Fine Gael TD for Dublin West, Leo Varadkar has called on the Minister for Finance to ‘come clean’ on METRO WEST and to say whether or not it will be built and when.  Metro West will run through the western suburbs of Dublin linking Blanchardtown, Liffey Valley and Tallaght.  It will interchange with Luas, Metro North and the existing suburban service in Dublin 15.  The project was included in the government’s Transport21 plan which was published before the last general election.  It was also included in the National Development Plan (NDP).  However, METRO WEST was left out of the €39 billion Capital Programme for 2010-2016 announced by the Taoiseach, Minister Lenihan and Minister Gormley last week.  The extension of the train line from Dunboyne to Navan and the Western Rail Corridor were also left out. 

By contrast, funding for METRO NORTH and DART UNDERGROUND was ring-fenced in the plan.  It seemed clear that METRO WEST was gone until Transport Minister Noel Dempsey went on radio to say that the Navan line would go ahead even though there was no budget for it and that planning and design work for Metro West would continue so that it could be built at some point in the future.

‘I think the Minister Lenihan really needs to come clean on Metro West.  Will it be built or won’t?  And if so, when and how much will it cost?’, asked Deputy Varadkar

‘I have always been a little skeptical about Metro West.  I think it would very expensive to build especially the new bridge across the Liffey Valley from Porterstown to Liffey Valley and I am not convinced that it would cover its own running costs.  It seems to me that projects like electrifying our existing train line and linking-up all the train and luas stations in town makes more sense.  However, nobody turns down a major piece of infrastructure in their own constituency.  But I would hate to see millions of euros and thousands of man hours wasted on a project that is never going to be built.  It’s time for Brian to come clean’, he added

Fine Gael TD for Dublin West, Leo Varadkar, has called on Fingal County Council review its pilot ‘Growing Places’ policy under which a large number of open spaces and green areas are being allowed to grow wild. The policy is supposed to encourage greater biodiversity by allowing weed and wild flower to grow which in turn attract birds and insects like butterflies and ladybirds.

‘I have received a large number of complaints from residents in recent days about the council’s decision not cut the grass on open space and woodland areas in Dublin 15. In some places like Delwood, residents are particularly aggrieved as they can no long use their local park to play to football or other ball games. In other areas, residents are concerned about vermin and find the uncut areas to be unsightly.’

‘I can see the case for trying this out around woodlands or on a relatively small part of a large open space but I do not think that whole parks should be allow to go wild in this way. I am calling on the council to review its policy and scale back the areas affected’

List of areas affected in Dublin 15:

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Fine Gael TD for Dublin West, Leo Varadkar, has given a guarded welcome to plans from Dublin Bus to re-organise the bus routes around Dublin 15. The changes are planned for implementation in July and form part of Dublin Bus’ cost-cutting and rationalisation plan.

Among the changes are:

• The 37 bus will now terminate at Wilton Terrace providing a direct bus service from Clonsilla, Carpenterstown and Castleknock through town to St Stephens Green and the Luas;
• The 70 bus will serve Dunboyne and Clonee and will travel straight down the N3 without going into Blanchardstown Centre and the Village;
• The various 39 bus routes will be merged in to two routes one will be more direct and other more frequent but more circuitous;
• The badly served area around Latchford and Manorfields will now be on the 39 bus route; and
• The 39 and 70 will cross town terminating at Wilton Terrace

All 38 buses will serve Castlecurragh (they won’t go through Mulhuddart Village anymore) and will run as far as UCD

There will be greater use of existing bus lanes and less routes and roads that have no bus lanes
Bus services will run seven days a week

‘The new bus route map and timetable will be welcomed by many commuters in Dublin 15 especially those who work in the southern part of the city around St Stephen’s Green, Merrion Square and the Grand Canal. . Residents of Clonee will welcome a more direct bus service to town but won’t be happy that they are being cut off from the Blanchardstown Centre. Some people are definitely going to have to work farther to catch the bus that they want.’

‘It seems that Dublin 15 is avoiding most of the cuts to services in other parts of the city but it is hard to see how a better service can be provided with ninety fewer buses in operation across the city. I believe the time has come to allow private operators to take over some of the routes currently controlled by Dublin Bus. This would allow Dublin Bus to provide a better and more frequent service on the routes they retain. It’s a shame to see so many buses, public and private, not been used. I would still like to see the 37 terminate at the Blanchardstown Centre in order provide a direct bus service to the Centre for residents of Castleknock and Carpenterstown’

On Monday, March 1st I will be hosting a public meeting in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown at 8pm.

One of the key priorities for Fine Gael in Dublin West, and for me since my election in 2007 has been the proper regulation of Residential Management Companies. I am one of the few TDs who lives in a Management Company development, so I have a personal interest in it too. Despite the explosion of the number of apartment complexes over the past decade, especially in Dublin 15, there is no proper legislation or regulations which govern these companies.

For more details on the Bill, I have set up a set on this site giving more details and seeking your feedback.

Local Fine Gael representatives, Leo Varadkar TD and Cllr. Eithne Loftus have condemned the decision by An Bord Pleanala to grant permission for the building of a major new village centre in Castleknock. This decision was against the advice of the planning inspector who recommended a refusal of permission, and if the development goes ahead, will radically alter the nature of Castleknock Village.

Speaking on the matter, Leo Varadkar TD said “Cllr. Loftus and I are firmly committed to the sustainable and realistic development of Castleknock Village which preserves it character. Unfortunately, this development goes against all of that, and is strongly opposed by local residents. It will increase traffic in the village, cause spill-over parking problems in residential estates and will be an eye-sore.”

Cllr. Loftus said “More than hundred people attended a public meeting we held on this issue back in July, and they were near unanimous in their opposition to this development. This view has been backed up by the hundred of local residents who have on the doorsteps, by email or letter expressed their deep concerns at this proposal.”

“It is deeply unfortunate that An Bord Pleanála has decided to side with the developers once more, rather than with the residents of Castleknock. While there are a number of conditions and restrictions attached to this development, they do not significantly deal with the concerns that both ourselves and the local residents have raised. This is a black day for Castleknock Village.”
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Fine Gael TD for Dublin West has welcomed confirmation that Fingal County Council and Castlethorn Construction have agreed terms for the sale of a secondary school site at Kellystown near Porterstown between Castleknock and Clonsilla. The site will be the permanent home for Luttrellstown Community College which is currently operating from temporary premises adjacent to Blanchardstown Hospital. The school will open to residents of Porterstown area.

Contracts are expected to be signed in the coming months. A planning application will follow and it is hoped that new state-of-art school buildings and community facilities will be on site for September 2011, once the issue of road access is addressed.

‘The rezoning of the Kellystown area was controversial. Fine Gael supported it as it was the only way to secure school sites and additional recreational facilities and open space for the area and strictly on the proviso that this would be provided before any new housing. I am pleased that progress is now being made.’

Re\ Castleknock Gate to Phoenix Park

Dear Councillor,

I wish to inform you that the County Council has been advised this afternoon that the Castleknock Gate to the Phoenix Park will be re-opened to traffic on Sunday next 22nd November 2009 at approximately 3.00 p.m.

Yours faithfully,

Tommie Mc Manus

Administrative Officer

40 min delays expected

Fine Gael TD for Dublin West, Leo Varadkar secured an emergency ‘adjournment’ debate with Martin Mansergh, Minister for the Office of Public Works (OPW), on his decision to close Castleknock Gate to traffic for nine weeks from Monday, September 28th.  The debate was held on Tuesday night on the floor of the Dail.

The gate will be closed to traffic to facilitate flood alleviation works, relaying of a gas main, repairs to the gate and the construction of a permanent roundabout at Mountjoy Cross.  The OPW has predicted delays of 40 minutes in the first few days and 20 minutes throughout the course of the works.  To alleviate traffic, Furze Road will be opened during the course of the works to allow people to drive from Knockmaroon Gate to Chesterfield Avenue (the Main Road) and a one-way system will operate at Ashtown and Cabra Gates.

‘I am very annoyed at the OPW’s decision to close Castleknock Gate for nine weeks.  The Minister made the decision without any consultation with local TDs or councillors.  October and November are busiest months for traffic in the years.  These works should have been carried out during the summer.  I am calling on the Minister to open White’s Gate during peak hours during the course of the works and for the Garda Traffic Corps to take an active role in the managing traffic in the area’, said Deputy Varadkar

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There is considerable local anger at the decision of Fingal County Council to grant planning permission to Uxbridge Ltd for a major new village centre development in Castleknock. The council granted permission for the new development subject to 33 conditions including a requirement that the development be reduced by one storey throughout. This will necessitate the removal of medical centre, some office space, the green roofs, two commercial units and 17 of the 47 proposed apartments in order to reduce the height and density of the overall development. Permission has been granted for the controversial supermarket. Over two hundred local people objected to the development.

‘The council has taken account of the some the concerns of local residents by reducing the height and scale of the development and by reducing the number of apartment permitted to thirty from forty-seven. However, this decision is satisfactory and it permits the construction of a large new supermarket on the site which will choke the village with traffic and will result in extensive spill-over parking in neighbouring estates. Moreover, the council has done next to nothing to improve the design and finish of this most unattractive development.’

‘There is growing anger locally at this decision. While the council has made some concession to the local community, they have sided with the developers in the main. Fine Gael will consult with local residents groups with a view to lodging an appeal with An Bord Pleanala in the coming days.’

Fine Gael TD for Dublin West, Leo Varadkar, has condemned the decision of An Post to remove the postbox from Castleknock Village. The post box has been moved to Park Avenue which is closer to the new post office in the Castlecourt centre.

‘An Post moved the post box without any consultation with public representatives or local residents. Post boxes should be located where people congregate. Castleknock Village is a busy place with pubs, restaurants, shops, other businesses, a bus stop, several car parks and a church. It is the most obvious to locate a postbox in the area. It makes no sense to have postbox at the entrance to Deerpark, another at the entrance to Park Avenue but none in the village centre.’

‘Both Cllr Eithne Loftus and I have written to An Post to ask them to review this decision.’