The Northside News 10052023

Gardaí’s new €40m ‘nerve centre’ opens

A new garda communication control centre for the Dublin Metropolitan Region has been officially The €40m state-of-the art premises, which will house the operations of garda calltakers and dispatchers, is based at the national Train Control Centre in Heuston Station.

The Regional Control Room is one of four communication centres operated by An Garda Síochána on a 24/7 basis in Dublin, Cork, Galway and waterford.

It is from these control rooms that trained garda personnel

answer 999 or 112 emergency calls from members of the public.

The DMR centre was relocated last november from the former Harcourt Square Garda Complex to a highspec and modern space in the nTCC at Heuston Station. The facility, which is described as the nerve centre to Garda operations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region is comprised of a staff of 100 Garda members and Garda staff.

The Dublin control room answers and dispatches

resources to around 800 to 1,000 999 calls every day and around 39,000 per month. They include alarm system alerts and calls through agencies, such as Dublin Fire Brigade and the Ambulance Service.

Gardaí will co-occupy the building with other agencies including Irish Rail, Dublin Fire Brigade, the national Ambulance Service and Dublin City Council.

It has been funded by the national Transport Authority under the national Development Plan.

Darn

Dale comes out in force

The new facility was opened this morning by the Minister for Justice Simon Harris, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Chief executive of Irish Rail Jim Meade.

Mr Harris said the location of other agencies in the national Train Control Centre will “foster greater communication and collaboration”. He said what is unique about this particular regional Garda control room “is that we’ll be joined in the building by other agencies and organisations”.

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Women’s winners Sophia O’Brien at the ‘Get The Message Out Darndale Another Way 5K’ at Darndale Park. Pic: Siobhan Taylor. see page 4

New €40m garda control centre opens

Continued from previous page “dublin City Council will host their control rooms here in time but we’re also very pleased to join in with the Irish rail operations control room and their emergency strategic Command Centre.

“The move will provide for more efficient delivery of service and greater agency cooperation, particularly in the area of major event management and major emergency response, but also in respect of our day-to-day responsibilities in terms of supporting the public transport network throughout dublin.”

Mr Harris said that “ultimately it is about providing a better service to the public, more responsive, more effective and more efficient”.

He also said that it is crucial that anyone who finds themselves in an emergency situation has the confidence to call 999 and know that their call will be responded to promptly.

Northside to get new 24-hour bus routes

COMMuters in Fingal will see an improved bus service this weekend with two new 24hour routes.

The new coach service will operate between drogheda and dublin, serving Balbriggan, Balrothery, swords and dublin Airport.

The enhanced service, offered by Bus Éireann, will launch on sunday with new fully accessible buses provided by the national transport Authority (ntA).

route 101 will run from drogheda to Busáras, serving Balbriggan, Balrothery, swords and dublin Airport and will become a 24-hour service. There will be 293 departures each way per week operated on a fleet fully accessible with double and single deck coaches.

Passenger numbers on this route are currently running 37pc ahead of 2019 and it is projected that this route will carry a record one million passengers this year.

route 101x will operate from drogheda to Wilton terrace in dublin, via Balbriggan and Balrothery.

It will receive new doubledeck coaches in response to increased passenger demand and the frequency of services will be maintained.

A single, adult Leap Card fare from Balbriggan to dublin will cost €4.06. While fares

’Briggan catches eye of TV execs

BALBrIGGAn’s credentials as a location for film and television have again been enhanced by hit Virgin Media series ‘The Catch’.

Already this year, another feature film, ‘Kathleen’ has been recording scenes in the area.

The Catch, available on Virgin Media’s Player, is a tense, four-part psychological thriller starring Jason Watkins, Poppy Gilbert and Aneurin Barnard.

Already aired on Channel 5 in the uK, The Catch was filmed around Balbriggan in the summer of 2022, despite being set in england.

And it is just one of over 20 film, television and music video productions made in Balbriggan since 2019. scenes from ‘The Green Knight’ an 2021, an acclaimed epic medieval fantasy film, starring dev Patel, which grossed over $19 million, were filmed in the area in 2020.

Former t V producer, us native eamonn donlyn, now settled with his family in Balbriggan, is working with local stakeholders to help grow the arts in the town.

The one-time esPn/ disney and CBs executive is developing a creative arts strategy for Balbriggan.

We help deliver 140,000 meals

Deliveroo customers in Dublin have helped provide over 140,000 meals to FoodCloud’s charity partners over the past six months as part of the company’s Full life campaign.

More than 20,000 generous Deliveroo customers in the city have contributed by rounding-up their in-app food orders by making a donation, with all proceeds going to FoodCloud helping to provide meals to their network of more than 600 charities and community groups.

for people aged 19-24 years who have a Young Adult Leap Card will cost €2.03. Last year, Bus Éireann had 89.5 million passenger journeys, with unprecedented growth in demand in recent months.

Anne Graham, chief executive officer at the ntA, said: “With passenger numbers on bus transport growing apace, we are delighted to deliver this new investment in public transport for Fingal.

“The new, enhanced east

Coast Commuter Corridor marks a step-change in bus transport in Fingal, with greater frequency, improved capacity and an entire fleet of new, fully accessible vehicles to service increased passenger demand.”

stephen Kent, chief executive officer at Bus Éireann, added: “As Ireland’s national bus company, Bus Éireann has a proud record of providing public transport services to communities both urban and rural.

82% support cull of deer in Phoenix Park

A PuBLIC consultation on the future management of the population of deer in Ireland and the Phoenix Park has found widespread support for culling. In the 12 months to February 2022, more than 55,000 deer were culled in Ireland.

The consultation was conducted as part of the development of a national deer management strategy.

The consultation on the future management of the deer population in Ireland found that a large majority of respondents agree that wild deer are impacting biodiversity, land management and road safety, and culling was deemed the most important action to address the problems.

The consultation was carried out from december to last February on behalf of the deer Management strategy Group that was established to look at the issue by the Government in 2022.

respondents were asked their views on the impact of deer on a range of issues.

1,512 submissions were received from farmers, foresters, ecologists, academics,

nGOs and public bodies.

The results seen by rtÉ news found that 82% of people said that deer are negatively impacting biodiversity. 81% said the animals are damaging agricultural land and the same percentage of respondents agreed that they are a road safety concern.

A majority of the respondents also felt that deer are damaging forestry and they expressed a concern that the animals are a tuberculosis (tB) threat to bovines.

Asked to rank management options in order of importance, 86% chose deer culling, 78% also supported allowing landowners to manage deer.

A majority of people supported contracting hunters and gamekeepers to enable effective population management of the animal, developing a market for wild venison and extending the hunting season.

The group is chaired by teddy Cashman and includes officials from the department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the national Parks and Wildlife service and Coillte.

The nationwide partnership between Deliveroo and FoodCloud aims to tackle the twin issues of food waste and food insecurity by providing 500,000 meals for people facing food insecurity across the country. For every €1 raised, 3.2 meals will be provided to people facing food insecurity.

Through the partnership with FoodCloud, Deliveroo is aiming to save 210 million tonnes of food from going to waste.

Parents to get new baby bundle

Hundreds of expectant parents are to receive a range of supplies for their new arrival under a pilot scheme beginning in dublin and Waterford.

The so-called “baby bundle” will include toys to encourage early communication, items to help the safe bathing of infants as well as a range of household supports to help new parents after the birth.

300 families from the rotunda Hospital and 150 families attending Waterford university Hospital were invited to take part in the pilot.

The items will be delivered to the homes of participating parents at a time of their choosing. Parents taking part in the initiative will subsequently be asked to share their views and experiences of the baby bundle and its contents.

The Government has said this feedback will inform the development of proposals for a wider national roll-out.

Minister for Children roderic O’Gorman has said that he hopes this will provide a “real sense... of how well the scheme works”.

He added that the Government has seen “how well this scheme works in other jurisdictions”.

KT Hancock with her artwork Head in the Clouds-2022 at the launch of the National College of Art and Design’s Glass Biennale 2023.

Pic: Naoise Culhane

New Sláintecare healthy communities launched

Lord Mayor of dublin, Caroline Conroy visited the Finglas Youth resource Centre to officially launch Finglas and Cabra as a Sláintecare Healthy Community site. Introduced nationally in 2021, Sláintecare Healthy Communities is a CrossGovernment initiative to deliver increased health and wellbeing services in 19 areas of greatest need across Ireland.

The launch of Finglas and Cabra Sláintecare Healthy Communities is the successful culmination of close collaboration between many partners. These partners include the department of Health, the HSE, dublin City Council (dCC) and local community organisations including dublin North West Partnership and Better Finglas.

Lord Mayor of dublin Caroline Conroy said, “I am happy to confirm today that Finglas and Cabra Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme was allocated funding of €250,000 by the department of Health to support key dublin City Council projects that will positively impact on the health and wellbeing of those who live within the Finglas and Cabra areas.

“For example, working closely with our Parks and Biodiversity department, funds will be

used to support improvements to Ventry, Mt Bernard and Johnstown Parks.

“This includes redesign and upgrading of Ventry Park to provide a new playground, community garden and a multi-sports area to support community healthy place making and wellbeing.

“We are also looking to provide

new outdoor gym equipment in Mt Bernard and Johnstown parks this year.

“our Local development officer will continue to engage with the people of Finglas and Cabra to identify the health and wellbeing needs and build a realistic and accurate understanding of the communities’ priority needs and

ways to address these through the seed funding.”

Speaking at the launch Ellen o’dea, Head of Service, Health and Wellbeing Community Healthcare organisation dublin North City & County said: “Working in partnership with the local community to address health inequalities is a core principle of Sláintecare Healthy

Port gets to the art of the matter

Communities. This programme is already providing people in Finglas and Cabra with access to evidence-based and practical supports. Interventions like QUIT smoking services, supports to families such as parenting programmes, cooking and nutrition courses are already benefitting this community.

I would like to thank dublin City Council and the many community groups and organisations involved in supporting this launch, including dublin North West Partnership and Better Finglas. I am looking forward to seeing the benefit these meaningful health interventions bring to Finglas and Cabra.”

Tom James, Head of Health and Wellbeing, department of Health said “There seems to be a real sense of empowerment for those who have become involved in the initiatives under the programme, showing the opportunities for real and positive changes for the people in this community.

“All of these programmes you are talking about are available free of charge to the people living in Finglas and Cabra and I’m reminded of what one of the participants said in another Healthy Community area- “very often the biggeststep is just coming along on that first day.”

dUBLIN Port Company has announced details of its Art and Engagement programme 22/23 at the Pumphouse, Alexandra road.

The Pumphouse formerly housed the steam engine which powered the gates of Graving dock 1 but has been repurposed by dublin port into an artistic and cultural venue and is a key part of the Heritage Zone at dublin Port.

The theme for this year’s dublin Port Art and Engagement programme is ‘Connections: The Port, the City, Arts and Education’. dublin Port’s plans for the Heritage Zone at the Pumphouse include expanding its use for public exhibitions, events and performances creating a distinct and unique destination in the heart of the working port as part of integration plans up to 2040.

The Art and Engagement programme has been underway since mid-2022. It includes completed art and design outputs, such as large-scale projections incorporating live and still imagery as well as workshops led by experienced artists with pupils from St. Laurence o’Toole Primary School and second level art students from ringsend College.

Betty Lumley of the Forever Young Choir. Pic: Fennell Photography 2023

ALDI Cabra creates 30 new jobs

ALDI’s nationwide expansion continues with the opening of its new store in Cabra, creating 30 new permanent jobs in the local area.

Located in Hamilton Gardens in Cabra, the store was officially opened today in the presence of the local team and store Manager Jamie stephens. The new store is ALDI’s 26th to open in County Dublin. ALDI now operates 157 stores around Ireland.

Last year ALDI announced an ambitious plan to expand its store network in Dublin to include €73 million investment in 11 new stores in the county over the next five years. The new stores will see the creation of 350 full-time permanent jobs and 550 construction jobs over the period.

With 26 stores now in the capital, ALDI has made a capital investment of almost €187 million in Dublin over the

Five charities to receive fund boost

BAnk of Ireland has announced the next recipients of grants from its Cost of Living Fund.

In Dublin, the recipients include Hill street Family Resource Centre, Care Alliance Ireland, Quarryvale Community Resource Centre CLG, Friends of the Elderly, and Doras Bui.

The donations are targeted at groups including children and families at risk, older persons, domestic abuse charities, those with disabilities, lone parents and migrant communities amongst others.

The Bank has committed €1 million overall to organisations supporting those most at risk from cost of living pressures, with the funding divided into

two tranches.

“The first part of the €1 million fund was allocated in January with €500,000 fasttracked to 13 organisations working with vulnerable groups across the island of Ireland with grants from €25,000 up to €100,000. This second round of donations will provide up to 50 smaller non-profit organisations with vital financial support in the form of grants of up to €10,000.

“The rising cost of living is a significant challenge for many families across Ireland and that is why we committed €1 million in funding towards our cost of living response fund,” Myles

O’Grady, Bank of Ireland Group CEO, said.

past 20 years, since opening its first Irish store in Parnell street in 1999.

The retailer currently employs 673 people in Dublin with a €20.3 million total salary spend across its 26 stores in the county.

Working with 81 local producers, ALDI spent €193 million with these Dublin based suppliers in 2021. Additionally, ALDI will invest almost €2.1 million in Dublin

as part of its Project Fresh initiative. ALDI Project Fresh stores focus on reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, using sustainable energy supply and saving CO2 emissions.

ALDI has invested almost €73 million across the country to revamp the design and energy efficiency credentials of its store network as part of the Project Fresh store upgrades, which have been taking place since 2016.

Huge turnout for Another Way 5K

HunDREDs of runners of all abilities, and their families and friends, descended on Darndale Park for the second ‘Get The Message Out Darndale Another Way 5k recen tly’. Darndale’s famous community spirit was again to the fore at the free event, which forms part of the Get The Message Out (GTMO) campaign to steer young people away from addiction and crime and support those determined to exit that lifestyle. There was a 1k fun run for children under-13.

Last year’s inaugural event was also an outstanding success, attracting hundreds of runners of all ages, whilst at the same time promoting alternatives to addiction and crime.

The event is spearheaded by local man, father and exprisoner Ger Redmond. He said sport and fitness had helped turn his life around following the birth of his son, prompting him to become a Get The Message Out Ambassador.

According to Dr Jack nolan, the chair of the Darndale

Economic and social Plan implementation group, such events are needed to show communities affected by drugs, that they are not forgotten.

The Darndale Economic and social Plan was initiated by Dublin City Council and its Implementation Oversight Group (IOG) is supported by the authority. Dr nolan paid tribute to all those involved in the event. “The Get The Message Out Darndale Another Way 5k encourages people to consider a different way of life by highlighting opportunities,

services and activities available to help them to reach their full potential,” he said.

All pre-registered finishing runners received a medal, t-shirt and goodie bag, with contact information for the Get The Message out campaign, for those who may one day need it. Winners – Men’s: David Rooney; Women’s: sophia O’Brien; 1k (6yrs-8, male): Ross Redmond (6-8 female): Ella Rose Barry; (9-11, male): Brackenston O’shea; (9-11, female): Remy kennedy; (u13, male): Will Conroy.

Jamie Stephens with first costumer Jennifer McNeill with her son TJ (1). Pic: Conor McCabe

Bloom 2023 hopes to be breath of fresh air

ImprovIng air quality, tackling food waste and highlighting how children benefit from outdoor play in the natural world are among the many themes which will be explored at Bord Bia Bloom 2023.

Ireland’s favourite festival of flowers, food and fun, returns to the phoenix park, Dublin, this June bank holiday weekend (June 1-5) with another vibrant mix of thought-provoking show gardens, delicious local food, and interactive entertainment for visitors of all ages.

Bord Bia expect to welcome more than 100,000 visitors to the show over five actionpacked days. Speaking at the launch of this year’s event, Jim o’Toole, CEo, Bord Bia said, “Bord Bia Bloom was created to offer a world-class, uplifting and engaging showcase for Irish horticulture, food and drink. now in its 17th year, the show provides an invaluable platform to highlight important societal issues such as climate change, sustainable production and health and wellbeing. We are proud to see how Bloom has evolved into a unique festival experience, with nature and sustainable living at its heart, while also continuing to offer

our horticulture, food and drink clients the opportunity to showcase their latest products and innovations.”

At the centrepiece of Bord Bia Bloom, a total of *22 small, medium, and large

show gardens and feature gardens will provide a colourful demonstration of the latest trends and innovations in garden design. one of the stand-out themes for 2023 is that many of the gardens focus

on spaces for children and young people. These include “The Know, Act, prevent garden” by The national poisons Information Centre (npIC) at Beaumont Hospital, in collaboration with the Health

Pyg’s pizzas named in top 50

and Safety Authority (HSA); the “First 5 garden of Wonder and Discovery” by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; the “rise garden” by oberstown Children Detention Campus; and the “The raising Amazing garden by Tusla Fostering”

The impact of climate change and making better use of the outdoors also feature as recurring themes in the 2023 show gardens including “A Breathing Space for Fingal” by Fingal County Council, the national Dairy Council’s “Embracing the Elements” garden; Citroën power of one alternative urban front garden by Citroën, and the green Cities Europe “greening our Cities” garden. many of this year’s showstopping gardens also feature reclaimed and upcycled materials and will be relocating after the festival as permanent gardens elsewhere.

Along with a dazzling display of show gardens, gardening enthusiasts will find plenty of inspiration in the ever-popular ‘postcard gardens’, which include nine small but perfectly formed pop-up gardens that are designed and built by community groups, schools, and training groups.

A DuBlIn restaurant has been named in a list of the 50 best pizzas in Europe. little pyg, in Dublin’s powerscourt Townhouse Centre has been voted as the 27th best pizza in Europe by 50 Top pizza, a food publication and guide that celebrates the highest culinary achievements in the competitive world of pizza. With the awards served up at a glamorous ceremony in Barcelona in Spain, little pyg was the only Irish spot to be named among other renowned pizzerias across the continent. A stylish restaurant and bar, little pyg is the sister restaurant to Dublin favourite pygmalion, and opened just before the outbreak of Covid-19. pizzas are one of their specialties, with each pizza chef sent to Italy for one year, to train under Enzo Coccia, a pizza expert. Sartoria panatieri, located in Barcelona, was voted into the top spot, headed up by rafa panatieri and Jorge Sastre. panatieri worked in Barcelona’s michelin-starred restaurant nectari before opening his own pizzeria. Coming in second place was Bæst in Copenhagen, Denmark, while 50 Kalò in london came in at number three.

Kylabelle McKinney and Carrie Linden (9) at the lauch of Bord Bia Bloom.

Photo: Chris Bellew

There’s no place like home ... if you can afford one

MICHAEL WOLSEY

AUSTRALIAN schools have been recruiting Irish teachers and Australian hospitals have been luring Irish doctors and nurses.

The recruits, or potential recruits, pop up regularly on television and radio to explain the attraction of life Down Under. Better weather, some say. Better pay, claim others. The one factor they nearly all agree on is housing.

Because, they say, nobody can afford to buy a house near Dublin and there are none to lease, even if you have enough money to meet the exorbitant rents. So sunny Sydney and balmy Brisbane seem very appealing. But before you take that big step, there is something you should consider.

If housing is the main issue that troubles your young, welleducated mind, you should read the 2022-2023 report of Australia’s National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation.

It warns that Australia’s “painful rental crisis “ is going to get worse. Why? Because of “a shortage in supply of new houses and units caused by costs and constraints in

construction.” Sound familiar? Housing is particularly hard to find in Sydney. “Rents are at record highs, buyers are seeing historically low listings, and increased migration is squeezing the market,” reports Australia’s national broadcaster, ABC. It says rents have increased by 20 per cent since January 2020.

So maybe Australia is not the land of milk and honey. How

about New Zealand? It is only a short(ish) hop to that nation of civilised constraint. Sadly, you’ll find it shares its neighbour’s problems.

“New Zealand has some of the least affordable housing in the developed world,” according to the housing charity, Habitat for Humanity.

“As a result of unaffordable housing, overcrowding issues and a poor housing stock,

300,000 New Zealand families are living in unacceptable housing conditions,” it reports. “Rents and house prices in New Zealand have increased over the past twenty years at a much faster rate than household incomes.”

Oh dear, trouble in paradise. Would-be emigrants might look nearer home but they will find similar problems.

Le Monde reports that in Paris

land reserves are running out and the French capital is trying, without much success, to convert offices, empty schools and garages into social and affordable homes .

A study of 200 cities around the world found 90% of them unaffordable to live in, according to a Euronews report on the situation in Germany.

“Even in this painfully-pricey context, Berlin’s housing crisis is especially acute,” it says In recent years, Berlin has consistently registered some of the fastest-rising housing prices in the world, Euronews says. “Rents doubled from 2009 to 2019 and haven’t stopped climbing.”

Portugal gets a good press these days as a country that shrugged off poverty and embraced technology. But prosperity brings its own problems and the threat of homelessness is one of them.

A report from Lisbon by the Associated Press (AP) personalised the issue, focusing on the plight of Georgina Simoes, a 57-year-old nursing home worker who no longer earns enough money to afford a place to live.

She earns less than €800 a month, as do about a quarter of

the country’s workforce. For the last decade, she got by because she had been paying just €300 a month for her one-bedroom apartment in what AP calls “an undistinguished Lisbon neighbourhood”.

Now, with rents soaring in the capital, her landlord is evicting her.

AP says Simoes and many others, increasingly including the middle class, are being priced out of Portugal’s property market by rising rents, surging home prices and climbing mortgage rates, fueled by factors including an influx of foreign investors and tourists seeking short-term rentals.

Now where have you heard all that before?

In London maybe, where it is said that only the rich can afford housing and the exodus of working class families has led to the closure of primary schools in some areas.

Social commentator Janice Turner lamented the trend in her column in The Times. She wrote: “The city is filling up with young people who live in flat shares at astronomical rents which private landlords can jack up every year. “

The statistics everywhere paint a depressing picture and maybe not an entirely accurate one, for there are ordinary people with ordinary incomes renting and buying homes in all these cities as, indeed, there are in Dublin.

Our capital’s housing market isn’t working well, but we’re not the world’s worst.

You wouldn’t always think that, though, if you follow the media, social or traditional. The one thing we really excel at nowadays is moaning.

Sinn Fein Rebellion, 1916. Hotel Metropole and Post Office, Dublin.” Valentin’s Series. Printed in Scotland. This postcard comes from the collections of The Old Dublin Society. If you would like a free digital copy please send an email to olddublinsociety@gmail.com

Library to be renamed over links to slavery

TriniT y College Dublin is removing the name of slave owner Bishop George Berkeley from its main library.

The 18th Century philosopher’s fall from grace was endorsed by the Trinity board today because of his links to slavery, including his advocacy for the practice.

For generations, Berkeley has been memorialised at ireland’s oldest university including naming the library after him in 1978.

However, while the Berkeley name will be dropped from the library Trinity is adopting “a retain-and-explain” approach to a stained-glass window commemorating him.

Trinity also has several portraits depicting Berkeley, which will be assessed in the future by a new, overall college policy on artwork.

Meanwhile the academic gold medals memorialising Berkeley will be reviewed by the relevant academic department. The university will continue to hold George Berkeley’s philosophical works in the

library collections and continue to teach and to research his works.

Trinity said today that the name has been judged inconsistent with the university’s core values of human dignity, freedom, inclusivity, and equality.

The denaming “does not deny Berkeley’s importance as a writer, philosopher, and towering intellectual figure. His philosophical work will still be taught at Trinity and remains of significant contemporary relevance,” a spokesperson said.

The decisions represented “a nuanced approach and are the result of careful the consideration and detailed analysis,” the spokesperson added A separate process will determine what the new name for the library should be.

The board’s decisions follow several months of research, analysis and public consultation overseen by the Trinity Legacies review Working Group, which is considering legacy issues on a case-by-case basis.

Trinity’s Provost, Dr Linda Doyle, said the landscape of a university, especially one as old as Trinity, was not static.

“Each generation of students and staff deserves a chance to influence decisions. in this case, it was our students who called on us to address the issue.

“George Berkeley’s enormous contribution to philosophical thought is not in question. However, it is also clear that he was both an owner of enslaved people and a theorist of slavery and racial discrimination, which is in clear conflict with Trinity’s core values.”

Following a separate review, Trinity recently decided to return human remains to the island of inishbofin, off the west coast from where they were taken without the community’s consent more than a century ago.

Co Kilkenny-born Berkeley, who went on to become Dean of Derry in the Church of ireland, was once a student at the university and later held the academic honour of a Trinity ‘fellow’.

Over 400 groups joined the National Spring Clean

The National Spring Clean is Ireland’s official anti-litter campaign and over the past 24 years, the initiative has been highlighted the collective responsibility we share in tackling and preventing our national litter problem.

National Spring Clean is operated by the environmental education Unit of An Taisce in partnership with Local Authorities and supported by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and environment and Mars Wrigley Ireland.

Throughout the month of April, the National Spring Clean encouraged communities from across Ireland to tackle the problem of litter in local areas and to see the benefits of a litter-free environment.

This year over 400 Dublin groups registered to carry out clean-ups throughout the county making Spring Clean 23 one of Ireland’s largest antilitter campaign to date.

Over 15,000 volunteers joined Spring Clean 23 in County Dublin removing an estimated 85 tonnes of litter.

Furthermore, National Spring Clean has been a starting point for a large number of groups

to organise regular clean-up events all year long! A mong the groups who joined the National Spring Clean this year, Tallaght Community Council hosted several cleanups throughout the months of March and April, collecting an average of 10 bags of litter for each clean-up. Among the common litter items found, the group noticed an increase in smocking related litter, particularly vape waste materials.

Balbriggan Tidy Towns hosted their National Spring Clean event at the start of April, and since then they have been out every Saturday at 11am and are asking the local community to join them.

Among the most common litter items found by this group there were drinking cans, that the group cleaned and recycled, in line with this year’s National Spring Clean focus on circular economy.

Finally, volunteers from Stoneybatter Pride of Place also hosted a clean-up on March 26th as part of the National Spring Clean, removing a considerable amount of litter from the area. Moreover, the group planted pollinators in the

area, to help with biodiversity. In addition to cleanups that had already been organised, over 80 groups and communities all across Dublin joined forces Dublin’s Four Local Authorities, Clean Coasts, National Spring Clean, Local Authority Waters Programme, Waterways Ireland, Dublin City Canals, Dodder Action, residents, volunteers, and community groups county-wide for the Dublin Community Cleanup on 22nd April.

National Spring Clean 2023 has been an amazing opportunity for communities in Dublin and nationwide to come together and do their bit for their local environment, contribute to creating a more sustainable community, be with like-minded people and make a difference.

This year, the aim for National Spring Clean was also to raised awareness about how the adoption of a circular economy model, will reduce our litter, and climate impact, meaning that as we transition to a more circular economy, we’ll see less waste, less litter, and lower emissions, and thus, cleaner planet.

dublinthroughthelens

Shauna Davitt and Ryan Mar

Naomi Shofoluwe and Scott Carroll at the preview screening of Guardians of the Galaxy volume 3 in Cineworld. Pix: Andres Poveda

Harrison (10) and Kevin Lavery

Caitriona O’Connor and Lilly Grant

Morah Ryan and Bonnie Ryan

TOP UP YOUR PROTECTION WITH YOUR SPRING BOOSTER

If you’re 70 or over, or have a weak immune system, then it’s time for your spring COVID-19 booster vaccine.

Your spring booster will top-up your immunity against COVID-19 for the months ahead, protecting you from serious illness or needing to go to hospital.

You will be invited for another booster in the autumn, to top-up your protection for the winter months.

Spring boosters are available until the end of May, so don’t delay.

Book an appointment today at:

Participating GPs or Pharmacies

HSELive 1800 700 700 hse.ie

COVID-19 Vaccines

Third of firms now ready to go cashless

Just under 1 in 3 Dublin businesses are now ready to go fully cashless, a survey by BOI Payment Acceptance has found. As well as offering quicker and more seamless transactions in-store, 67% of Dublin businesses also said accepting more card payments at the expense of cash is more cost effective, safer and more secure than handling cash and helps with administrative tasks.

This sentiment was strongest in fellow Leinster counties Laois (85%), Westmeath and Kildare (73%). 2 in 5 businesses nationally felt the general increase in card over cash transaction had made no material change to how they run their business.

Over 4 in 10 businesses nationally are unaware that there is no contactless limit on mobile wallet transactions.

Merchants in The Pale scored better with 78% aware that there was no limit.

64% of Dublin businesses expect to grow this year despite the cost of living crisis and running costs dominating as key concerns

Over 6 in 10 Dublin businesses are confident their business will grow over the next 12 months despite global economic uncertainty and the the cost of living crisis.

Thousands walk for Darkness Into Light 98,026 people living with Asthma

tens of thousands of people have taken part in Darkness Into Light events to raise funds for the suicide and self-harm prevention charity Pieta. Walks, runs and swims were held at dawn across Ireland and around the world, raising millions of euro to support its services.

events got under way at 4.15am, when it was still dark.

One of the biggest was held in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, where up to 10,000 people turned out to complete the 5km route as the sun rose.

Darkness Into Light first began in 2009, when 400 people took part in a walk in the Phoenix Park to raise money for Pieta.

This year, more than 100,000 participants attended events in 200 locations in Ireland and 14 other countries, spanning five continents.

The organisers say DIL provides an opportunity for communities to come together and to bring hope to people who have been impacted by suicide.

It said the now global movement is dedicated to ending suicide and supporting those who engage in self-harm.

The charity said by taking part in Darkness Into Light, participants also play an

important role in removing the stigma around suicide and self-harm.

Last year, €4.5m was raised through events, which helped to fund 156 helpline hours, 10,956 crisis counselling sessions and

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6,123 therapy sessions. The money is used by Pieta to support people in suicidal distress and those bereaved through suicide.

Pieta said the funds enables it to continue providing free

Vietnam Buddhists open new temple

the first Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Ireland has officially been opened in Dublin. named the Minh tâm Pagoda, it is located in the Malahide Road Industrial Park in Coolock.

senior monks from the international Buddhist community were present for the ceremony, which was also attended by the Minister of state for transport and for the environment, Climate and Communications Jack Chambers.

It is estimated that there are up to 4,000 Vietnamese Buddhists out of a Vietnamese population of 10,000 in Ireland.

In August 1979, the Government agreed to take just over 200 Vietnamese “Boat People” who were fleeing the communist regime in Vietnam. At first, they were accommodated in Red Cross centres in Blanchardstown and swords before they moved on to rented local authority housing in Dublin and other parts of the country.

The ceremony was led by the Director of the temple, Venerable Monk, Thích Phước huệ. The Minh tâm Pagoda can accommodate five hundred people.

There are approximately 98,026 people living with asthma in Dublin.

The survey, undertaken as part of Asthma Awareness Week 2023, revealed the stark realities of the impact of the cost of living crisis for those living with asthma in Ireland. 96% of those surveyed have been prescribed asthma medications.

Despite that, 45% of asthma patients have had to forego asthma medications for themselves, or their children, due to financial constraints.

48% of households with asthma have been in arrears on mortgage or rental payments; utility bills; hire purchase instalments or other loan payments in the past 12 months.

of charge suicide prevention, intervention and bereavement support to people of all ages across Ireland. In 2022 alone, the charity said it delivered over 50,000 hours of free, one-to-one therapy.

76% also said that their own or their child’s daily activity was limited or severely limited by the disease 25% of survey participants described their asthma as bad or very bad. This survey was undertaken by the Asthma Society.

We’re worst EU city for transport

DuBLIn is one of europe’s most expensive and complicated capital cities to buy public transport tickets, according to a new study from environmental group Greenpeace.

The new research looks at the cost and ease of purchasing public transport tickets, while also ranking countries on their public transport costs.

Dublin scored last in the capital city rankings, with 36 out of 100 points.

The rankings were based on the simplicity of the ticketing system, the price and availability of long-term tickets, discounts provided for socially disadvantaged groups - such as students, the elderly, and the unemployed - and the VAt rate applied to tickets.

According to the study, Dublin is “the only city analysed which does not have a fixed-price long-term ticket for all means of transport and available for all passengers”, which it says is unlike all other cities studied as part of the study.

It adds that a monthly ticket is “only available for employees, when the employer is joining

the ‘tax saver programme’”.

“All other passengers can only buy monthly subscriptions for buses, trams and trains in Dublin separately,” it states.

The study notes that Dublin has an electronic ticketing system and that for the last few months, weekly payments have been capped at €32.

As part of the study, Greenpeace took this price as the basis for the ranking, in the absence of a monthly ticket.

It said the regular price is the second-highest out of all cities analysed, with London being the highest.

Although Dublin came last of the city rankings - while tallinn in estonia, Luxembourg city and Valletta in Malta claimed the top spots – Ireland came 13th in the list of 30 countries. Ireland received points for the travel card for people aged over 66 years, people with disabilities and carers, which, it says, “allows holders to use all public transport in the country for free”, and points for the VAt rate of 0%.

“Apart from this, there are no best practice elements in the ticketing system,” the study says.

Participants at Darkness Into Light in the Phoenix Park. Pic: Ryan Byrne

We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by