Last Updated: January 15, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Preparation of Local Area Plan for Blackrock. Submission deadline February 5th

The County Council has invited any interested parties or individuals to make suggestions or forward ideas before the preparation of the draft Local Area Plan. A submission may be made in writing during the public display period from Wednesday 8^th January, 2014 to Wednesday 5^th February, 2014 (inclusive).

All submissions and observations should be marked for the attention of the Director of Services, Planning & Enterprise Department, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.Submissions and observations may also be made by email to the following address:blackrock2lap@dlrcoco.ie and should state your name, address, and where relevant, the body represented. All submissions and observations lodged within the above time period will be taken into consideration during the preparation of the Draft Blackrock Local Area Plan.

An ‘Issues Paper’ identifying the types of subjects that may be included in a Local Area Plan together with a map identifying the different Plan areas for the Local Area Plan to be prepared, may be inspected at the following locations:

– Planning Department, County Hall, Dún Laoghaire (10.00a.m – 4.00p.m.)

– Council Offices, Dundrum Office Park, Dundrum (9.30a.m.–12.30p.m. 1.30p.m. – 4.30p.m.)

– All Branches of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Libraries during Library Opening Hours

Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) from Wednesday 8^th January, 2014 to Wednesday 5^th February, 2014 (inclusive). The Issues Paper and map may also be viewed on the County Council’s website at www.dlrcoco.ie.

Blackrock LAP – Issues Paper and Map

All submissions and observations, in respect of the proposed Blackrock Local Area Plan, made to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council within the above time period will be taken into consideration by the Council in deciding upon the Draft Local Area Plan.

Note:

Children, or groups or associations representing the interests of children, are entitled to make submissions or observations.
All submissions and observations should include your name and a contact address and where relevant, details of any organisation, community group or company etc., which you represent.
Please make your submission by one medium only, i.e. hard copy or e-mail.

PLEASE NOTE:

YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO MAKE YOUR SUBMISSION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 5.00pm on Wednesday 5^th February, 2014.

LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

G. Hayden
Director of Services
Planning & Enterprise Department
8^th January, 2014.

Blackrock2lap@dlrcoco.ie

http://www.dlrcoco.ie/newsevents/latestnews/title,10201,en.html

Last Updated: January 15, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mitchell O’Connor welcomes removal of plastic surgery app aimed at children

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the fact that a plastic surgery app aimed at children as young as nine has been removed from iTunes and Google Play.

“I was very concerned yesterday to learn of the contents of this app, which provoked a strong backlash online. The app, which targeted children as young as nine, asks users to act as a plastic surgeon to ‘operate’ on a female character who is overweight.

“While this app has been available for some time, the Every Day Sexism project helped to highlight its contents yesterday, and thankfully iTunes and Google Play have now responded by removing the app from their sites.

“I am pleased that these app providers have taken the responsible step of removing the app, which in my view could promote negative body image among young girls. I would also encourage both iTunes and Google Play to examine their monitoring procedures to ensure that any apps being targeted at children are age appropriate.”

Last Updated: January 14, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mitchell O’Connor expresses shock at content of ‘fat shaming’ app targeting children

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has this evening (Tuesday) expressed her shock and concern at the content of a new plastic surgery app targeting children as young as nine. Deputy Mitchell O’Connor is calling on iTunes to remove the app from its online store.

“This app has understandably prompted an outraged response on social media today. The so-called ‘fat-shaming’ app encourages children to carry out plastic surgery on the cartoon imagine of a girl who ‘has so much extra weight that no diet can help her’.

“The app asks users to ‘suck out the extra fat’ and ‘make small cuts on problem areas’. It is extremely disturbing that an app of this nature would be targeted at children as young as nine. Using this app could undoubtedly contribute to a young girl having a negative body imagine.

“I am calling on iTunes to remove this app from its online store. The company must take some responsibility over the content offered in the apps it sells, and the content of this app simply cannot be condoned.”

Last Updated: January 14, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Allocation of €3.5m will make Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown more cycle friendly – Mitchell O’Connor

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Tuesday) welcomed almost €3.5 million in funding which is being allocated to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council by the National Transport Authority as part of the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) programme.

“This money will be used to fund more than 30 projects in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown area, and will include improvements to a number of cycle routes, which will make it easier and safer for cyclists to get around locally and to travel to and from the city centre.

“A total of €75,000 is being provided to allow for the design of a public bike hire scheme in Dun Laoghaire, which would be a positive addition for locals and visitors in the town. Funding of €475,000 has also been approved for the design of a priority cycle route along the N11, stretching from Stillorgan Park Road to Loughlinstown.

“Cycle parking will be improved at a number of locations throughout Dun Laoghaire and cycle routes are to be improved between the Windy Arbour Luas stop and UCD, and along the N11 between Belfield and Stillorgan Park.

“A number of other cycle route and road improvement works will be completed under the scheme, which will have a very positive impact on local residents. The continued investment in sustainable transport projects is very important if we are to encourage people to leave the car at home and use their bike to get around.

“The total of €3.5 million is a considerable sum of money to be awarded to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, and I hope the Council can get these works under way without delay.”

Posted: December 19, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mitchell O’Connor welcomes €211,000 in funding under Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement by the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan TD, of €211,000 in funding under the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme. This funding was allocated in the Budget 2014 from the proceeds of the sale of the National Lottery.

“I am delighted that Dun Laoghaire has been allocated €211,000 in funding, out of a total pool of €5 million, to support a significant number of projects on protected buildings in the area. The scheme will also support employment in the conservation and construction industries and in specialist trades.

“Local authorities will have the responsibility of managing this scheme and successful applicants will match the money being made available to them to fund the project. Dun Laoghaire has some wonderful historical buildings located and it is imperative that we maintain these sites and do not let them fall into disrepair.

Last Updated: December 18, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

€3.2 million funding for cochlear implants will transform lives of many children

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the allocation of €3.2 million in funding under the HSE Service Plan for cochlear implants, saying that this will transform the lives of children who have been waiting for this procedure for some time.

“I am delighted that €3.2 million has been allocated under the HSE Service Plan for cochlear implants. I have met with the consultant ENT surgeon, Ms. Laura Viani, as well as family groups who I been working closely with, to campaign for the provision of funding for children who require cochlear implants.

“In 2012, Beaumont Hospital carried out over 90 cochlear implants and over 700 patients are currently under the care of the hospital programme which provides rehabilitation and programming on a recurring basis. This allocation of €3.2 million will go some way towards alleviating the pressure on the cochlear implant programme.”

Last Updated: December 17, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Christmas in Sandycove and Glasthule

Lovely short video on Christmas in Sandycove and Glasthule!!

Click below to watch!

Last Updated: December 12, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

€50k for youth café in Dun Laoghaire will provide for safe hang-out space for kids

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, said the provision of €50,000 towards the development of a youth café in Dun Laoghaire will provide a safe, secure and alcohol free environment in which local children can hang-out and learn new activities.

The announcement comes as part of the delivery of €1.5 million in capital funding for 30 new youth cafés across the country as announced by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD.

“These funds will be used by Catholic Youth Care (CYC) to move in to the Boylan Centre in Dun Laoghaire, where the café will be located and to share space within the building with Crosscare. This demonstrates a practical approach to delivery as both organisations will be engaged in rationalisation which will allow funds to go further.

“Ensuring that young people have access to a safe environment in their locality in which they can hang-out and avail of activities and social recreation is so important. If a youth café is provided locally it gives children a focus and an alternative to hanging around the streets while chatting with and catching up with their friends.

“I am delighted that CYC and Crosscare have decided to work together and that the Government’s commitment to addressing the needs of our children has resulted in the provision of funds for such worthwhile projects. This funding of €1.5 million brings the total investment in new youth cafés by the Government to €2.2 million since coming to Office. This project will add great value to the local area and I’ve no doubt will be met with great excitement by the young people who plan to use it.”

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Posted: December 12, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Breast Check

Breast screening

Breast screening is where an x-ray of the breast (a mammogram) is taken to look for signs of early breast cancer. In Ireland BreastCheck invites women aged 50-64 on a two yearly cycle for their free breast x-ray. If breast cancer is found early, it is easier to treat at this and a woman has a high chance of a good recovery. No screening tool is 100 per cent effective and breast screening does not find all breast cancer, but screening in other countries has been shown to lower the number of women dying from breast cancer, and these lives are saved because cancers are diagnosed and treated earlier than they would have been without screening.

Why should women come for breast screening?

Regular breast screening means that if there are changes they will be found as early as possible. Finding a breast cancer when it is small normally means:

There is a greater chance of treating the cancer successfully
It is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body
There may be more treatment options available

Finding cancer early is important. Breast screening and better treatments are helping to lower deaths from breast cancer. Screening programmes in other counties have greatly reduced the number of women dying from breast cancer. Northern Ireland has shown a reduction in deaths from breast cancer by 20 per cent in the last 10 years.

It is a woman’s choice whether or not they have breast screening. There are many different reasons why women decide whether or not to have screening. Here is a leaflet on the benefits and limits of breast screening.

For more information visit http://www.breastcheck.ie/ .

Posted: December 12, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Continued Monitoring of DART Carriages Should Help to Resolve Overcrowding Issues

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, today (Wednesday) said the continuous monitoring of carriage levels on DARTs, as committed to by the Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, should help to resolve the issues of overcrowding that are being experienced by commuters.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor also welcomed the fact that the Railway Safety Commission (RSC) is scheduled to discuss the issue with Iarnród Éireann at their next scheduled supervision meeting.

“I have been inundated with complaints from constituents in respect of the service being provided on the DART to Dun Laoghaire and beyond, following a survey I undertook to determine exactly what the public’s grievances were.

“I have been in regular contact with the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, and the Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, David Franks, in a bid to resolve the issues of overcrowding on DARTs and the subsequent health, safety and comfort implications for passengers. I recently presented the survey findings, which outline the experiences of more than 300 respondents to Mr. Franks, who was eager to act on the company’s shortcomings to meet commuters’ needs.

“Despite the fact that Iarnród Éireann is making headway in addressing these concerns, I am continuing to receive reports from constituents who are dissatisfied with the service. I take some comfort in the commitment given by Mr. Franks to continue to monitor the situation and to remain vigilant to the requirements of service users and to ensure that adequate carriages are being provided at all times.

“Reducing train sizes in a bid to minimise the use of electricity as a cost saving measure for the company makes sense but not at the expense of those who are using, and paying good money for, the service. I will continue to stay in close contact with Minister Varadkar and Mr. Franks and am confident that together we can sort this issue out so that a comfortable reliable and value for money DART service is delivered for the people of Dun Laoghaire.”

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