Cllr Darragh Butler and I have been informed by Fingal County Council that council has received an application from Roadbridge Civil Engineering & Building Contractors for permission to temporarily close a road in the Dublin Airport area for the purpose of Road construction, to enable construction of the realignment of Forest Little Road as part of the north runway construction package 1 works.

It is proposed that the road will be closed from Monday 20th February 2017 to Friday 7th July 2017.

The road in question is:

The section of Forest Road (L2025) from Cooks Road Cooks Lane) (L6007) to Naul Road (Forest Little Road) (L2020).

Alternative routes available for vehicular traffic are as follows:

Access from Naul Road (Forest Little Road) (L2020) (East bound) to Forest Road (L2025)

Naul Road (Forest Little Road) (L2020) East Bound Divert to Swords Road (R132)

• Swords Road (R132) to Boroimhe Road (L2300)

• Boroimhe Road (L2300) to Forest Road (L2025)

• Forest Road (L2025) to Cooks Road (Cooks Lane) (L6007).

Access from Naul Road (Forest Little Road) (L2020) (West Bound) to Forest Road (L2025)

• Naul Road (Forest Little Road) (L2020) West Bound Divert to Naul Road (R108)

• Naul Road (R108) to Cooks Road (Cooks Lane) (L6007).

• Cooks Road (Cooks Lane) (L6007) to Forest Road (L2025)

Access from Forest Road (L2025) (Southbound) to Naul Road (Forest Little Road) (L2020)

• Forest Road (L2025) (South Bound) to Cooks Road (Cooks Lane) (L6007)

• Cooks Road (Cooks Lane) (L6007) to Naul Road (R108)

• Naul Road (R108) to Naul Road (Forest Little Road) (L2020)

Diversion signage will be in place for the duration of the closure.

Any person may lodge an objection in writing with the Senior Executive Officer, Balbriggan/Swords Operations Unit, Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 to
arrive no later 4.30pm on Friday 3rd February 2017.

  -       Local Deputy quizzed the Minister on need for action in light of recent robberies -  

​Local Fianna Fáil TD, Darragh O’Brien has said that the lack of Garda resources in North County is seriously impacting on the surge in violent incidents in the locality. 


Deputy O'Brien was speaking following receipt of a parliamentary reply which failed to show an adequate supply of Gardaí in the Dublin Northern Metropolitan Region.


There has been a recent increase in the spate of crime, including a number of burglaries in the North County -  Just last week two violent robberies occurred in Malahide in the space of three days.


“From Balbriggan to Rush & Lusk, Swords, Donabate & Portrane to Portmarnock and Malahide, Skerries to Naul and beyond, crime has skyrocketed. I have once again raised the issue of the lack of Gardaí in North Dublin with the Tánaiste & Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald.  


“The reality is that the Dublin-Fingal area has experienced a cut of over 20% to Garda resources over the course of the past five years. We simply do not have enough Gardaí to prevent criminal activity in North Dublin and I met with local senior Gardaí this afternoon to discuss the ongoing issue and the recent surge in violent crime.


“This Government must wake up to the fear and danger that many communities are experiencing. They must detail what actions are being done to protect the public from this on-going savagery.


“We need to support rank and file Gardaí in the hard work that they do in our community but it needs to be acknowledged that we need more Gardaí assigned to police our community. While other measures such as a CCTV Scheme and establishing a community alert group including local business owners and residents may also aid a reduction in crime.


“Fianna Fáil is committed to supporting our Gardaí and strengthening the concept of community policing. We insisted that increased Garda recruitment be included in the Confidence and Supply arrangement to facilitate a minority Government. This agreement will provide an additional 2,000 Gardaí which will in turn lead to an increase in the number of officers assigned to community policing.


 “I hope that those who are responsible for these despicable attacks are apprehended by our Gardaí and I urge anyone with information to come forward. As a community we must send a clear message; crime of any kind will not be tolerated in our locality," concluded Deputy O'Brien.

​Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Fingal, Darragh O’Brien says his party will oppose any attempt by the Government to place a charge on the Free Travel Pass. He was responding to a Department of Social Protection report, which proposes a €50 annual charge for people in receipt of the Free Travel Pass. 

In recent days, senior members of Fine Gael have also been arguing for a yearly fee for people in receipt of the travel pass.

“The Free Travel Pass is a core social protection benefit, which has ensured that older people and people with disabilities have access to free travel on public transport in their communities and across the country for over 40 years. Fianna Fáil brought in the Free Travel Pass in the late 1960s and we will vigorously oppose any charge," explained Deputy O’Brien.
 
"As the Government sit on Metro North, the free travel pass is essential for bus and rail services in Fingal. This enables people to retain their independence and go about their business without having to rely on family members or neighbours to get from A to B.

“There are thousands of people across Fingal who currently hold a Free Travel Pass and all efforts must be made to ensure that it remains a free entitlement. 


"A €50 charge goes against the very principle of free travel and would place another unfair cost on older people and people with a disability. This proposal must be avoided at all costs.

“Minister Varadkar must allay the fears of people who are now worried about a charge by addressing the Dáil and categorically ruling out any attempts to bring in a fee”.  

​Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien today welcomed Robin Barnett, British Ambassador to Ireland, to highlight the successful economic trade links between the North County and Britain.


“Trade between Ireland and Britain currently amounts to over €1 billion per week in goods and services which underlines the importance of the relationship between the two countries,” added the Deputy.


“In light of the UK Referendum to vote to leave the European Union it is more crucial now than ever before to protect our trading relationship from any serious negative implications for Irish businesses and their access to the British market.


“Businesses, particularly in the export industry, need swift, decisive and confident leadership from our government and State agencies. Contingency plans for business sectors, up to and including transitional aid measures, affected by the Brexit decision need to be urgently outlined. These plans are critical for Irish business, especially those whose focus is exporting.


“Fianna Fáil has consistently argued that the government must have a clear and comprehensive plan of action for dealing with these challenges. Our reception here this afternoon has made it clear that a coordinated effort is required to deal with the aftermath of Brexit. To this end, bringing together a wide range of industry leaders and local business owners demonstrates a willingness to engage and identify practical solutions to minimalise any impact of the British exit from the EU.


"It was most apparent during this morning's site visits with the Ambassador, that he is conscious of the important connection between Fingal and the British export market. 


“There is no doubt some volatility ahead but with over 150 in attendance this afternoon it is clear that our collective focus is well placed on maintaining Dublin Fingal in a competitive position as a place to live, work and invest,” concluded O’Brien.

​Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien TD has said that Prime Minister May’s speech at last provides a degree of clarity on Britain’s ‘hard’ exit strategy but has warned that this marks just the beginning of the process and vital details still need to be worked out.


“I welcome that Prime Minister May has outlined her objectives and that the unique relationship between our two countries was specifically referenced in her remarks,” said the Deputy.


“In a practical sense, it remains to be seen how this process of transition will develop, however, the need to maintain the Common Travel Area and to avoid a return to the borders of the past must remain at the core of our negotiations.


“Despite Prime Minister May’s remarks being interpreted as a reasonable outcome for Ireland, the objective outlined as part of her strategy is far from guaranteed and must be negotiated on by all member states.


“The Prime Minister's tone may have been conciliatory, but the content of her speech was not. Hidden beneath the Prime Minister's mild language is a very clear determination to prioritise British control of immigration, over trade.The decision to leave the single market will have significant implications for Irish businesses and their access to the UK market. Trading relationships will very much be affected going forward.


“The process ahead will no doubt pose significant challenges for Ireland. We are part of an unprecedented and daunting scenario but it is our priority to bring Irish interests to the fore.


“We must also work with the other 26 member states to secure a deal that safeguards Europe’s interests and prevents further fragmentation of an institution that has served our country well for 43 years,” concluded Deputy O’Brien.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien TD has welcomed the Paris Peace Summit, aimed at restarting peace talks between Israel and Palestine.


”The talks in Paris are welcome and demonstrate that there remains a strong commitment amongst the international community to peace in the region and the realisation of a two-state solution,” commented O’Brien.


“Ultimately, a two-state solution is the only viable solution in this protracted conflict. However, serious transgressions by both sides in this conflict are hampering the possibility of peace and are putting the feasibility of a two-state solution in serious jeopardy.


“While the international community can play a part in helping to broker peace in the region, they can only do so much and the situation is becoming increasingly untenable. The Palestinian and Israeli authorities must begin to show leadership and demonstrate through their words and actions that they are genuinely committed to peace and stability in the region.