North Central Area Matters
Environmental ‘Green’ Edition
Clonshaugh
North Central Area Offices
Belcamp
Darndale
Contact us:
Headquarters: Tel: 01-222 8870
Donaghmede
Santry
Kilmore
Coolock
Kilbarrack: Tel: 01-222 8540
Email: [email protected]
N O R T H
C E N T R A L
Whitehall
Kilbarrack
Edenmore
Beaumont
Darndale: Tel: 01-222 6930
Artane
A R E A
Raheny
Donnycarney
St. Anne’s Park
Drumcondra
Bu
Marino
I
ll
nd
sla
Clontarf
Fairview
Welcome to the North Central Area!
For City Council purposes, Dublin is divided into five administrative areas;
South East, Central, South Central, North West & North Central. If you live in
any of the areas listed on the map above, you are served by the offices of the
North Central Area, the head office of which is based in the Northside Civic
Centre, Bunratty Road in Coolock, Dublin 17.
You are fortunate to live in an area that is not only steeped in history, but
which has so many public amenities to hand. The natural landscape ensures
that the area is very well positioned, with easy access to the coast & beauty
spots such as Bull Island, Dollymount Beach & Clontarf Promenade.
Recreation & sports facilities are second to none, with a variety of beautiful
parks, sports & play grounds to choose from. Being “Green” couldn't be
easier either, with recycling facilities throughout the area. Plenty of good
schools & shopping centres, with the added benefit of excellent transport
links, ensuring speedy connectivity to the city centre, all go to make North
Central an ideal place to live & raise a family.
Notwithstanding the above, the area is not
without it’s problems. Like any other part of
the city, illegal dumping, litter & graffiti are all
issues of concern. Despite the great work that
is being done by so many civic minded citizens
& groups in partnership with Dublin City
Council, these problems continue to impact on
the area. We all have a role to play in keeping
Dublin clean, so I appeal to you now—where
better to start than your own little part of it,
right here in the North Central Area.
David Dinnigan,
North Central Area Manager
North Central Area Matters
Email Bulletin
My team & I produce a regular
email bulletin containing useful
information on your area. Should
you wish to be included on our
circulation list, just email
[email protected],
putting “Yes” in the subject line.
Your Council, Your Area Office,
Working with You, for You
A round up of some of our services
Litter Wardens
Did you know that the North Central Area has 3 Litter Wardens?
Their main function is the enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, the
amended Waste Management Act 1996 & the new amended Bye Laws 2013. Each
warden plays a pivotal role in implementing council policy & ultimately reducing
the presence of litter & illegal dumping in the area.
On a daily basis, wardens investigate incidents of dumped material, patrol housing estates, artery routes &
shops. They issue on the spot fines arising from the casual disposal of litter, cigarette butts, chewing gum &
dog fouling. They also liaise with schools, community groups & residents associations, with regard to clean
ups & visit landlords whose sites are littered, reminding them of their responsibilities under the Act. They
also attend court & liaise with the Gardaí where follow-up investigations are required. Wardens liaise with
our Public Domain & Enviro Crews also. However, Litter Wardens cannot achieve a litter free environment by
themselves. They rely on each citizen playing his/her part in being civic minded & responsible & disposing of
litter properly.
Additional Cleansing Services
These crews provide an essential public service.
The Public Domain Crew operates 7 days a week, Monday to Friday, 13.00 p.m. to
21.30 p.m. & Saturday/Sunday 10.00 a.m. to 18.30 p.m. This is to supplement the
residential areas cleansing schedule which takes place once every quarter. They
cleanse all the main artery routes into the city including Howth Road, Malahide
Road, Swords Road, Drumcondra Road, the Coast Road, Ballymun & Clontarf Roads. They also respond to requests from the Area Offices, residents groups & our elected representatives, with regard to illegal dumping
& cleansing issues throughout the area on a daily basis.
The Enviro Crew operates Monday to Friday 8.00 a.m. to 16.30 p.m. They deal
with the collection of all bulky dumped material; mattresses, furniture & white
goods & are essential in the run up to Halloween. Debris that is dumped on our
open green spaces & football pitches is stored at various holding depots within our
major parks. The Enviro Crew assists the Parks Department by removing such
dumped debris on a daily basis from Fairview, Edenmore, St. Anne’s & Belcamp
Parks.
Abandoned Vehicles Section
Suspected abandoned vehicles can be reported to our customer
services section on 222 2222.
These matters are investigated in accordance with the abandoned vehicle
legislation (section 71 of the Waste Management Act 1996) & can take up to 3
weeks to investigate. If the vehicle is deemed abandoned it will then be removed,
de-polluted & scrapped. The Abandoned Vehicle Section also deals with the
removal of burnt out vehicles. Where a burnt out vehicle is reported it will be
removed from the public domain as soon as possible.
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Your Council, Your Area Office,
Working with You, for You
A round up of some of our services
Graffiti Removal
Did you know that last year the Area Office removed
approximately 15,000 m² of graffiti from North Central?
That’s the staggering equivalent of filling every inch of the pitch at
Croke Park with graffiti! It is simply not sustainable.
Within the confines of a limited budget, Dublin City Council
contractors will remove graffiti that is “political, racist or of a sexual
nature”. Our designated Waste Management crew also assist & will
remove graffiti from Dublin City Council property, including bins,
buildings & lamp standards.
We appeal to communities here—your children may be persuaded by peer pressure to graffiti the area. Think
how this would negatively impact on your community. If it was your property or your community that was
vandalised in this way, how would that make you feel? Graffiti is a needless act of vandalism for which we all
ultimately pay the price.
Bottle Banks, Local Bring Centres & Civic Amenities
Are you aware that there are bottle banks throughout the North Central Area?
There are 98 bottle banks in the city & over a third of them are in our area! In fact, last
year, North Central Area bottle banks cumulatively took in a massive 3266.45 tonnes of
glass. So well done to all our residents that use our bottle banks. Sadly, a
significant amount of glass which could have been recycled ends up broken, either on
the street, on football pitches or in dumped bags. It appears that some people go to
great lengths to dump glass bottles, which not only is a danger to the public, but is also
a waste of a valuable commodity. Coupled with the fact that there are 34 bottle banks in the area, so there
is always one nearby, there really is no excuse. With many of our supermarkets having bottle banks in their
car parks, why not make glass recycling part of your weekly shop? It’s so easy to do the right thing & bank
your glass in your local bottle bank.
We have two bring centres in the North Central Area—Collins Avenue & Oscar
Traynor Road Depots. These facilities accept: Paper/cardboard, books, beverage
cartons, stamps, glass, cans, textiles, plastic, car & domestic batteries, mobile
phones, paint, white spirits, aerosols, light bulbs, pesticides, engine & cooking oil,
fluorescent tubes & flat glass. Opening hours: 9.00am - 4.00pm Monday to
Thursday. 9.00am - 1.00pm Friday. 10.00am - 4.00pm Saturday. Closed on Sundays
& Bank Holidays.
Telephone: Collins Avenue: 01-8369225 Oscar Traynor Road: 01-8482375
Our Civic Amenity at Shamrock Terrace, North Strand, accepts all of the above for free, plus a wide range of
materials for recycling, including bulky household waste, DIY rubble, household priority waste & WEEE at a
small cost. Shamrock Terrace: 10.00am - 4.00pm Mon - Fri Sat 10am - 1pm Closed on Sundays & Bank
Holidays. Tel: 01-8364716. All of our facilities will accept garden waste for a small fee. For details, log on
to www.dublincity.ie.
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Your Council, Your Area Office,
Working with You, for You
A round up of some of our services
Community Development Team
Did you know that the North Central Area has a Community Team?
Community & Social Development is about building viable, inclusive & sustainable communities throughout
the city. There is a team of staff in the North Central Area working in partnership with volunteers, residents,
businesses, statutory & non statutory agencies, elected representatives & other city council staff. This
ensures that a proactive approach is being taken to dealing with the opportunities & challenges that face
communities.
Staff work to promote community development where everyone has the opportunity to participate in the life
of the city & have their voices heard. In addition to helping with capacity building for participation, the team
assists communities & residents groups to identify their needs & develop appropriate plans. A culture of
volunteering is promoted where people of all ages & abilities are encouraged to get involved in their
communities.
For further information contact the North Central Area Office –Tel: 222 8854/55/56/58/65
That’s the spirit—some of the local community in Darndale get stuck in to clean up Darndale Park
Sports Development Officers
Did you know that the North Central Area has a team of Sports Development Officers?
Not only does Dublin City Council care about our environmental health, but the health & active life of our
residents is hugely important to us also. To that end, sport is developed & promoted in the North Central
Area through a variety of targeted initiatives with a range of specialist & locally based staff. As part of this
targeted approach, two Sports Development Officers work
with children & young people at risk between the ages of
10 – 21 in two designated parts of the area (Darndale/
Kilmore & Kilbarrack). In addition, there are two
‘Sport in the Community’ Development Officers for
Boxing & Soccer. These two posts are funded by Dublin
City Council & the Young People’s Facilities & Services
Fund & operate in partnership with the FAI & the Irish
Amateur Boxing Association. Each of the five
administrative areas has one Sport & Recreation Officer. The role of the Sport & Recreation Officer is to
promote & increase sport & physical activity among all ages but with a special focus on older adults, under
10’s, new immigrant communities, women & girls & people with physical & mental disabilities.
For further information contact the North Central Area Office –Tel: 222 8870
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Your Council, Your Area Office,
Working with You, for You
A round up of some of our services
Hidden gem: discover the Irish Suzhou
garden in St. Anne’s Park (also known
as the Ire-Su Garden) for yourself.
The wind farm
in Fr. Collins Park
Ire-Su Garden
The Avenue in St. Anne’s Park
The Red Stables
Rediscover North Central Area Parks
Spring is in the air & Summer is on the way...why not rediscover what North Central Area
Parks have to offer?
The North Central Area has some fabulous parks, which are a pleasure to
visit, no matter what the season. From the award winning Fr. Collins Park
& world famous St. Anne’s Park & rose garden, to Stardust Memorial & all
of our smaller satellite parks, the recreational facilities in the area are
second to none. With the summer on it’s way, why not take a picnic &
make it a family day out & rediscover
them for yourself?
The Council’s Parks Department goes
to great lengths to ensure that all
parks are attractive, safe & fun places to visit, whether you’re there for
a leisurely stroll with the dog, to visit the playground with your kids or
to play that all important football match. All that we ask in return is that
you do the same. Don’t litter. Have pride in your park, please clean up
after your dog & bring your rubbish & wrappers home with you.
Green Dog Walkers Pledge
Not only is dog fouling a nuisance, it can cause toxocariasis which can ultimately cause
blindness in children so it is very important to clean up after your dog. So why not take the
“Green Dog Walkers” pledge & show the world you are a responsible dog owner?
For further details contact Bernie Lillis, Litter Prevention Officer—Tel: 222 4243
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Your Council, Your Area Office,
Working with You, for You
In Partnership
The City Neighbourhoods Competition & Pride of Place
The City Neighbourhoods Competition is run by
Dublin City Council to promote & encourage
environmental awareness & pride amongst the
residents, businesses & schools in the five city
council areas.
The initial heat takes place locally & winners are then put
forward for the citywide competition which takes place in
Croke Park each September.
Residents of the North Central Area have done themselves &
the area proud in recent years, with three of our groups
(Ard na Greine, Woodlawn & Raheny Tidy Village Group)
winning the competition outright.
The local competition is also supported by the Coolock
Artane Credit Union. As a community based organisation,
the Credit Union actively works with & sponsors local people
& projects. Adrienne O’Shea, Development Officer with the
Credit Union said; “we are proud to be involved in this
positive initiative. We commend all the winners & everyone
involved in the City Neighbourhoods project.”
The local area office also selects winners to go forward to represent the area in the all Ireland Pride of Place
Competition. Again, our residents’ have had tremendous success here, with Ard na Greine winning third
prize in 2008, Woodlawn winning first prize in the “Best Housing Estate in Ireland” category in 2010,
Donaghmede Estate Residents’ Association winning second prize in the same category in 2011 & Donnycarney
West Residents Association winning first prize in 2012.
So, there you have it… Positive proof that civic pride & community spirit are still valued in our fair city.
Dublin City Council would like to thank those residents that enter the City Neighbourhoods Competition & for
the very valuable contribution that they all make towards making our area one to be proud of.
For further details of the competition please contact North Central Area Office– Tel: 222 8863
Woodlawn Estate Residents Association
Donnycarney West Residents Association
Donaghmede Estate Residents Association
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Ard na Greine Residents Association
Your Council, Your Area Office,
Working with You, for You
In Partnership
Dublin City Council’s Blue Bag Scheme & Just Bin 3 Campaign
With leaf fall increasing every Autumn, year after year & with public resources being
stretched, Dublin City Council is delighted with the success of it’s “Blue Bag” Scheme.
The council initiative is to facilitate residents to help
themselves & their environment, by providing them with
blue bags for the gathering of leaves outside their
properties & in return we will then arrange for collection
of the bags when they are full.
To date, over 180 residents groups & individuals, who
have great pride in their area have availed of this service
& we would like to thank them most sincerely for their
assistance.
In 2013, approximately 5000 blue bags were issued.
Significant resources have been invested in the
collection & correct disposal of these leaf filled blue
bags. The initiative is an excellent example of partnership between local residents & Dublin City Council,
working together to solve a community problem.
Griffith Avenue
Bags, gloves & pickers are available at the start of
Autumn from the local area office, Northside Civic
Centre, Bunratty Road, Coolock, Dublin 17.
For any keen gardeners out there, making leaf mold from collected leaves is also an excellent way to recycle
leaves & feed the soil at the same time. Check out the internet for ways of making leaf mold.
“Just bin 3” Campaign
Litter - It’s a nuisance. It’s unsightly. It ruins your neighbourhood, your very own part of
Dublin. So what can you do to help?
Quite often there are only 3 pieces, on the path right outside your own front door
& they are most likely recyclables (e.g., a plastic bottle, a tin can, a paper
wrapper). You’ve walked passed these items many times, tut tutting as you do,
thinking where has our civic pride gone & you must ring the council to sort it out.
It’s your road. It’s your neighbourhood. You live there. The power is in
your own hands. Why not save yourself the time, effort & cost of a phone
call & pop it in your recycle bin if it’s recyclable? All it will cost you is the
very small effort of putting it in your green bin. Think of it as your little
good deed for the day. Imagine how clean Dublin would be if we all did
that?
So go on, bring back “Paddy’s Pride” & do your bit to keep your own part of Dublin clean – Just bin 3!
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Your Council, Your Area Office,
Working with You, for You
In partnership
Green Schools—Dublin City Council working with An Taisce
Young people are the future of the North Central Area, so investing in their
environmental education is very important.
Area staff have worked closely with Clare Egan, the City Council’s Green School
Officer, to implement An Taisce’s “Green School” Programme in participating
schools throughout the area.
The aim of the Green-Schools programme is to move from environmental
awareness in the school curriculum to environmental action in the school & in
the wider community.
The programme is structured around various environmental themes, with
schools initially focusing on the theme of Litter & Waste, working their way through the seven steps for this
theme & then applying for the Green-Flag.
Several of our schools have done exceptionally well, with Scoil Áine in Raheny heading for it’s 7th flag &
St. Malachy’s B.N.S., Manor House & St. Paul’s Junior School all working towards their 6th flag. Overall, 72
primary, secondary & special schools (82% of schools) in the North Central Area are currently working on the
green-schools programme. Coláiste Dhulaigh, College of Further Education was one of only two third level
colleges worldwide to be awarded the first Green-Campus flags in 2010.
Very well done to both teachers & pupils on their great work promoting environmental awareness.
For further information contact: Tel: 222 4306/8863
Green Schools Officer Clare Egan with staff & pupils from Coláiste Dhulaigh with their 1st Green Flag
Don’t forget if you want to receive our regular digital version of North Central Area
Matters, send an email to [email protected], putting “Yes” in the subject line.
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