"Mulhuddart Ward has highest population per Councillor in the country"

Local Labour Councillor Michael O’Donovan has demanded that Environment Minister john Gormley to address the huge disparity in the ratio between population and councillors in different parts of the country.

He said - "The average ratio nationally is one councillor to every 4,802 people. The electoral area with the lowest ratio is Ballinamore, County Leitrim at 1 : 1,122.
The Mulhuddart Ward has the dubious distinction of having the highest ratio in the country with one councillor for every 13,327 inhabitants.

This unfairness needs to be addressed now. The population of Fingal has gone up by 50% over the past twelve years but we have the same number of councillors.
John Gormley says he values local government. Now that he is power, he should prove it by amending the terms of reference of the boundary committees to allow them to increase the number of councillors where there is a substantial increase in population."


Cllr Michael O’Donovan

Consultants Working on Plan for Clonsilla Village

Following a period of public consultation, consultants are now working on the first draft of the Urban Strategy Plan which will shape the future of Clonsilla Village. A number of local organisations and some individual residents have already made submissions, and local councillors have met with the consultants. The views of local residents were also aired at a well-attended meeting in the Clonsilla Inn organised by Joan Burton T.D. and Cllr Michael O’Donovan.

Michael O’Donovan says: "There are a number of points on which there is, I think, general agreement. The existing trees and hedgerows need to be maintained, and planting carried out. We want to hold on to the sense of being in a village, so if there is to be new construction, we want it "village style", not high density and high rise.

A number of key infill sites are crucial:-
The Old School and the lands linked to it along the canal
The Clonsilla Inn site, including the large car park to the rear
3The Aldi site
The Canal bank

The planners are looking at the idea of an Ongar Village type development as a possibility for the ALDI site. This might have some merit.

The lands of Beechpark/Shackleton Gardens are outside the study area, but if the Council takes over all or part of these lands, Clonsilla residents will benefit".

Labour wants to remind residents that they can still influence the final shape of the plan by contacting their local councillors.

Michael says: "The official period for consultation is over, but this plan will have to come back before the Council, and local councillors will have their say. We will bring the views of local residents to the table and we are anxious to get those views at any time."

You can contact Michael at 087-2207798 or michael.odonovan@fingalcoco.ie or Joan at 6184006

New Secondary School for Ongar/Clonee

NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR ONGAR/CLONEE

The new secondary school will open its doors this September. The school will be known as Phibblestown Community College and will be administered under County Dublin VEC. A Principal has been appointed and the school will open in temporary premises while the permanent school building is under construction.

Local councillor Michael O’Donovan has been appointed to the Board of Management of the new school.

He says: "I’ve been very critical of school provision in the Castaheany/Ongar area over the last ten years. I’ve accepted a place on the Board of the new school hoping that I can work inside the system and achieve something. I want to ensure that we open in September with a full complement of staff in a high-quality building, even if it’s a temporary one. At the same time, we need to keep up the momentum for the building of the permanent school.

This school project also opens up the possibility of a community facility and sport hall for the area. This would be funded jointly by the Department of Education and the Council".

Waiting Lists for Occupational Therapists

STATEMENT BY CLLR MICHAEL O’DONOVAN
Labour Party Representative for Dublin 15
January 9t , 2008

1,321 ADULTS & 140 CHILDREN AWAITING ASSESSMENT BY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS IN DUBLIN WEST ALONE – MEANWHILE POSTS ARE NOT FILLED

"Once again the effects of the HSE embargo on recruitment and replacement of staff can be seen with figures obtained by my party colleague, Deputy Roisin Shortall, which reveal that nationally more than 26,000 people are awaiting assessment by an Occupational Therapist", Labour’s Michael O’Donovan has said.

"The role of an Occupational Therapist is vital in assessing the needs of people with mobility problems. Typically people needing assessment might be people who have suffered a stroke, people with disabilities and elderly people. Until an assessment is carried out people are not able to avail of a whole range of services which will enable the patient to maintain the highest possible level of independence. Throughout the country there are 183 OT posts unfilled while in Dublin West there are 7 posts which are not filled.

"In some cases people are waiting more than a year before being assessed. Despite there being a national recruitment campaign for occupational therapists early last year with more than 180 applicants being interviewed and a panel of 150 established, the posts were never filled because of the recruitment embargo.

"You only need to look at the figures for Occupational Therapists to realise the hardship suffered by many patients as a result of the recruitment embargo despite Minister Harney and Prof Drumm’s claim that patients were not adversely affected".

For more information contact Cllr Michael O’Donovan 087 2207798, or email
michael.odonovan@fingalcoco.ie.