Cllr Timmons says ‘’I attended a packed meeting in City west to discuss safety in the Rathcoole area that covers Newcastle and Saggart and it was apparent to me that there is a greater need to see visible Garda presence on the ground I am asking all concerned resident to please sign a petition I have started to increase Garda Manpower at Rathcoole Garda Station , The petition will be sent to the District Garda Superintendent and the Minister for Justice, The areas of Rathcoole  Newcastle and Saggart have seen huge increases in population over the last few years and people need and want to feel safe in their homes and communities , I also want to acknowledge the work the Guards do in our communities but I strongly feel they are under resourced in Manpower to fight the growing crime and in particular drug related crimes in our communities’’

Cllr Timmons says “Rathcoole and Newcastle are two of the biggest growing areas in the whole of South Dublin. There’s new houses, new businesses and developments but with that comes additional crime and additional anti-social behaviour. What they (the residents) want is Garda on the beat. They want a situation that when you ring a guard, a guard will arrive.”

Cllr Timmons says ‘’At the meeting residents were urged to ring 999 to report crimes and to report all crime so the correct stats would be available when looking for additional resources’’

The petition is at  @ http://chng.it/YL77fKkCyt

Cllr Timmons says ‘’I have made my submission to the application SD19A/0102 that looks to Upgrade and change of use from National School to Pre-School (daytime) and Children’s Therapy (evening sessions) and Youth Services (weekends); front signage; internal alterations and all associated ancillary site works. The proposed development consists of work to a Protected Structure located within an Architectural Conservation Area.’’

Cllr Timmons says ‘’The Scouts where using this building to facilitate a much need youth service for the community , Unfortunately despite my efforts as an elected local Councillor I got no response back from the church , the Laurence O Toole trust and it is most regrettable the manner the whole situation has been dealt with and divided a community. I set up a change.org Petition called ‘’Save the Den for 3K1C-Newcastle Scout Group in Newcastle’’ and over 2,864 people signed this @ https://www.change.org/p/newcastle-church-and-save-the-den-for-3k1c-newcastle-scout-group-in-newcastle-0f8f3289-2c89-4ed7-882c-d82cc0dae57c . I again ask that the Church and SDCC sit down and come up with a solution that caters for the scouts needs in tandem with other interested groups. ‘’

Cllr Timmons says ‘’Newcastle is one of the fastest growing areas in SDCC and it is my belief that the old school building should be used for community and that the scouts should be facilitated in it. If a compromise could be reached where scouts could use it at night time and weekends , this could be worth considering.’’

Closing date for submission is 29^th April @ http://www.sdublincoco.ie/Planning/Details?p=1&regref=SD19A%2F0102

The housing planned for the Eircom site is on hold until after the local elections in May , final drawing plans are being drawn up and will go out to Part 8 after government approval and funding is given to ensure the houses can be built. Please email me @ info@francistimmons.com

Update:

Eircom Site – SDCC estimate that this development will be over €20m to construct given the proposed number of 92 homes.  As it is expected to be over the €20m a cost effectiveness report is required by the Department of Housing before funding approval will be issued for the project.  This is being carried out and a draft report should be available next week.  If SDCC are satisfied with the report, it will be issued to the Department of Housing for funding approval and the Part 8 process can then commence.

Riversdale – The Architects are working up the details on this scheme and hope to go to tender by the end of June with a view to being on site toward the end of this year.  

Cllr Timmons said at his local election campaign Launch that he was very honoured to be elected on his first attempt in 2014 as an independent councillor and that it has been a huge honour to serve the people of the Clondalkin LEA and has been a very busy 5 years , The launch took place in Bru Cronan.

Timmons says ‘’Unfortunately clondalkin has been divided by the electoral commission and the new Clondalkin Lea does not include North Clondalkin,  Balgaddy and Milford-Palmerstown Woods , these areas are very close to my heart and if re-elected I will represent them when possible. I would ask that those living in those areas vote for Guss O Connell I have been very lucky to Have worked closely with Cllrs O Connell , Gogarthy and O Toole as part of a community alliance made up of four dedicated independents ‘’

He went on to say ‘’The Clondalkin area has in the past suffered from Bad planning, corruption and nod and a wink style politics We have had enough of that we need Honesty, Integrity and community going forward we need to elect people that will work hard for our community. All politics is local. ‘’

On May 24^th I am asking you to vote Number one for Timmons If I am re-elected I commit to the following

Housing – we have 37 families tonight in the Maldron hotel , rebuilding Ireland has failed and is failing the most vulnerable I commit to continues to vote for Part 8s that deliver sustainable communities I will continue to campaign for housing I have an unbroken record in voting for every housing scheme that has come before sdcc

Anti-social behaviour – I will continue to work with the Guards and SDCC to find solution’s to deal with Anti-social behaviour Over the last five years two of my motions led to the setting up of a Dublin wide Horse working forum to deal with horse issues and a scrambler and quad Working forum both of these I sit on and they have made progress particularly in the area of education

Mental Health – we face many challenges as a society in relation to mental health but I am very committed to this area , from remembrance nights to Safetalk to trees of hope I have worked hard in this area and will continue to campaign for positive mental health for all.

Disability – I have been a dedicated campaigner for disability rights for the last 30 years , we have come a long way be ratifying the UN convention on the rights of people with a disability but we have a lot of work to do in ensuring that they have access to education and work. Every person is entitled to a decent quality of life and the supports to be in place so they can achieve there best

Community – my record on community speaks for itself 5 Patrick’s day parades and 5 horticultural shows I am asking for you to vote for me to ensure there is a strong community based voice on the next council.

Climate change – many of my motions have focussed on environmental issues and I commit to continuing this work my motion on Keep Cups led to SDCC being the first council to role this out as policy The next 10 years will be vital in reducing the effects of Climate Change.

Webcasting despite several attempts my motions on webcasting of council meeting at SDCC has been voted down we are now the only council not to live stream our council meeting in the interest of accountability and transparency I will continues to demand webcasting of meetings.

Infrastructure – I voted for the Clonburris SDZ not because I believed it was the best plan but because it can deliver 8,400 homes, I and my independent colleagues appealed it to An Bord Penala and we await their decision, it will be vital that there is a strong voice on the next council to ensure that infrastructure is delivered in tandem with the housing.

I have campaigned through motions for many issues including the introduction of Cocos law to stop on line bullying and for the government to make Spinraza available for People living with SMA.

I am also involved and have motions down on a Truth and Justice Campaign for Survivors of the Magdalene Laundries, The mother and baby institutions, the county institutions and the Industrial schools, I also seek truth for those used in the Vaccine trials For Irish society to move forward we need to have truth and justice for all those that suffered at the hands of the state and church.

To get elected I will need your vote I am asking for you to share my leaflet and spread the word for me I thank you for coming tonight and I hope to serve the Clondalkin LEA for five more years

On the 26^th April I am having a fundraiser Quiz in Gunpowder to raise funds for the campaign I am very grateful to those who donated through my go fund me page and those that gave me donations Campaigns are costly and I rely on any support I can get Any one that can take some leaflets or help in any way please let me know.

On May 24^th I am asking you to vote Number one for Timmons If I am re-elected I commit to Honesty, Integrity and community,

Cllr Timmons (Clondalkin Independent) says ‘’ I was very honoured to stand with the families calling on the Minister and the HSE to allow access to Spinraza for those living with SMA , Sam from Rathcoole and Glen from Clondalkin deserve better , while the government , the HSE and the Pharmaceutical companies drag their heels , we have people’s health deteriorating , this is a life changing drug I have had several motions on this agreed by council , This drug has been used since 2016 , about 1 in 11,000 are born with SMA , these families deserve the best treatment available and more importantly the people living with SMA deserve the best available medication ‘’

Community centres provide vital community services and are stretched to the limit by funding. Community centres are the hubs of our community, they provide youth services with Crosscare, Senior citizens groups etc. They are much needed community services and need to be funded fully to ensure that they can continue to provide the services and expand on current services

Pobal funded staff earn €10 per hour , With the rising costs of rents and living expenses , it is getting increasingly difficult to retain and recruit suitable staff , Staff in our community centres open and close our centres , they are key holders and they facilitate groups along with many other roles.

Customer assistants in Lidls get €12- per hour and Aldis pay €11.90 per hour  The living wage in Ireland for 2018 was €11.90. I ask the minister to ask that Pobal CSP Funding is looked and the rates paid and to also look how community centres are funded and staffed

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 11, 2019

MOTION NO. 7

MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons

That this council commends the work and value of community centres within our county and throughout the communities they serve, we commit to writing to the minister to ask that Pobal Funding is looked and the rates paid and to also look how community centres are funded and staffed. Also that’s the wages reflect the invaluable community work in delivering groups and other responsibilities and in particular working with vulnerable people.  And that SDCC continue to look at all ways to support this invaluable work and look at expanding community centres as hubs of our community.

REPORT:

South Dublin County is well served by a large network of community facilities covering the vast majority of the main neighbourhoods in the County with provision in the Council’s Three-Year Capital Programme 2019-2021 to fund additional facilities where appropriate in the coming years.  The majority of the existing community facilities in the County are built on Council owned land and are usually managed by independent local voluntary management committees (legal companies in their own right, independent of the Council and established as Companies Limited by Guarantee) under management licences provided by the Council.

A number of years ago the then Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs announced a Community Services Programme (CSP), administered by Pobal, which provided the opportunity for community centre management companies to apply for funding to assist with the costs of employing a number of staff – this funding was quite limited and only a small number of community centres could be supported.  A competition was held in the County, facilitated by the Tallaght and Clondalkin Partnerships with some six community centres successfully acquiring funding. The funding allocated under CSP provided crucial support to those community centres in the subsequent years but there have only been extremely minimal opportunities for further funding for additional centres under the scheme since then, generally arising when other centres or projects exited the scheme.

The setting of staff salaries and wages in local community centres are a matter for the relevant management companies employing those staff working in the community facilities with local community officers on hand to provide advice – companies are always strongly advised to ensure that appropriate payscales and salaries are adopted to reflect the duties and roles of the staff in the centres.

The Council’s Community Services Department is constantly available to advise, assist and support the management committees of all centres in the County as well as recognising the commendable efforts and volunteerism in managing community centres to support delivery of a wide range of community

Cllr Timmons says ”I am calling on every person who is over the age of 18 to exercise their democratic right to vote and ensure they are registered to vote and if they are not to attend Voter registration Night I have arranged in Knockmitten and Bawnogue community center”

I have arranged a ‘’Voter registration Night’’

11th April 515 to 615 in  Bawnogue Community Center & 630 to 730 in Knockmitten Community Center

Bring Id and Proof of address

The type of election you can vote in depends on your citizenship. The following people are eligible to vote:

– Irish citizens can vote in every election and referendum

– British citizens may vote at Dáil, European and local elections

– Other EU citizens may vote at European and local elections*

– Non-EU citizens can vote at local elections only.

For further information please contact Cllr Francis Timmons @ info@francistimmons.com

I would like to congratulate the incredible performances from Team Ireland at #SpecialOlympicsWorldGames2019 who not only secured an impressive 86 medals: 30 Gold, 29 Silver and 27 Bronze, but also secured many placement ribbons and personal bests over the weekend! 

Huge thanks to all that supported this years coffee morning in Bawnogue community center on  Daffodil day €300 was raised and has been given to the Irish Cancer Society

Dear Cllr Francis,
Thank you so much for supporting the Irish Cancer Society with your generous gift of €300 from the Coffee Morning held in Bawnogue Community Centre
Thanks to your generous support today, more cancer patients in Ireland will be able to get free, confidential support and advice from our Cancer Nurses, as well as practical support during their treatment like free lifts to chemotherapy treatments, free local counselling, and much more.
Your donation will also help to fund over 100 Irish cancer researchers working in labs across the country to stop cancer in its tracks.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Averil Power Chief Executive Officer

Today we celebrate the 108^th International Women’s day , a day that has been marked since 1911 a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women It is not country, group or organization specific.

To see how far we have come let’s reflect on some of the changes in Ireland In Ireland We shouldn’t forget that many Women participated actively in the Easter Rising of 1916. Approximately 300 women took part, many of whom were members of the Irish republican group Cumann na mBan.^[

In Ireland In 1932, the marriage bar was introduced; it prevented any married woman from working in the public sector,  Contraception in Ireland was made illegal in 1935, Divorce was banned in Ireland in 1937, Indeed The first Free State government enshrined Catholic and socially conservative teachings mainly at the expense of women!

The 1970s saw the beginning of change in Ireland. Second wave feminism in Ireland began in the 1970s, fronted by women such as Nell McCafferty, Mary Kenny, and Nuala O’Faolain. At the time, the majority of women in Ireland were housewives. In 1971, a group of these feminists travelled to Belfast, on the so-called “Contraceptive Train” and returned with condoms, which were then illegal in Ireland.

In 1973, the marriage bar was removed, In 1979, the Health (Family Planning) Act, 1979 allowed the sale of contraceptives in Ireland, upon presentation of a prescription but we had to wait to 1985, when the Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Act,  allowed for the sale of condoms to people over 18 in Ireland without having to present a prescription and we had to wait to  1996, for Ireland to repeal its constitutional prohibition of divorce

We should use today to reflect on the long way we have come here in Ireland we must never forget the awful way this country treated unmarried mothers and locked women and their children up in the Magdalene Laundries and the mother and baby homes, some had their children sold and thousands had their child given away against their will. Some women have never seen their child again and have to live with this each day of their lives, As much as we have moved on we should never forget, the last Magdalene Laundry shut in just 1996.

We should reflect on the dreadful statistics that are Ireland’s reality that one in three Irish women experience domestic violence it is a deeply rooted problem that impacts on thousands of women in Ireland

In politics lets reflect on the Ninety-two women that have been elected to Dáil Éireann, the first being Constance Markievicz in 1919. Following the Irish general election of 2011 four women were appointed cabinet ministers the highest number of women in senior ministerial positions ever in Ireland. Out of 25 Tanaiste 4 have been women! We have a long way to go!

41% of women are managers which is above the EU average however we lag behind EU for female senior executives at 16% and women on boards at 19%

Let’s look at this years Campaign theme which is #BalanceforBetter – A balanced world is a better world. How can you help forge a more gender-balanced world? We can celebrate women’s achievement. We can raise awareness against bias and we can take action for equality. The future is exciting with many opportunities for a balanced world. Let’s build a gender-balanced world of true equality. Everyone has a part to play – all the time, everywhere. From grassroots local activism to worldwide action, we are entering an exciting period of history where the world expects and demands gender balance. We notice its absence and celebrate its presence. The 2019 #BalanceforBetter campaign runs all year long. It doesn’t end on International Women’s Day.

In order to build a gender-balanced world we need to realize that Balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage.

Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive. We can all play a part

One world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

Let’s take a bit of time to look back at some of our great women; We have sport stars like Sonia O Sullivan and Katie Taylor and actress Saoirce Rohan but I picked just 4 to reflect on today!

Countess Markievicz

One of this country’s great women was Countess Markievicz was an Irish politician, revolutionary, nationalist, suffragette and socialist who served as Minister for Labour from 1919 to 1922. She served as a TD for the Dublin South constituency from 1921 to 1922 and 1923 to 1927. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dublin St Patrick’s from 1918 to 1922.

A founder member of Fianna Éireann, Cumann na mBan and the Irish Citizen Army, she took part in the Easter Rising in 1916, On 28 December 1918, she was the first woman elected to the UK House of Commons, 100 years ago this year She was the Minister for Labour in the first Irish government, only the second woman in Europe to get a government ministerial role.

Mary Robinson

One of Ireland’s modern heroines is Mary Robinson, the first female President of Ireland., she was already well established and respected as an academic, barrister and Senator long before being elected President in 1990. Just some of the issues she advocated included the right to the legal availability of contraception, a removal of the requirement that married women resign from the civil service, and the right for women to sit on juries. She proved to be Ireland’s most popular President ever, breathing new life into the role and passing two important bills into law; legalization of contraception and decriminalizing homosexuality. Towards the end of her first term however, she resigned in order to take up an equally prestigious position; the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She held this role until 2002, and still continues to work with the world’s top leaders on various humanitarian, environmental and political issues.

Veronica Guerin

Veronica Guerin was an acclaimed and respected journalist who investigated and exposed the activities of Ireland’s drug criminals. Having started out in the public relations industry in the early 1980s, she transitioned into journalism in 1990 and began writing for the Sunday Business Post and Sunday Tribune. She quickly developed close relationships with high authority figures on both sides – the police force as well as the criminals themselves – and received death threats for her efforts. In October 1994 two shots were fired into her home as a warning – she was given a 24 hour police escort and carried on with her work. In 1996 however, two men on a motorbike followed her while driving, pulled up beside her car at traffic lights, and shot her dead. Her tragic death caused public outrage and lead to the setting up of the Criminal Assets Bureau and a huge crackdown on organized crime in the country.

Christina Noble

Christina Noble is undoubtedly one of the toughest and most compassionate women around. Born in Dublin in 1944 to a poverty stricken home, her alcoholic father failed to provide for her mother and three siblings and the family lived in the slums of Dublin. At age 10, Christina was sent to an orphanage in the west of Ireland and told that her siblings were dead. At 18, she escaped and lived rough on the streets

of Dublin for a time before running away to England to find her brother. Over the next few years she started a life over there, marrying and having three children. Her husband however was abusive, adding further troubles to her already difficult life. Around this time she began having a recurring dream of children in Vietnam who were calling for her to help them, and so she began work to set up the Christina Noble Foundation. In 1989 she travelled to Vietnam herself to help poverty stricken families find relief, and later expanded the foundation’s operations to Mongolia. Now aged 74, she still retains close contact with the first children she met, and is still actively involved in the foundation’s work.

They are just four examples of 4 great women. There are many women who quietly go about their day to day business but encourage and inspire others. For all the mothers, sisters, nieces, friends , Neighbours and work colleagues we salute you all. Enjoy and celebrate International Women’s day.

Let’s today on International Women’s day salute Women all over our world and mark the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of all women.