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Last Updated: June 29, 2015 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Variation of Local Property Tax

The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended), makes specific provision that elected members of a local authority may pass a formal resolution to vary the basic rate of the Local Property Tax for their administrative area by a percentage known as the local adjustment factor.

This means that Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council can increase or decrease the basic rate of the Local Property Tax within the County by a maximum of +/-15% or leave it unaltered.

At the meeting of Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council held on the 22^nd of September 2014 to consider this matter the members agreed to reduce the basic rate of local property tax applicable within the County by 15%. This reduction applies for a period of one year from the 1st of November 2014 (liability date) to the 31^st of October 2015 and the 2015 local property taxcharge payable by property owners within the County reflected this reduction. The Local Property Tax rate reverts back to its original basic rate on the 1^st of November unless a further decision is made by the elected members to retain the existing variation or apply an alternative variation.

The Council will meet in September 2015 to consider the setting of a local adjustment factor for the year 2016. Members must decide whether to retain the variation agreed in 2014, agree an alternative variation or apply no variation.

The Council welcomes written submissions from the public on this matter specifically covering the potential effects of retaining the existing variation, or applying an alternative or no variation, on businesses, individuals and on local authority services.

Submissions must be received by the 18^th of August 2015 and may be made using one of the following methods.

(1) Online through the Council’s consultation hub at www.dlrcoco.ie

(2) By E Mail To lptsubmissions@dlrcoco.ie

(3) By post to Local Property Tax Submissions, FMS Section, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

Submissions should be clearly marked “Proposed LPT Variation”

Last Updated: June 24, 2015 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Designated Bathing Areas for 2016

Tens of thousands of people have been enjoying a dip at Ireland’s pristine lakes, rivers and beaches during the recent sunny weather. What most swimmers don’t know is that City and County Councils must designate official bathing areas in their area every year so that they can be monitored for safety, water quality and their level of use. To help us with this process, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are now asking people who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers within the County to tell us if they think we should maintain existing designations or give a new official bathing area designation to areas that are commonly used for swimming but not designated as such at the moment.

Under European and Irish law, these bathing areas must be monitored to ensure they meet stringent microbiological water quality standards. In some cases these official bathing areas are also the areas where Councils focus their resources during the summer season. Councils are also required to prepare detailed profiles for each of the designated bathing water sites that describe not just the bathing area itself but also areas in the surface waters catchment area that could be a possible source of pollution, and what action would be taken if any pollution occurs.

If you are a regular swimmer and want to help us decide which bathing areas should be designated for 2016, it might be helpful to consider the following:

-How your swimming area has been used up to now

-How many people use the site

-What facilities exist at the site and how accessible it is

-Any safety issues

Submissions in relation to the identification of bathing waters can be made:

Online: Through our Consultation Hub – https://dlrcoco.citizenspace.com/

By Post to:

Beaches Section

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

County Hall

Marine Road

Dún Laoghaire

Co. Dublin

By Email to: beaches@dlrcoco.ie

Closing date for submissions is 28th July 2015. For further information please contact our beaches Section on 01 2054817 or environ@dlrcoco.ie

Last Updated: June 22, 2015 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Could you be Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur?

Your Local Enterprise Office is looking for Ireland’s best young entrepreneurs. If you are aged between 18 and 30 and either have a business idea or have started a business, why not enter this competition for a chance to win part of the 2 million euro investment fund?

Looking for Ireland’s best young entrepreneurs.

Are you 30 or under with a business idea or an existing business? If so, the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) Competition could be for you! Almost any young person with a business idea can enter this competition. It doesn’t matter what your background is – all that matters is that you have a good business idea that works! To enter, you must be aged between 18 (at date of application) and 30 (as at 31st December 2015).

What is Ireland’ Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) Competition?

The IBYE competition is a national competition to find Ireland’s best young entrepreneur. Applying is simple and there is a €2 million investment fund and targeted business supports on offer to help you turn your business idea into a reality. The competition is open to all business sectors and there are 3x award categories; Best Idea (not yet trading);Best Start Up (trading for 24 months or less) & Best Established Business (trading for more than 24 months).

The Application Deadline is Friday, 31st July 2015.

IBYE Prize Fund

€50,000 Investment Fund available from Local Enterprise Office DLR to invest in the 3 Category Winners
(All county finalists will be invited to participate in an Entrepreneur Bootcamp)
€100,000 Investment Fund available for the overall National Category Winners

Visit IBYE.ie for Full Competition Details and to Submit your Entry >>

Last Updated: June 22, 2015 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Business Consultation – 6 Year Local Economic & Community Plan

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is in the process of developing a six year Local Economic & Community Plan. This plan will identify goals, objectives and actions to promote and support the economic and community development of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown over the next six years, to 2021.

They have recently concluded a public consultation in respect of a Draft Socio-Economic Statement. The next step in the consultation process is to seek the business community’s views as these will contribute significantly to the development of the plan and the prioritisation of future actions.

To facilitate this, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has designed a brief consultation questionnaire, which they are now asking those in the business community to complete.

The consultation questionnaire is available on their Consultation Hub at:

https://dlrcoco.citizenspace.com/planning/lecp-business-survey and can be completed up to and including Tuesday 7th July 2015.

So, if you are part of the business community in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, why not take this opportunity to help shape the County’s economic development into the future.

Posted: June 22, 2015 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Official Opening of new DeVesci Gardens tennis courts

Last Saturday, I had the honour and great pleasure to perform the ribbon cutting at the Official Opening of the new tennis courts and clubhouse at DeVesci Gardens for the 120 year anniversary of its existence.

Since DeVesci was opened in 1895, it has grown to be a staple in Monkstown and has formed into a beautiful space where people can enjoy being outdoors and focus on the sport they love.

I was delighted to celebrate the anniversary of such excellent facilities that contribute to the development of youth participation and promote a healthy lifestyle for the children and adults of our community.

For information on the DeVesci Tennis Club please visit their website http://www.devesci.net or email them at devesciltc@gmail.com

Last Updated: June 9, 2015 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mitchell O’Connor selected to run for Fine Gael in Dun Laoghaire

Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD has been selected to represent Fine Gael in the constituency of Dun Laoghaire in the next General Election.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor received the endorsement of Fine Gael members at the party’s convention held yesterday evening (Monday) in the Killiney Castle Hotel.

Mary Mitchell O’Connor was elected to the Dáil in February 2011. Prior to that, she served on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, having been elected on her first attempt in June 2004 and subsequently re-elected in June 2009.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor was school principal in The Harold School Glasthule before being elected. Her commitment to the delivery of high quality education from pre-school level onwards remains steadfast, as is her support to local business and enterprise in Dun Laoghaire.

“I am honoured to have been selected by my Fine Gael colleagues to represent the party in the forthcoming General Election for Dun Laoghaire constituency,” Deputy Mitchell O’Connor stated. “The next General Election presents a challenge for Fine Gael to continue rebuilding our economy, reducing unemployment and educating our children to compete on the world stage”.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor added that, ”As we prepare to fight the next general election, our focus must be on an Ireland that tolerates diversity, respects age, nurtures its children, provides for the marginalised and sick and encourages the business leaders of the future”.

Last Updated: June 3, 2015 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

DLR COUNCIL GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING

The deadline of the Council’s second round of grants for 2015 is this Friday (5th June) before 4pm.

The funding is divided into four categories;

* Arts – Arts Access for Youth Projects only (Maximum Amount €2,500)

* Business Area Promotion

* Community Grants – Including Sporting Equipment, Community Projects/Organisation, Newsletters, etc.

* Sports – Major Sporting Events only

* Winter Festival Grants

The guidelines and forms can be downloaded here; www.dlrcoco.ie/aboutus/councildepartments/environment/findit/grantschemes/

If you have any specific questions regarding the grants, please call Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council (Grant Section) 01 204 7024 or email grantschemes@dlrcoco.ie

Finally, if I can be of any assistance to you or your organisation on this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at my Blackrock Constituency Office on 01 210 9161.

Posted: May 28, 2015 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mary Mitchell O’Connor Calling for Greater Support and Recognition of Deafblindness

Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor chaired the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children on Thursday, 28 May and encouraged her colleagues to officially recognise Deafblindness as a disability.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children met to discuss recognition of Deafblindness as a distinct disability. There are over 10,000 Deafblind people in Ireland who need increased support from the Government.

Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, who has strongly supported the Deafblind community, asked witnesses and experts to elaborate on the public services available for the Deafblind, the quality of those services and the specific areas of support that need to be improved.

Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD stated, “The Deafblind community in Ireland needs the Government’s support to help access crucial services that will improve their quality of life. The first important step is to fully define and recognize Deafblindness as a disability.”

“Once the Government officially recognises Deafblindness as a distinct disability, we can appropriate the necessary funding for individuals to access the services they need. This will also help raise awareness on the condition and further inform the public on Deafblindness.”

“It is imperative that the Government provides additional and necessary services, institutes regulations on hearing aids, and assists the greater deafblind community, so that they are no longer an unsupported minority.”

Posted: May 28, 2015 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

€2,267,763 in Funding for Social Housing in Dún Laoghaire

€2,267,763 is being made available to help meet Dún Laoghaire’s housing needs in a variety of ways”, says Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor. The funding forms part of a €91 million Government package to make more social housing available to those who need it and also to improve the standard of housing for people with disabilities, as well as retrofitting homes to improve energy efficiency.

“In Dún Laoghaire, €90,000 is being made available in 2015 to bring vacant social housing units back into use. In total across the country over 1,000 units will be returned to the housing list for people and families who need them. This builds on the more than 2,300 units brought on stream last year with an average cost of refurbishment of €11,277. It is a terrible legacy of the recent economic crisis that there are boarded up social housing units around the country when there are people urgently in need of accommodation. This funding package seeks to return these units to use and give people and families the fresh start they need in a new home.

“Older people and people with disabilities living in Dún Laoghaire social housing are also set to benefit from €1,255,205 in investment in Housing Adaptation Grants. This is part of a €50.5 million package for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability across the country. The funding will allow extensions to be built for people with a disability as well as housing adaptations to improve mobility aid, such as stair lifts, access ramps etc. A further €513,200 will be made available for local authority house adaptations and extensions to meet the needs of tenants with a disability and to deal with overcrowding.

“The third element of this housing funding announcement is a €20 million package for energy retrofitting to make social housing more energy efficient. Dún Laoghaire is set to receive €409,358 to allow tenants to complete this work to make their homes warmer and more efficient and to cut down on their bills.

“I strongly welcome this funding which is all about bringing more people off the housing waiting list and improving the quality of life for people who are already living in social housing.”