale scheme in
2009.
It is worth remembering that you can still
apply for grants under the Greener Homes
Scheme. The Scheme provides assistance to
homeowners who intend to purchase a new
renewable energy heating system for either
new or existing homes.
Web www.sei.ie/greenerhomes
 Graffiti at Blackrock DART station

Ban on Junk Food

Advertising on the Way
Proposals to restrict the advertising of
junk food during children’s television
programmes were recently included in
the Broadcasting Bill launched Green
Party Communications Minister

Anti Graffiti Eamon Ryan.

funding for your community The bill will allow for a Children’s
Advertising Code to specifically
prohibit the advertising of foods high in
Green Party Minister John Gormely people from graffiti and offer them fat, sugar or salt content. As a parent
recently allocated €3.75 million in 2008 alternative outlets to express their creativity. of young children, I’m well aware of the
aimed at reducing graffiti in the power advertising can have on young
community. The scheme brings the community together
to tackle the damage caused by graffiti minds and I’m glad to see this long
The initiative empowers communities to through involving residents, local groups standing Green Party policy come into
combat graffiti by allowing local groups and business owners. Funds will be force.
who have the experience of working on available to buy graffiti cleaning kits and for
environmental and community safety landscape design to reduce the targeting of
issues to tackle the problem head-on. individual sites. New Irish
The scheme takes a broad look at the
problem by addressing the short-term
Any local groups (including tidy towns
groups) interested in applying for funding
Film
problems of removing graffiti and also
looks at long-term preventative measures
under the new Community Graffiti
Reduction Programme can apply from mid-
Channel
through education and raising awareness. May through Pobal, by calling 448 4876.
Green Party Minister for
Funding will be available for community
wide initiatives designed to divert young Web www.CiaranCuffe.com/DunLaoghaire Communications has unveiled plans
for a new Irish Film Channel which will
show a mix of Irish, European and
Front Line: Defending Human Rights World cinema. It will be available
In April, I was honoured to be invited to the launch of the Front Line Award for Human Rights nationally as a free to air service and
Defenders at Risk and to announce one of the nominees. will not carry any advertising. The
channel will also provide an outlet for
Front Line is an international human rights organisation, founded in Dublin, with offices in
the many high quality Irish films that
Blackrock and Brussels. The organisation works to protect the lives of courageous people
who fight for human rights around the world, often in very difficult situations. They provide have been made over the years.
practical support to human rights defenders at risk, ensuring they are safe to continue their
work protecting the rights of others.
Changes to Motor
I was especially fortunate to be given a nominee working on environmental issues, Padre
Andres Tamayo of Honduras. He is part of an environmental movement which protects local Taxes
communities’ rights to their natural resources and prevents the destruction of the rainforest.
Changes to the way cars are taxed will
The Front Line Award aims to increase the profiles of these individuals which contributes to
come into effect from July first. The
their security and protection. It is also an opportunity to highlight the important and
courageous work of human rights defenders around the world. purpose of the new emissions based
system is to encourage car owners to
Web www.frontlinedefenders.org
switch to ‘greener cars’. Under the
new motor tax system, there will be
seven bands with charges ranging
from €100 a year for the greenest A-
rated cars to €2,000 for cars with the
highest emissions rating.

Vehicle Registration Tax will change

from being based on engine size to
CO2 emissions from 1 July 2008 for all
new cars bought in the state and
imported from abroad.

Web www.ciarancuffe.com
Noeleen Blackwell (FLAC), TDs Ciaran Cuffe, Róisín Shortall, Simon Coveney at the Front Line Awards
Calculate your Carbon Footprint... Your Green Team
BLACKROCK WARD
COUNCILLOR NESSA CHILDERS
is a Psychoanalyst and
lectures in Trinity College.
She is on the Transport and
www.change.ie
Housing Committees of the
Council. Her interests include
Green Party Minister for the Environment John Gormley launched the “Change” traffic management for
campaign last month to raise awareness about climate change in Ireland. The Blackrock, and Safe Routes
campaign includes a website – www.change.ie – where you can calculate your to school.
carbon footprint and learn how you can play your part to reduce carbon emissions by
making some simple lifestyle changes. You can contact Nessa directly at
nchilders@cllr.dlrcoco.ie, M 086 818 6712,
Whilst online, why not check out my new blog – 12 Green Steps - at
14 Gledswood Avenue, Dublin 14
http://twelvegreensteps.blogspot.com to discover ways to save money by making
your house more energy efficient and more ways to reduce your individual carbon
footprint. DÚN LAOGHAIRE WARD
COUNCILLOR GENE FEIGHERY
left her career in financial

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homemaker and mother.
Gene studied Landscape
Architecture and Design and
is a member of An Taisce, The
Irish Georgian Society, Royal
Horticultural Society, and the
Garden Landscape & Design
Association. Gene is committed to proper
planning and sustainable development for Dún
Laoghaire and believes that the town’s unique
heritage will secure its prosperity.
You can contact Gene directly at
genefeighery@cllr.dlrcoco.ie, M 086 8501198,
1 Eglinton Park, Dún Laoghaire

Q: Where and When is the Green Energy Fair?

Answers by e-mail only, to ciaran.cuffe@oir.ie - by June 30th
Green Party Comhaontas Glas
Justice, Foreign Affairs and Transport
Spokesperson
96 Patrick Street (Over the Pet Shop)
Dún Laoghaire
Tel 284 6060, Fax. 618 4341
Email: Ciaran@CiaranCuffe.com
www.CiaranCuffe.Com
Block Capitals please
BALLYBRACK WARD
COUNCILLOR TOM KIVLEHAN
is from Cabinteely and has a
business and tourism
background. He is on the
Economic Development and
Planning, and Environment
Committees of the Council.
He is Chairman of the Board
of Management of Cabinteely
Community School and sits
on the Health Executive Forum. His priorities
are good planning for new communities,
supporting small businesses, and protecting
the Green Belt and the local environment.
You can contact Tom directly at

Get Active!
Name
info@TomKivlehan.com H 204 3916,
M 086 818 6717,
Address 33 East Courtyard, Tullyvale, Cherrywood,
Cabinteely
Fill in the form and send it
back to us at 96 Patrick
Street Dún Laoghaire. We Phone / Mobile

meet each month in Dún

Laoghaire. Check Ciarán's Email

website for details.