Category Archives: Environment

Bike Stuff n’ Gadgets awards

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Five Smart Projects Receive Funding to Improve Cycling in Dublin

Dublin City Council and Enterprise Ireland announced the winners of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) competition at The House of Lords, Bank of Ireland, College Green this evening.

The competition, which was launched by Smart Dublin last March, sought to find smart technology solutions to help improve and scale up cycling across Dublin. The challenge generated 98 expressions of interest, 23 proposals with 14 dragons den style pitches.

Five companies were selected to receive funding of up to €12,500 and supports from Dublin City Council to research and demonstrate the viability of their smart solution.

bicycle-keating

The chosen companies and their smart solutions are:

 

  • Ambie introducing BikeLook which monitors bicycle usage and deters and detects bicycle theft

 

  • Fluidedge introducing Liberty Bell, a bell that allows cyclists to record actual or perceived obstacles to aid safe cycling in Dublin

 

  • Hindnseek presents a low power device attached to a bicycle that generates real time data with can be integrated with other data sources

 

  • Limeforge Ltd. offers the See.Sense Tracker providing a ‘find your iphone’ like capability allowing cyclists to easily track their stolen bikes

 

  • M2C Smartcharge Ltd. introduces a tracking, logging and data harvesting system for use with bicycles in an urban area aiding the cyclist in predicting the ease of a journey, safety along the way and creating a secure parking facility and the end of the journey

 

Commenting at the announcement Dublin City Council’s Chief Executive, Owen Keegan said “A key aspect of our Smart Dublin initiative is to test new ways for the Dublin Local Authorities to pilot and understand the possibilities of using innovative technologies to solve city challenges.  We are genuinely impressed with the level of ideas that were presented through the SBIR process and look forward to working with these entrepreneurs to pilot and hopefully scale their products using Dublin as a test bed.”

Kevin Sherry, Divisional Manager, Enterprise Ireland commented “Enterprise Ireland is excited to work with Dublin City Council on this initiative, and we congratulate the phase one winners on their innovative solutions which will improve the cycling experience and safety of bicycle users in urban areas.”

David Timoney, Dublin Cycling Campaign who are supporting the initiative added “There are real opportunities to use these new low cost innovations to better understand cycling patterns and experiences.  This in turn will allow for more evidence based decisions by the City on cycling infrastructure. The data will hopefully strengthen the already strong arguments for increased transport spends on cycling.  Furthermore solutions to address cycle theft in Dublin through smart tracker devices have the potential to dramatically reduce bike theft levels currently estimated at a staggering €20,000 per annum in Dublin alone.”

The companies have three months to develop their solution to pre-prototype stage, after which some will be selected for further funding (up to €25,000 each) to complete their prototype solutions.

ENDS

 For further information contact:

Jamie Cudden, Smart City Programme Manager, Dublin City Council M 087 783 5411

Notes to the Editor:

Details of the successful proposals are:

Ambie: BikeLook is a smart city solution to monitor bicycle usage and to deter and detect bicycle theft. Using low power radio (Bluetooth Smart) to track bicycles in the city. Bluetooth trackers’ effectiveness is usually limited by the radio range between the sensor and a mobile phone, but through strategic location of listening posts at bicycle parking, junctions and on street sweepers, the opportunity exists to monitor the volume and direction of cycle traffic in the city.

 

Fluidedge: ‘Liberty Bell’ – A smart bicycle bell that allow citizens who cycle record actual or perceived obstacles to safe cycling in Dublin. Hotspots are highlighted in real-time and authorities are alerted to poor road conditions or poor behaviour by other road users.

 

Hidnseek: A low power device attached to a bicycle that has the ability to generate real time data which can be integrated with existing data sources and information to create an overall accurate picture of the cycling experience in Dublin. The device can measure GPS co-ordinates, speed and environmental conditions using the low cost sigfox network.

 

Limeforge Ltd – See.Sense: The See.Sense Tracker will provide a ‘find your iphone’ like capability using LPWA and GPS, allowing cyclists to easily track their stolen bike anywhere across the city. At the same time, our patent-pending use of sensor technology enables the crowd sourcing of real-time data about cyclist’s journeys over a wide range of variables. Two variants will be created – one for use on personal bikes and one for integration into city bikes alongside our ICON intelligent bike light.

 

M2C Smartcharge Ltd: A tracking, logging and data harvesting system for use with bicycles in a metropolitan area. The system will endeavour to aid the cyclist in predicting the ease of a journey (front end), safety along the way with geographic analysis (Journey Safety) and create a secure parking facility at the end of the journey (destination management)

_________________________________

 

Smart Dublin is an initiative of the four Dublin Local Authorities to engage with smart technology providers, researchers and citizens to solve city challenges and improve city life.

 

Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. It supports sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment.

 

Dublin Cycling Campaign The Dublin Cycling Campaign is an independent, voluntary cycling advocacy group that has been working to improve the city for all cyclists since 1993 www.dublincycling.ie

 

What is Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)? SBIR refers to the public procurement of research and development on new innovative solutions before they are commercially available. It involves different suppliers competing through different phases of development, while the risks and benefits are shared between the procurers and the suppliers under market conditions.

Draft Tree Strategy – Dublin City Council

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Below is a PDF file of the Draft Tree strategy for Dublin City.  There is an opportunity for people who  live in Dublin to comment and give observations and suggestions on ‘treeing’ your City.

8. Presentation on Draft Tree Strategy

  • Please email observations/submissions to treestrategy@dublincity.ie
  • Closing date Fri 29th April

8. Presentation on Draft Tree Strategy

Poster Removal by DCC

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posterpole

Beware Dublin City Council are removing posters that they deem in breach of protocol. They are failing to inform the candidates or their crews that they are doing this which is leading to great confusion on the ground.

For those who are missing posters check with DCC litter management and retrieve your posters.  The posters for the Dublin Bay South candidates are being stored in Rathmines.

And again we are not being informed about this. The state of the city with the guts ripped out of it from the Luas construction, delapidated buildings and boarded up flats and here are DCC using staff resources to pull down election posters.  The breath taking arrogance of this that they can go around willy nilly.  I’m surprised they haven’t franchised it out to Greyhound.

Its unfair on the major effort that is being made by all the candidates and their crews in atrocious weather conditions to try and create a public platform for themselves in this forthcoming election.  Especially for Independent candidates who are finding it increasingly difficult to compete with  main parties and the financial resources they have not to mention the monopolized media coverage that they get.

I don’t want to see any poster causing a hazard or danger to anybody and if I got the opportunity I’d ban them outright and create a different system.  I did put a motion to ask for the banning of posters after the Giro Italia but it didn’t get passed with fellow councillors so we are left, for now,  with the present situation. And I agree, it is a visual pollutant and its over the top.

But Independents don’t have any other choice in the matter right now as well as that its a very expensive process to print posters, cable ties, ladders, insurance etc.

No candidate goes out there to litter. No candidate goes out there to cause obstruction or hindrance or danger when postering. But if I was to stick a big banner across one of the buildings in Dublin advertising Lucozade there would be nobody for DCC trying to tear it down. There would be the usual hocus pocus letter writing, weeks would go by before the offending massive banner was taken down. Yet, when it comes to us and our posters, they become ultra efficient in taking them down and not even bothering to inform us that we can get them back.

I’m on my way up to Rathmines now to get my posters back.  I do wish the Council would have told me without me having to go through this unnecessary rigmarole.

 

Update on Works in Merrion Square Park, Dublin City Council

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Merrion Square Park, Dublin

Merrion Square Park, Dublin

There are a large number of recommendations in the Conservation and Management Plan for Merrion Square Park and these will be undertaken on a phased basis over the coming years.

The current works which include the restoration of the historic perimeter path and the grassing down of a short link path, along the south-east corner of the park are well underway. It is necessary to knock a small section of the park depot to facilitate the installation of the perimeter path and this will be undertaken shortly. It is anticipated that the installation of this path will be completed by the end of July. In the meantime, re-graded soil areas will be seeded, allowing lawns to have sufficient growth to allow immediate access to the area when work on the paths has been completed.

The civil works at the Oscar Wilde Sculpture have been completed and planting will occur week commencing 17th June and the installation of two benches and a small interpretative sign will be undertaken by the end of June.

Treatment of the ESB sub -station is also being investigated to determine how best to repair and enhance this prominent building within the park. It is anticipated that work will commence on the building as soon as an appropriate treatment for the building has been agreed.

Additional works, including the widening of the footpath along Merrion Square North in keeping with the historic design for the park, will commence in the autumn and will be completed over the winter months when sculptures in the park will be moved to this location and appropriate period seating installed.

It is also considered that the design of the proposed tea rooms, to be located in the vicinity of the Oscar Wilde Sculpture and the playground, will commence in the autumn and Part 8 planning requirements completed over the winter and early spring 2016.

Every effort is being made to minimise any inconvenience to the public during these works and a full programme of events will be held in the park as normal over the summer months.

Greyhound response

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This is another ‘Greyhound’ response regarding the SCR/Synge Street uncollected bins….Replies masquerading as responses. 
Going forward – heading backwards – going nowhere.
Hello Mannix,Thank you for getting in touch.

We received these images via social media and detailed the situation with the person who contacted us.

The area is no longer serviced for bins so only bags are being collected going forward.

We advised people in the area over 8 weeks ago of this.

Customers have the option to use the bins with an alternative supplier. If they wish for the empty bins to be removed they have been advised to contact us and we will remove them.

The bags were logged for a collection yesterday and this should already been resolved.

Should you have any queries in the future please do not hesitate to contact me.

greyhound greyhound1

Press Release from owner of Thomas Reads, The Cutlers

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Please see Press Release attached from the owners of Thomas Read’s, Ireland’s Oldest Shop. See also this link http://thegentlemansoldier.com/Thomas-Read-of-Dublin.html for additional information.

10th March 2014

Reeds, Number 4 Parliament Street, Dublin 2

 

In response to and clarification of RTE’s Morning Ireland coverage on 7th March 2014

 Background

No 4 Parliament Street is a private property owned by a private individual who having acquired the building two years ago, wishes to restore the property to its original status as a cutlery shop and as a private home.

The owner’s interest is in the conservation not renovation of both the building and the original shop.

It is not going to be developed nor refurbished, no change of use is planned and the business is to be reopened.

The owner has invested considerable time and resources in the conservation and restoration of the building over the last two years, including the following:

  • A world renowned author on history of the family, its business and the store.
  • A senior archivist was appointed to archive thousands of the products and materials found within the building.
  • All works to date including the archiving have been photographed and filmed for future publication.

With regard to the issue of the building being closed to the public:

 The building has been closed for almost 20 years.

The owner has appointed Kelly and Cogan Conservation Architects and has completed a considerable amount of conservation research into the building and over the last year, With the assistance of Dublin City Council, have already and continue to implement maintenance repair and conservation work . This work might not be highly visible but it is absolutely critical and ongoing.

 

Given the nature of the work it is expected that the building work will not be completed, subject to planning for at least 18 months.

–       ends –

Any questions relating to the architecture please contact:

Mr James Kelly RIAI RIBA

Kelly and Cogan

Architects and Design Consultants

81 North King Street

Smithfield

Dublin 7

Tel:   01 8721295

Fax:  01 8747476

The Oldest Shop in Dublin, 4 Parliament Street

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sword wall

This building was sold over a year ago.  Prior to that it had been closed to the public for almost 10 years.  When I lived over Thomas Reads I kept my eye on the building and the flooding that was taking place at the back of the premises.  A lot of work was done to divert the water into Crane lane and I have been into this premises ‘The Cutlers’ on many occasions over the past few years, making sure the cabinets and interiors were still on the premises and not getting damaged. Those artifacts should be immediately handed over to the care of the relevant conservationists for safe keeping.

They include the historical ledgers, silverware and some beautiful cabinets.  There were many attempts by local individuals to acquire this premises from the agents and receivers but to no avail. I personally tried to get Dublin City Council to acquire the premises with the help of the conservation section of DCC.  I felt that this building gave an enormous cultural credibility to the Temple Bar area not to forget that it was on this roof and adjoining roof of 3 Parliament St,  that one of the first teenagers was shot and killed in the 1916 rebellion.  Joe Duffy has written extensively and expertly on this matter.

Indeed the new owner of Thomas Reads public house itself and the Oak Bar, I believe, would be very interested in restoring this premises and also that would keep it open to the public.  The premises extends right into Crane Lane and it is a must see even in its present dilapidated state.  The Cutlers themselves supplied many a sword to the Dublin gentry as well as the English gentry who visited.  They could even be regarded as an armourer.  Indeed the whole street Parliament Street is an ideal street along with Capel Street for  a total upgrade and a bit of nurture.  To get the picture one needs to view these streets from the windows of the City Hall Chambers where you can get the view of the upper architectural features and streetscape with a spectacular view as far down as Bolton Street.

Its grand and easy to wax lyrically about Merrion Square, Mountjoy Square but the likes of Parliament Street and Capel Street could crumble to dust if we don’t start caring as citizens about our built environment. What is an enormous disgrace here is that this dilapidation happened right beside City Hall and I have raised the issue time and time again.  I got so concerned that I brought the conservation officers from DCC into the building early last year and got them to document every single item and fabric of the building.  They assured me that the building itself was a protected structure. (ref. 6322). I raised concerns before Christmas and I raised concerns over two months ago when I noticed that the front door could be pushed open and was not secured.

I really believe that this building should have been brought into the family of buildings under the charge of DCC but I have to ask what about the other buildings that DCC own that are as equally important that the city council have had for over 20 years that are in an appalling state? Henrietta Street is just one example.

The only solution is to be proactive and it is probably time for a new association or a new organisation along the lines of An Taisce, The Georgian Society and the Civic Trust thats 21st century to deal not just with the conservation and built heritage issues in Dublin but the issues throughout the country.

We need to get much more energized, politicized if we are to be effective.  We have to bring these buildings back into living use.  Everyday use.  For everyone. Buildings for the public to enjoy.

Here is DCC Conservation Officer reply to the present concerns regarding this building.

This building is included on the City Council’s Register of Protected Structures (ref. 6322). Under the provisions of Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2013, responsibility for its maintenance and freedom from endangerment lies with the owner.

Two exemption certificates were granted for stated repair and maintenance works to the property, 4 Parliament Street   in October 2012, Reg reference 0140/12  was for  specified  works for  repair and maintenance works to the roof including repair to  rain water goods .This  work has  taken place. Prior to this , the owner had been actively working with the City Council and the Dept of AHG on a programme of works to progress the   opening of  the building as a shop with a residence overhead.

The weathering of the horizontal beam over the fascia signage needs to be attended to as a matter of urgency, and this has been  conveyed to the owner’s architect.

It should be noted that there are ongoing negotiations  taking place between the owner and the adjoining public house “Thomas Reads” .This relates to the  issue of  rainwater spilling from that premises into a void area of  number 4 Parliament Street.   This is a civil matter between the two owners .

Number 4 Parliament Street is currently unoccupied and a full internal and external inspection is being arranged with the owner. Any works required for the safety of the Building will be brought to the owner’s attention and  enforcement proceedings will be initiated if necessary.

 http://www.olddublintown.com/thomas-reads-1670.html

https://www.storehouse.co/stories/c8dv-selling-off-the-silverware

New City Council Bye-laws to Simplify Bin Collection

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                                                                                                                            27th February, 2014

New City Council Bye-Laws to simplify bin collection come into force                  

From Monday 3rd March every area of the city will have a specified day for household bin collection regardless of waste provider under new Dublin City Council Bye-Laws.

A map of the areas and the designated days for collection is available on:

http://www.dublincity.ie/Press/Documents/domesticwastecollectiondaysbyarea.pdf

The public are encouraged to check their collection day on this map.

“The fact that several waste collectors now operate in Dublin means that communities were being inconvenienced by numerous bin trucks in their area on a daily basis with resulting difficulties of footpaths blocked by bins, littering and traffic issues. These Bye Laws will ease these problems considerably”, says Hugh Coughlan of Dublin City Council’s Waste Management Services Division.

Dublin City Council’s Waste Management Services held talks with domestic waste collectors as part of the process to determine the collection days. All waste collectors are currently informing any customers who will require a change to their collection day. About 44,000 customers will see their collection day change as a result.

Ends

For further information contact:

Dublin City Council Media Relations Office T. (01) 222 2170, M. 087 740 0277

https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil        www.facebook.com/DublinCityCouncil

www.dublincity.ie             

Note:

These arrangements follow the introduction of Dublin City Council’s Bye Laws for the Storage, Presentation and Collection of Household & Commercial Waste in July 2013 which directs waste companies to collect waste on designated days.

Designated Days do not affect commercial collections

Collections in core City Centre District for Households & Commercial Premises are on 7 day basis.

Customers can contact their individual Waste Operator with any queries.

 

Be there for the Square. Parnell Square Survey

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Dublin City Council have intention to create a cultural Quarter at Parnell Square.  Don’t be a bystander be a participant.  Be there for the Square.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Dear Councillor

The recently announced vision of a new cultural quarter for Dublin City in Parnell Square highlights the new City Library to be built beside the existing world-class Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane which will offer a range of creative, participative and educational experiences. A civic plaza will connect the new library and Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane, creating a new public space that those who live, work and visit Dublin can use, engage with and enjoy in the heart of the City.

Dublin City Council has engaged Green Hat to carry out an initial public consultation to ensure that the vision of a Cultural Quarter as a cultural space for all is realised.Focusing on the responses to the vision and the desired physical spaces for the area, the consultation has sought input and ideas on the provision of opportunities to learn, create and participate. A series of workshops and Café Consultations have taken place in June 2013 to engage with and collate the thoughts and ideas of local businesses, residents, arts and cultural organisations and other interested parties.

We are keen to gather as wide a range of views as possible and would encourage you to complete a short online survey which should take no longer than 10 minutes. We would appreciate if you could circulate this email to your constituents and anyone with an interest in the future of the Parnell Square area. The online survey will remain open until Friday 28th June 2013.

You can access the survey by clicking this link or typinghttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/V7RJJZT into your browser.
This dynamic and exciting project will inspire cultural, physical and economic regeneration and will fulfil Dublin’s ambitions for a ‘Civic Spine’,a route connecting the capital’s key cultural & historic sites with retail areas, from Parnell Square down O’Connell Street through College Green to Christchurch, extending south to Kilmainham and eventually north to Grangegorman. Watchthis short video for more information.

For further information please email parnellsquare@greenhat.org.uk or call 048 677 23766.

To extinguish or not to extinguish, that is the question.

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Off Grafton St. Dublin

Off Grafton St. Dublin

Today was the final day to raise concerns around the public right of way at Tangier Lane.

 

To Whom It May Concern,

I wish to raise some observations regarding the proposal to consider the extinguishment of the right of way at Tangier Lane Dublin 2.

While I understand that this process is being initiated in order to combat anti-social behaviour in the area, that anti social behaviour will simply go to the next laneway or the next street or the next cul-de-sac and, in my opinion, is not a valid way of dealing with public domain anti-social behaviour and is not a very sound reason for closing off these intricate and curious laneways that dot Dublin city.

In many instants where these orders have been carried out the public are the losers and many of these laneways simply end up as rather unkempt storage facilities for the many businesses operating in the laneways, while the public are met either with an inappropriate iron gate or a wooden gate which has very little aesthetic no relationship to the architecture or shop fronts in the area.

At present, Grafton St and its quarter are undergoing rejuvenation and major improvements.  Special architectural conservation legislation is rightly being applied to these environs and consideration needs to be taken of the negative impact that the closing down of Tangier lane would have on the vision for Grafton Street.  In my opinion, what is needed to combat anti-social behaviour is more public domain management and enforcement through rolling out of more effective community Gardai and an educational process.

Public lavatories and conveniences would go a long way to curtail much of what the users of Tangier lane have to witness as they go to and from work.  The many agencies that dispense needles to intravenous drug users could be informed much more effectively in relation to how much impact their product has when it is dumped in laneways by their many clients.

I note that this request came as a result of the BIDS company and representation to that company by a number of businesses in the area, indeed, I’ve spoken to staff at the Gaeity Theatre and listened to their concerns with regards health and safety.  Those same health and safety issues are evident on King Street as well as on Tangiers Lane.  Is it foreseeable that the next step we’ll be taking will be to extinguish public rights of way in main thoroughfares.

I can well understand the case for residents in residential areas wishing to have laneways at the backs of their houses made more secure from anti-social behaviour and burglary.  The case is somewhat different when it is laneways in the centre of our city where there are few residential populations.

Given that unacceptable social behaviour, the numbers of people who engage in it and where they congregate is on the rise, I feel that this whole issue of extinguishing public rights of way in residential and business areas and in general needs a special consideration

Finally, if this application is successful, I would respectfully ask that in the planning stages serious consideration be given to the gates that would be placed at the entrance of Tangier lane.  That the original old Irish enamel signage (in Gaelic and English) be retained and remain visible at the entrance and protected.  And that this gateway would be opened in the daytime and also within this consideration that a wrought Iron gate would be the appropriate material allowing visibility and the presence of Tangier lane to be retained as opposed to the situation for instance on Wicklow Street and other areas where solid gates have been used to block off completely all visibility of the laneways.  It should also be considered that the laneway not be used for extra storage of barrels and bottles and rubbish etc.

In conclusion, I would like to request an oral hearing in relation to this matter at this particular location.


Yours truly,

 

Cllr Mannix Flynn

Independent Cllr South East Area, Dublin

Tangier Lane Notice