11th July 2022
PLANNING EXEMPTION FOR CHILDCARE PLACES MUST BE REMOVED
A planning exemption enabling developers to sidestep requirements for childcare places in new dwellings must be removed, according to Senator Mary SeeryKearney.
The Seanad Spokesperson on Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Privacy Rights, said: “Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Childcare Facilities were issued in 2001 as Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of
the Planning Development 2000.
and Act,
and on the calculation of the local provision of childcare facilities.
“In relation to new housing areas, these guidelines call for an average of one childcare facility, providing for a minimum 20 childcare places, for every 75 dwellings. “Developers have the ability, within the guidelines, to exempt themselves from this obligation based on the number of one bedroomed units within a development
“There is a crisis in childcare at present that is being tackled by increasing financial supports into the sector and to parents that I hope will be increased again in the forthcoming budget to alleviate the burden on families struggling to meet the costs of childcare. “In tandem with that, we need to be ensuring
that there is an increase in the supply of childcare places. What better place to have childcare facilities than as close to home as possible, and with increasing remote working opportunities and hubs, having a childcare facility in a housing development is an ideal arrangement. This was the purpose behind the guidelines when they were first introduced. “Time and time again developers are arguing their way out of their obligations on what are spurious grounds using the number of one bedroomed units in a development to reduce their obligations by subtracting them from the number of units overall, and in build to rent facilities that can be as high as 50% of the development. This appears to suggest that people in one bedroomed homes won’t get pregnant, which is wholly wrong and discriminatory.
“Another ground for exemption is the number of childcare facilities in Continued on page 2
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02
CLLR EMMA MURPHY BECOMES FIRST LGBTQ+ WOMAN ELECTED AS MAYOR At the Annual Meeting of South Dublin County Council held on Friday 24 June 2022 in County
Hall, Tallaght, Councillor Emma Murphy (Fianna Fáil) representing the Firhouse - Bohernabreena Electoral
Published by: Newsgroup, Unit 3 Floor 2 St. Dominics Shopping Centre, St. Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin, D24 HK49. Titles: Tallaght News, Clondalkin News, Lucan News and Rathcoole & Saggart News Distributed by: Local Post Co. Contact Details: Website www.newsgroup.ie
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Area was elected Mayor of South Dublin County.
The election of Councillor Murphy is a landmark moment for the State as she becomes the first LGBTQ+ woman elected to the office of Mayor in a County in the Republic. Councillor Murphy was proposed for Mayor by Councillor Shane Moynihan (Fianna Fáil) and was seconded by Councillor Alan Edge (Independent). Following a roll call vote, Councillor Murphy was deemed elected to the Office of Mayor. Joining South Dublin County Council in 2016, Councillor Murphy has a background in developing youth empowerment programmes and promoting education opportunities at home and abroad. Councillor Murphy currently works with Barry Andrew MEP as his Communications Director. Councillor Joanna Tuffy (Labour) representing the Lucan Electoral Area was
elected Deputy Mayor. Councillor Tuffy was proposed as Deputy Mayor by Councillor Pamela Kearns (Labour) and seconded by Councillor Laura Donaghy (Green Party). Councillor Tuffy first served as a councillor for the Lucan Electoral Area from 1999 to 2003 before being elected as a member of the Oireachtas for 14 years, representing the Dublin Mid-West constituency from 2007 to 2016. Councillor Tuffy was again elected a councillor for the Lucan Electoral Area in 2019. Tributes were also paid to the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Peter Kavanagh (Independent) and the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Laura Donaghy (Green Party), who thanked their fellow Councillors, Chief Executive, Daniel McLoughlin and the management and staff of the Council for their help and support during their term in office. The following councillors were elected as Chairs of the Area
Committees at the meeting; Councillor William Carey was elected chair of the Clondalkin Area Committee. Councillor Ed O’Brien was elected chair of the Lucan / Palmerstown / North Clondalkin Area Committee.
Councilor Lyn Hagin Meade was elected chair of the Rathfarnham / Templeogue / Firhouse / Bohernabreena Area Committee. And Councillor Mick Duff was elected chair of the Tallaght Area Committee.
PLANNING EXEMPTION FOR CHILDCARE PLACES MUST BE REMOVED ...... CONT’D FROM PAGE 1
proximate to the proposed development – there is no obligation to enquire as to available capacity within those facilities. I have examples of childcare facilities in the community being cited as the reason to exempt them from their obligations where those facilities are already at capacity and have long waiting list. “The threshold
for exemption is too low and needs to be abolished.” “I have written to Ministers Darragh O’Brien and Minister Peter Burke asking that they immediately strengthen the guidelines to ensure that there is a bias in favour of the provision of childcare places, to raise the threshold for exemption or abolish the exemption all together.”
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ASSISTANCE DOGS CHARITY WELCOMES DONATION FROM AMAZON IN RATHCOOLE
A charity that provides assistance and companion dogs for children with autism has received a €3,000 donation from the Amazon delivery station team in Rathcoole. Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland provides highly trained assistance dogs for children with autism in Dublin and across Ireland. The aim of the charity is to change the world for children with autism by providing them with an assistance dog. These special dogs can open up a whole new world of possibility for children with autism and their families. The highly skilled dogs, trained to keep their child companion safe. Attached via a belt to the child, the dogs listen and respond to the commands of the parent or handler. The dog’s primary focus is to prevent the child from running into danger when they are out. Over time, as the bond between the child and the
dog develops, the dogs can help build confidence, develop responsibility, and promote independence for children with autism. In addition to providing dogs for children and their families, the charity also runs workshops across Ireland to help raise awareness of autism in children. The charity plans to use the donation from Amazon to help increase the number of dogs trained by its team. There are currently 50 active assistance dogs in Ireland but demand for an autism assistance dog is growing.
support the charity’s staff and volunteers with this donation.”
Speaking on the donation, Sarah Jane Heffernan, Delivery Station Manager at Amazon in Rathcoole, said: “Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland has such a positive impact on the lives of children with autism and their families in Dublin and across Ireland, and we wanted to
Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland was nominated for the donation by James Burke, an area manager at Amazon. He added “Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland provides vital support to children with autism in our community. Its dogs are specially trained to provide safety and companionship,
reduce anxiety and suffering while promoting independence. This enables Irish children to be included in activities they otherwise may find overwhelming. I think it’s fantastic that Amazon is supporting such a brilliant charity with this donation.” Eileen Aherne from Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland added “Like many charities, we can only provide our
services thanks to donations like this from the Amazon team in Rathcoole. It costs €22,000 and takes up to two years to train an autism assistance dog. On behalf of everyone at Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland, I’d like to say a big thank you to Sarah Jane and the Amazon team for their support and helping the many families still in need of a life changing autism
assistance dog.” In addition to creating over 50 permanent jobs, the Amazon delivery station in Rathcoole has also created over 100 driver opportunities for Amazon Logistics’ delivery service partners and Amazon Flex delivery partners. Delivery stations power the last mile of Amazon’s order process and help speed up deliveries for customers.
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ST CUTHBERT’S PARK SET TO GET MAJOR UPGRADE Cllr William Carey has welcomed the news from South Dublin County Council that they have appointed a consultancy team led by Nicholas de Jong Associates - Landscape Architects, to develop a Masterplan for St Cuthbert’s Park, Clondalkin. The team will be working with the Public Realm Capital Projects section to bring the project through to the construction stage. Cllr Carey added, this is a long overdue development that had been delayed due to procurement and contract issues. St Cuthberts park is situated in the centre of the Bawnogue area surrounded by several estates, including Lealand, Westbourne, Rath Gael Apartments, Melrose, Lindisfarne, Deansrath and adjacent also to Kilmahuddrick, Kilcronan, Castlegrange, Grange View and Oldcastle estates. Cllr Carey continued, that public consultation will be the central to the development of the park. A major element of this project involves community engagement and consultation. The aim is to have proposals developed to bring to Part 8 Planning stage by the end of the summer. Cllr Carey concluded by saying that according to South Dublin County Coouncil management would like to get the process commenced as soon as possible by carrying out some informal consultation sessions starting with a meeting with the elected members to be held online soon.
05
DOG FOULING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN - HELP SCALLY BE A GOOD BOY!
Dog owners everywhere know they need to pick up after their dogs, but the issue of dog fouling is still one that plagues our County.
To highlight the issue of dog fouling South Dublin County Council has developed a new campaign to remind dog owners to pick up after their pup wherever they are. The campaign features the adorable “Scally” the dog in a series of videos which highlight the consequences of not picking up the poop. Whether under the cover of darkness, in a field or on the beach remember “Your dog’s poop could end up anywhere! Always Pick it up!” Speaking at the launch of the campaign Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr. Emma Murphy said “South Dublin continues to look for new and innovative ways to help combat the issue of dog fouling, and over the last number of years
has engaged in radio and cinema adverts to increase awareness around the issue of dog fouling. Help Scally to carry on the message and bin the poo responsibly.” Failure to pick up after your
dog is an offence under the Litter Management Acts 1997 -2009 and could result in an on-the-spot fine of €150. The maximum court fine is €3000. If you would
like to receive the assets developed for this campaign to use in your on you own local WhatsApp group or social media please contact envawareness@ sdublincoco.ie.
Pic: Ben Ryan
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06
SOUTH DUBLIN LIBRARIES SUMMER STARS PROGRAMME
The South Dublin Libraries Summer Stars Reading Adventure is underway! Past Mayor Cllr Peter Kavanagh visited Castletymon Library recently to launch the Summer Stars Reading Adventure 2022.
Summer Stars is a fun reading-based programme which is available to
children across the country. Students from 1st and 2nd class in Scoil Naois Iosa were treated to a very special story-time as Mayor Kavanagh delivered a lively and entertaining reading of the picture book Nora by Andrew Weale. “Getting lost in a good story is the best way to spend
the day”, Peter Kavanagh told the children. “Once you have your library card there is a whole new world to explore through reading and stories. The Summer Stars reading programme is a great incentive to encourage children to enter this world of reading.” Each child is invited to register for the adventure at their
OUTRAGE AT SWIMMING POOL CLOSURE Local Councillor Trevor Gilligan said “Customers have been informed that the swimming pool in the Green Isle Hotel, Clondalkin was to close on the 4th of July. So unfortunately, for the local community, it was not a happy independence day. It is understood the closure is due to the cost of the running of the pool including heating & electricity. “Day passes” were widely popular in the community however, this income stream will be gone now that the pool is closing. It is understood the gym has already lost 5080 members (approximately 20%) out of an approximate 400+ members”. “Will
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the gym be next to go? Whilst the cost of gym membership has been reduced, this will lead to more loss of earnings. A lot of members want to use the gym and the pool, this option however is now not available. If they fill the pool, it is gone forever. It has been a part of this community for as long as I can remember. I’m calling on Green Isle mgmt. to reopen the pool as a matter of urgency as it is a hugely popular amenity in the community with regular visitors & swimming lessons taking place” stated Cllr Trevor Gilligan PC, Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart, Brittas.
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All participants will be given a Summer Stars Reading Card to record and track their own progress and a library reward stamp will be added to their reading card at the library. Children will be encouraged to continue reading with rewards and incentives along the way. At the end of the adventure, all children who took part will be presented with their own Summer Stars certificate.
All booking information can be obtained from your local library or follow South Dublin Libraries on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Don’t delay, visit your nearest South Dublin Library branch and join
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BUS SERVICE IN DUBLIN BLASTED BY LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE Elected representatives in Clondalkin and Lucan have blasted the local
bus services in the area. People Before Profit TD for Dublin Mid-West Gino Kenny
Cllr. Charlie O’Connor PC Living in Tallaght ...Working for Tallaght
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made the comments after having been contacted by a number of constituents complaining about problems with buses. The problems relate specifically to the 76 bus from Tallaght to Ballyfermot via Clondalkin, but the problem is occurring on other routes as well. The main issue is that a large number of buses are not showing up at all, for example on Monday 27th June three 76/76A buses were cancelled at peak times. People Before Profit Councillor Madeleine Johansson has also been contacted about similar problems on routes C1/C2/ C3/C4 in Lucan and the 40 bus in Clondalkin. Gino Kenny TD commented: “I know several people who rely on the 76 bus to get to and from work, education or hospital appointments. They are getting increasingly frustrated with the large amount buses
simply just not showing up.
It becomes impossible for people to use public transport when they can’t rely on the service. “The 76 route is operated by GoAhead, a private company that is receiving state funds to provide a vital service for our communities. It is completely unacceptable that this is happening at a time when we want to encourage more people to use public transport. ”We need the government to intervene immediately to provide additional funding to put more buses on the road.
was no bus for 2 hours. He was waiting for the C1/2 on Saturday afternoon but they never arrived. I have written to the NTA about this and am waiting for a response. “I have also heard of people not being able to get the bus from Lucan village because the buses from Leixlip and Maynooth are already full when they get to Lucan. There are a lot of new housing developments being built in the Adamstown area and
“These problems would not be accepted in other countries. Public transport is a vital public service and needs to be prioritised in terms of funding. We need to move away from cars to more sustainable alternatives but you can’t expect people to do that unless you provide reliable public transport.”
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The privatisation of the bus service has already proven to be disastrous and no more routes should be privatised.” Cllr Madeleine Johansson added: “I was contacted by a man who had tickets to Croke Park on Saturday and couldn’t get there because there
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ACCOMMODATION FRAUD UP 20% IN 2021 WITH ALMOST €500K STOLEN People should be aware of the tell-tale signs of online scams when it comes to booking holiday accommodation this summer, according to TD Emer Higgins. Deputy Higgins obtained figures showing a rise in incidents of accommodation fraud reported to the Gardai, which rose from 231 in 2019 to 276 last year, with 850 cases from 2019 to the start of May. Over €1.4 million was stolen in rental scams over the four-year period. Deputy Higgins said: “While there was a slight drop in incidents of accommodation fraud due the pandemic in 2020, there was a 20% rise in the number of incidents in 2021, with €463,934 stolen through fraudulent activity that year. There were 115
cases in May this year. “There are generally two types of accommodation fraud, rental scams for those seeking long-term accommodation and holiday rental fraud, which targets people booking accommodation for a holiday. The latter can be harder to detect as the property may be in a different country so there’s no option to view it beforehand. “With holiday rental fraud, the vast majority of victims usually spot an advert on social media and will have contacted the fraudster via social media or WhatsApp. Indeed this was the case in 2021, with 135 incidents of accommodation fraud happening online and 54
NEW MAYOR VISITS CASTLETYMON LIBRARY
“Gardai can also liaise with social media companies to gather evidence when a criminal investigation is underway. “The Gardai has advised people to use legitimate letting agencies and websites, and where possible get the landlord to meet you at the accommodation and take a full tour. “They may ask you to move off a legitimate website and use WhatsApp or another social media platform to complete the transaction which is another red flag with these scams as there is no comeback if the deal goes wrong. “And if booking a holiday rental, use a booking agent or hotel website directly and make sure any third-party websites are secure. “Consumers should also remember that they are protected by law when they purchase a good or service from a legitimate website and pay through a legitimate method such as a credit card. “Gardai are continuously monitoring crime trends to identify individuals who are engaged in these crimes. I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of accommodation fraud to contact the Gardai, as it will be investigated by authorities.
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Newly elected Mayor of South Dublin County Emma Murphy visited Castletymon Library with Councillors Charlie O’Connor and Mick Duff.
through social media. “Two people told RTÉ how they were scammed out of €200 by a fraudster who put up an ad for a holiday rental on Facebook Marketplace. “The fraudster used images of a property owned privately and asked them to transfer the money via PayPal. Once the payment was transferred, the fraudster ceased communicating with them and blocked them from social media channels. “People can report these scams to social media companies, which I believe must take action and do more to moderate content. I want to see more resources being allocated by social media companies for moderating content and combating fraudulent ads and fraudsters who violate their policies.
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AHMADI MUSLIM WOMEN HOLD THEIR ELEVENTH FUNDRAISER MEENA BAZAR
On Sunday, 26th June the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association (AMWA) held their 11th Annual Meena Bazar in St. Finnians Community Hall in Newcastle. It was attended by over 250 women and children. Among the distinguished guests were
Deputy Mayor Joana Tuffy, Chair Cllr. Lyn Hagin Meade and Cllr. Shirley O’Hara. The aim of the Bazar, like previous years, was to raise funds for local charities. Several stalls comprising of Asian food, cakes and deserts, traditional clothes, hand-made jewellery, henna
tattoos and a beauty corner were set up to generate funds. The event was a huge success and seven hundred Euros were raised for Barretstown and three hundred Euros for the Lucan Disability Action Group. The local women from the neighbourhood were very
pleased and thanked the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women for providing a platform for the women to socialise and have a good chat after the covid years. Fiona Kileen, the Barretstown Fundraising Manager commented‘It’s like a little paradise of love in here, there is a lovely feeling of connection and inclusion and community.’
Deputy Mayor, Joana Tuffy said ‘It’s great to be back after all the covid restrictions. This is the first Meena Bazaar in a couple of years. I have been at the Bazaar quite a few times. I want to support the women because the Ahmadiyya women do so much in terms of fundraising and integrating into the community and making connections with other residents in Lucan, so I just want to show support. That’s why I always try my best to come to this event when I get the invitation.
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I would always come to this Bazaar it would be my number one event in terms of trying to come along.’
When asked about the event, Councillor Lynn Hagin Meade said ‘What I really liked coming here today was seeing all the amazing craftsmanship of the women who were here, how they shared their culture with the world. I really really liked the amazing designs that were on the beautiful clothes and at the same time the food was fantastic. I was so pleased, it was really inspirational.’ Being a Muslim organisation, service to humanity and giving back to the local community is of fundamental importance. The Holy Prophet peace be upon him has said that even a smile is an act of charity. Similarly, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadhrat
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Mirza Guham Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, has urged his followers to selflessly serve their fellow human beings and stated ‘The principle to which we adhere is that we have kindness at heart for the whole of mankind.’ Hence, AMWA actively organise and take part in charitable works throughout the year. The motto of the community is ‘Love for all Hatred for none’. AMWA have been continuously striving to spread peace and harmony through their volunteer and integration efforts, like giving hampers on women’s day to women’s shelter homes and the homeless, delivering gift hampers to nursing homes at New Year, donations of masks & care packages to hospitals, and organizing Interfaith and Peace Symposiums etc. AMWA plan to continue to hold their annual Ladies Bazaar in years to come.
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100 YEARS OF CLONDALKIN GARDA STATION
The Centenary celebrations of 100 years of the Clondalkin Garda Station took place recently with a very impressive Garda parade around the village led by the Air Corps Pipe Band, The parade was followed by an afternoon Open Day at the garda station where members of the public, adults and children alike mingled with the Gardai and their various equipment, Equestrian
Group, Lifeboat, Traffic controllers, etc, etc. Tours of the station office and cells were conducted throughout the afternoon also. Presentations were made to the winners of the children’s art competition. and the Clondalkin Youth Band provided musical enjoyment for everybody throughout the afternoon. Picture credit Tommy Keogh
Garda parade passing down Tower Road led by the Air Corp Pipe Band
Community Garda JJ Walsh with Art competition winner Olivia Yek
L/R Garda Maeve Aldridge, Chief Supt.Finbar Murphy, Clls William Carey, Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County Joanna Tuffy, Supt. Anthony Twomey, Asst. Comm.Michael Mc Elgunn, Cllr Eoin O Broin, & Garda JJ Walsh
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12
RED RHINO RESILIENCE AWARD WINNING WORKSHOP
Local group Red Rhino Kickboxing Club recently won with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland on their new initiative Red Rhino Resilience. This has granted the club a place and support on it’s ideas academy.
What is “Red Rhino Resilience?” Red Rhino Resilience is a new 6 week award winning workshop that combines positive personal self development techniques coupled with the disciplines and principles associated with traditional Martial arts that aims to promote and reinforce healthy positive physical,
mental, emotional and social well-being so that you can become your best self.
Red Rhino Resilience was developed during the pandemic in response to the overwhelming demand for youth work and mental health services. Karl Flynn and James McGuirk who was Karl’s first ever student of “Red Rhino Kickboxing club” are well known for their work in the community over the years and due to the amount of youth agency referrals and social difficulties they receive, they put heads together and designed a six
week workshop where they build people up internally and externally over the course, each week has a theme where they tailor the sessions around a particular cognitive focus eg self awareness, self esteem, self confidence, self enlightenment, self care, self belief coupled with physical martial arts challenges that reinforce mindset strength in these areas.
positive and inspiring ways with both teenagers and adults. The feedback from participants, parents and organisations has been powerful/humbling to say the least, to where we are now seeing past participants come back to
mentor new students and progress to a larger social group/activities both in our club and the greater community”.
Karl added “We are very proud of the difference our workshop has been able to
make and extremely grateful to social entrepreneurs Ireland for their support on our initiative”. For more information see https://redrhinokbc.ie/ or facebook ‘Red Rhino Kickboxing Club’.
Karl commented “We’ve had amazing results so far on our pilot courses with things like school retention, suicide prevention, life choice direction, all in a
Pictured left to right James McGuirk, Paige Byrne, Shane Keogh, Evan Freeman & Karl Flynn.
NEWCASTLE LYONS DEVELOPMENT TRUST AGM
Deputy Emer Higgins, Dublin Mid-West TD, was delighted to join Cllr. Shirley O’Hara at the Newcastle Lyons Development Trust AGM on June 21st, to catch up with residents and discuss emerging issues. This was the first meeting since the passing of former Chairman Michael Maher RIP. Special thanks to Ciaran for managing bookings of the hall for the last 32 years and best of luck to incoming Chairman John. Plans are underway to turn the hall into a brand new state-of-the-art community centre.
Deputy Emer Higgins TD and Cllr. Shirley O’Hara with members of the Newcastle Lyons Development Trust
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€59M SAGGART RESERVOIR PROJECT TO PROVIDE GREATER SECURITY TO DUBLIN WATER SUPPLY
Irish Water is in the middle of construction for their new €59m 100 million litre Saggart Reservoir which will provide a more secure water supply for homes and businesses in the greater Dublin area, Dublin MidWest’s TD has said.
Deputy Emer Higgins, visited the Saggart Reservoir site to get an update on how construction on the project is progressing. Deputy Higgins said: “It was great to visit the site and see how things are progressing on
what is such a massive local and regional project.
“Once completed, the Saggart Reservoir will provide additional water infrastructure for the greater Dublin area, to support the building of homes and schools, to attract new industry and to allow companies to expand and grow. “It will also improve the drinking water supply and it will mean that shortages or shut-offs for maintenance will be easier avoided as the reservoir will
provide an additional source of water for homes and businesses. “I know myself that disruptions in water service can be massively troublesome, so this project will ensure those disruptions are avoided and will strengthen Dublin’s water infrastructure allowing better quality and quantity of supply.
“The new reservoir will have a storage capacity equivalent to providing a daily water supply for almost 300,000 homes,” added Deputy Higgins. “As part of the project a significant amount of topsoil is being removed to make way for the construction of the reservoir which will hold the equivalent of 40 swimming pools worth of water. “Some of the excavated topsoil is being reused on the site as berms to the reservoir and the excess soil is being transported to two local sites, because waste soil and stone are a by-product
and they can be used in place of raw material on sites with planning in the locality. “Both Irish Water, and its contractor Coffey Construction, were keen that the top soil stays in the local area where possible because of the environmental and cost implications of transporting
so many truck loads a far distance. “A site on the Boherboy Road was originally proposed for soil but it would have had a negative impact on residents in a small estate and would have created a lot of traffic and safety issues and I supported those residents
to push back against that proposal. “It’s great to see the project now almost at the half-way mark and I’m really looking forward to the massive advances in water quality and supply that this reservoir will provide for the people of Dublin,” concluded Deputy Higgins.
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CHILDCARE FACILITIES SIMPLY NOT BEING DELIVERED WITHIN ADAMSTOWN SDZ Councillor for LucanPalmerstown-North Clondalkin, Derren Ó Brádaigh, has criticised the Government for failing to deliver upon urgently needed childcare facilities in a strategic development zone in west Dublin. Cllr Ó Brádaigh said “Affordable childcare is a huge issue everywhere in Ireland but has become particularly acute in Lucan now, with the escalating population growth accompanying the Adamstown SDZ and development generally west of the Newcastle Road. The limited number of creche facilities are in most instances akin to the cost of
a second mortgage, without any availability, even if parents can afford them. The original construction of Adamstown and Castlegate back in 2007 delivered in excess of 1,100 homes. This doesn’t include the likes of Stratton and St Helen’s that were built in the last couple of years. Sixteen years on, there is only one privately run creche with places for 70 children and this facility is fully booked until the end of 2024. Whilst there are plans for another similar creche to locate in the newly built Shackleton development, I understand that there has already been close to 400 enquiries seeking to secure places. “Councillors
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learned at a recent Area Committee meeting that the community team in South Dublin County Council have recently consulted with their planning colleagues to confirm the model used for creche planning.
is something that so many young ordinary working parents and families in Lucan are demanding
now. In my view, we need to invest considerably in childcare, and early years learning now need to be
seen as an essential public service, just as secondary school was when it was made free in 1967.”
DR NOEL BROWNE PLAQUE UNVEILED
The standards for creches are set out within Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities June 2001 published by the Department. These standards are reflected in the County Development Plan and seek one childcare facility with a minimum of 20 places for each 75 units for new residential development. Doing the maths on this in relation to the existing homes I’ve mentioned, would equate to a deficit of at least 3 childcare facilities with places of 70 or more. “It is vital that we begin to see new affordable public creche facilities in tandem with the arrival of any further development. This
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The closing date for applications is Thursday 14th July, 2022.
Pictured At Peamount Hospital on the occasion of the dedication of a namestone in memory of Dr Noel Browne were Mayor Peter Kavanagh, Noel Browne’s daughter Ruth with Cllr Teresa Costello and Cllr Charlie O’Connor.
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PURE MILE VOLUNTEERS HAVE ALREADY REMOVED 3,000 BAGS OF LITTER AND RUBBISH The environment/ community initiative, the Pure Mile, which encourages communities and groups to adopt a mile of road, or miles of road, and work together to keep these areas litter and rubbish free have removed over 3,000 bags of litter and rubbish from Wicklow/ Dublin uplands in the first six months of 2022. The Pure Truck has removed over 75 tonnes, (75,000kg) of illegal dumping and rubbish from Wicklow/ Dublin uplands in the first six months of 2022, with a considerable amount of this litter and rubbish collected by Pure Mile Volunteers from hundreds of roads, verges, drains and ditches from the Wicklow/Dublin uplands. There are now over 800 miles of roads, mountains, woodlands, valleys,
forestries, and upland amenities, signed up to the 2022 Pure Mile Project, the largest number ever since the project began in 2010. Over 1,000 litter picks/ clean-ups, undertaken by Pure Mile Groups have already taken place this year, with over 3,000 bags of litter, rubbish, and dumping, removed from the Wicklow/ Dublin upland environment, all by thousands of Pure Mile Volunteers. In some instances, recent clean-ups by Pure Mile groups resulted in the collection of over 100 bags of rubbish from just one area. Other discarded material included, tyres, batteries, mattresses, radios, hovers, TV’s, cables, piping, furniture, chairs, bed frames, building materials, toys, prams, suitcases, buckets, bikes, and much more, with each Pure Mile clean-up making a huge
difference to the Wicklow/ Dublin environment.
Pure Mile groups are also contacting Pure to report illegal dumping sites that they locate on the landscape during their litter picks, and Pure are collaborating with Wicklow County Council, South Dublin County Council, and Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, to investigate sites for evidence prior to Pure Truck removal. Pure have also been working with Walking Groups, Hiking Groups, Cycling Groups and Businesses, who have adopted areas in the Wicklow Mountains National Park located in the South Dublin Uplands. A number of litter picks and cleanups have already taken place this year and the groups are transforming this environmentally sensitive area, an area which attracts
thousands of visitors annually. Ian Davis, manager of Pure commented ‘The Pure Mile was established in 2010 and the project has grown from 5 miles to over 800 miles. With Covid-19 we saw an increase in people reconnecting with the area they live in, walking their local roads, rediscovering their natural environment, and becoming aware of the amount of litter and rubbish on roadside verges, hedges, and drains. This increased registration to the Pure Mile Project and a considerable number of these Pure Mile groups have continued with the project and they are now contacting us every day to organise litter picks and clean-ups. The Pure Truck
has been extremely busy collecting the rubbish on a daily basis, ensuring that no bags are left on the landscape. It’s amazing the amount of litter and rubbish the Pure Mile Volunteers are removing, and I would like to thank all of them and congratulate them for their dedication in Cleaning Up The Wicklow/Dublin Uplands.’ Pure are continuing to support all of the Pure Mile Groups with further litter picks, clean-ups, anti-dumping initiatives, community projects, biodiversity and heritage projects, which are ongoing throughout the year. Pure provide all groups with Pure Mile signage, Pure Mile bags, Pure Mile high-vis
vests, gloves, litter pickers, and the Pure Truck removes all of the rubbish collected by the groups. Pure is a partnership project and the first of its kind in Ireland which incorporates statutory and nonstatutory organisations, including; Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications, Wicklow County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Coillte, National Parks & Wildlife Service, and the Wicklow Uplands Council. Pure was established to combat illegal dumping/ fly-tipping in the Wicklow/ Dublin Uplands. The project was officially launched in September 2006.
TO REPORT DUMPERS AND DUMPING LO–CALL 1800 365 123
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MOTORING LIFE
WITH
New KIA Sportage - Infused with Sportiness By Breda Corrigan The all-new Kia Sportage has arrived, and with it comes a bold design that has a clear resemblance to the amazing Kia EV6 (Irish and European Car of the Year for 2022), as well as the upcoming Kia Niro. The first two generations of the Kia Sportage were conservative and relatively unexciting, but the third generation really sent out a clear message that Kia could offer more than just value for money. The Mk4 Sportage raised the bar even further in terms of style, comfort, infotainment and efficiency, and went on to become a volume seller for the brand in Ireland, and right across Europe too. Striking Design. The recently launched fifth-generation Sportage now faces stronger competition than ever before, but it is equipped with all of the right ingredients to excel in the family SUV market segment. The new Sportage has a striking, bold look at the front, a distinctive profile, and one of the most cutting-edge and tech-laden cabins in the business, while its engine line-up includes 1.6-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel units, along with hybrid technology in the form of mild hybrid (diesel) and selfcharging full-hybrid (petrol) units. Trim options for buyers of the new Sportage consist of K2 (diesel only), K3 (diesel or petrol/electric HEV), K4 (diesel only) and the flagship GT-line (diesel with mild hybrid technology), with all variants available in front-wheel drive format only. Premium Look & Feel. At the heart of the new Sportage cockpit sits a state-of-the-art integrated curved dual display which is the focal point for all your driving, information, connectivity, navigation and entertainment needs.
Boasting a 2680mm wheelbase, the refined cabin in the new Sportage delivers all the space a growing family could possibly need, with rear seat passengers enjoying a remarkable amount of legroom, while a host of clever storage spaces are easily within reach of all occupants. Luxurious aluminium finishes on the dashboard and doors, finely detailed sporty air vents with semi-gloss chrome bezel, and ambient lighting infuse the cabin with sportiness, along with a premium look and feel. The ergonomic cabin layout is equipped with the latest breakthrough tech innovations such as a Multi-Mode Touch Display that lets you easily switch between the infotainment and climate controls with a simple touch. The exquisitely crafted seats in the new Sportage feature soft-touch materials, sophisticated detailing and dynamic colour options, while the driver and front passenger seats innovate even further with an extra-comfortable and sporty slimline design. Boot space measures in at an impressive 587-litres behind the rear seats, but this can be expanded to a cavernous 1,776-litres when the rear seats are folded flat - all of which is greatly helped by a flat floor that makes it easy to slide large loads in and out. Test Car Details. My test car was a Sportage K3 HEV, which was finished in ever popular Pearl Black metallic paint with Black Saturn cloth and faux leather seat upholstery. Standard K3 trim equipment includes 18” alloy wheels, 12.3” touchscreen navigation, LED headlights, heated front & rear seats, heated steering wheel, driver poweradjustable seat with lumbar support, rear privacy glass, Telematics System with Kia Connect, dual-zone automatic airconditioning, electronic parking brake with auto hold function, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, and a suite of advanced safety systems, along with many more comfort, convenience and infotainment systems. The Sportage full-hybrid (HEV) mixes a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 1.49kWh battery that feeds a 59bhp electric motor for a combined output of 227bhp (230PS) and 350Nm of torque. This powerful combination enables the Sportage HEV to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 8.0-seconds, on its way to a top speed of 193km/h (where permitted), with fuel consumption as low as 5.7l/100kms easily achievable on a WLTP combined driving cycle. Annual road tax is just €200. Solid Refinement. On the road the Sportage HEV pulls away most of the time in pure electric mode, and the transition is smooth when the petrol engine kicks in. A relaxed approach to acceleration will be rewarded by solid
refinement that improves further at cruising speed. In corners the Sportage keeps its body roll well controlled, with direct steering making it easy to place the car in the right position on the road. The Sportage is a very quiet and refined car, with little outside noise intruding into the calm of the cabin, while excellent visibility from the driver’s seat is yet another major plus point. Verdict, Pricing & Warranty. The all-new Kia Sportage is a comfortable, practical and extremely well-equipped family SUV that is, in my opinion, one of the most stylish and distinctive cars in its market segment. Pricing for the new Sportage starts at €34,500 for the 1.6-litre (115bhp) diesel-powered K2 model, with the K3 petrol/electric HEV model I drove priced at €43,150. All Kia passenger cars come with a comprehensive 7-year/150,000km warranty as standard, along with a complimentary 3-year Kia Assist plan for ultimate peaceof-mind ownership.
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LUCAN CONCERT IN AID OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES
The church’s flagship ensemble, the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir is one of the premiere adult church choirs in the Midwest. The Sanctuary Choir offers a variety of great choral music at two worship services on Sunday mornings from September through May, and select Sundays during the summer including the church’s annual Jazz Liturgy during the Bix Jazz Festival. The choir has a rich history of providing great music in the Quad Cities, having been featured for over two decades as part of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concerts
and twice on national PBS-TV. The Sanctuary Choir has commissioned and premiered a number of choral works and arrangements, including anthems by renowned composers and building on the choir’s commitment to creating new music, A new commission by renowned British composer Jonathan Dove will be included in their Irish Concerts.
Matthew Bishop is the Director of Music at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Davenport, Iowa, and is the founding music director and conductor of the Summer Sinfonietta—an orchestra presenting
free summer concerts to the Tallahassee community. He frequently collaborates as a chamber musician and as an accompanist, playing for singers, instrumentalists and for operatic productions. He is also active as an early music keyboardist. Matthew is in frequent demand for his versatility on the podium, and has worked with various new music, early music, theatre, and community orchestras. The event is on Tuesday the 19th of July at 8pm in St. Mary’s Church in Lucan. All donations in aid of Ukrainian Refugees.
CLLR CAREY ELECTED CHAIR OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE Cllr William Carey has expressed his delight recently being elected to the position of Area Chair for the Clondalkin area committee. The Clondalkin Councillor was speaking after the SDCC annual general meeting (AGM) which was held at county hall recently.. Cllr Carey added that he was delighted that his fellow councillors had placed their trust in him for the coming year. Councillor Carey also welcomed the election of Emma Murphy FF as Mayor and Joanna Tuffy as deputy mayor. Cllr Carey added that whilst he had abstained in the vote for mayor he was pleased for Cllr Murphy and her family as she was chosen to represent the county as first citizen. Cllr Carey continued by saying he wants to reach out to young people in the community and to bring forward their concerns and thoughts for the coming year. Cllr Carey has stated that he intends to bring forward at least one motion per meeting dealing with matters relating to young people in the constituency. Cllr Carey also said he would be making a special effort to engage with constituents in the four districts of Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas which often feel on the periphery of the constituency. In the past some people have expressed their confusion at not knowing whish LEA they are part of. I have already put down a motion to the next OP&F meeting calling for a change in the name of the local electoral area (LEA) to “Clondalkin & Four districts area committee” and look forward to making sure that the four districts feel they have a place to bring their concerns. Cllr Carey finished by thanking previous chairpersons in the roll for the work they had carried out and said they had all set a benchmark for him to live up to.
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BRING THE 18 AND 76 BUS ROUTES BACK INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP The government should reverse the privatisation of the 18 and 76 bus routes in response to poor performances from private operators, according to David Gardiner, Workers’ Party representative in
Palmerstown-Fonthill. Gardiner said “Anybody who uses the 18 or 76 buses can tell you how the quality of service has dropped since GoAhead took over these routes. People are timing
buses, leaving their houses, getting to the bus stop only to find that their trip has been cancelled or has just disappeared off of the timetable app altogether.” “One
resident,
who
regularly travels by bus from Palmerstown to Ballyfermot, has told me that they ignore the 18 altogether when timing a bus because chances are it won’t show up. That might be alright if you’re going somewhere that’s served by multiple routes, but if you’re going further afield and you’re relying on a certain bus to show up, it isn’t much use. Another resident, who travels from Palmerstown to Clondalkin on the 76, expressed similar frustrations.” “Public transport should be a simple, affordable and green method of getting from one place to another,
and if GoAhead cannot be relied upon to deliver a good standard of bus
services, these routes must be taken back into public control.”
SOD TURNED ON SAGGART COMMUNITY CENTRE A sod-turning has taken place for the construction of an eagerly awaited community facility in Saggart Village. The delivery of the facility has been a collaborative process between South Dublin County Council and the board of management of the local voluntary Saggart Schoolhouse Community Centre.
The investment in the Saggart Community Centre is approximately €2.3 million for its construction with funding support of €500,000 provided through the Government’s LEADER Programme for rural development. Following a competitive tender process, the contract for the construction of the centre was awarded to M. L. Quinn Construction Ltd. It is anticipated that the construction will take approximately twelve to fourteen months to complete. The proposed building
is designed to preserve the important community history encapsulated in the old St Marys National School building while transforming the site to provide a modern, multi-purpose community facility for the growing population of Saggart Village. The Council is looking forward to working with the board and community in Saggart to develop an impactful community resource in the village centre. Speaking at the sod-turning, the past Mayor of South Dublin County, Councillor Peter Kavanagh, said, “I am delighted to turn the sod on the new community centre in Saggart Village. I want to commend residents and the staff in the Council for their collaborative approach to this project and I look forward to seeing the completed centre in the future.”
Cllr Peter Kavanagh Mayor of South Dublin with Danny McLoughlin (SDCC Chief Executive), Laurence Quinn (ML Quinn Construction Ltd), TD Emer Higgins, Cllr Shirley O’Hara , Cllr Eoin O’Broin, Angela Manoli (Fingal Leader Partnership), Colm Ward Director of Housing Social and Community Development, Community Centre board members and local residents at the Sod turning for the Saggart Schoolhouse Community Centre
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MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SHOULD BE BASED ON NEED NOT ON ABILITY TO PAY Mark Ward TD has called the two-tiered health service a failure for people presenting publicly with mental health difficulties. 2021 also saw an increase in the number of children admitted into adult inpatient psychiatric facilities Teachta Ward was speaking after the launch of the Mental Health Commission’s Annual Report that stated that people who present privately for mental health treatment receive a much better standard of care than those who present publicly. Teachta Ward: “The Government has failed in their commitment to move away from a twotiered health system. This is obvious when it comes to people’s mental health care. “The Mental Health Commission’s Annual Report has shown there is a gap
in the quality of care that people presenting for mental health care receive privately over public patients “The report stated that there is clear evidence that the independent, private mental health service providers are generally providing care in superior standard premises than those within the public system “Treatment should be based on need, not on ability to pay. “There is also the postcode lottery for health care , with those living in Dublin able to access better mental health services than those that live in Cork. “The fact that the Mental Health Commission found that 5 HSE mental health facilities in Cork are unsuitable is a damming inditement of years of underinvestment and lack of political will
to bring the states public mental health services into the 21st century.
“The report also states that someone who lives in the Dublin area, who has private health insurance, has much better choice and access than those living elsewhere. “The two-tiered mental health system is failing everyone. “The report also showed an increase in children being admitted into unsuitable adult psychiatric facilities. “In 2021, there were 32 admissions involving children to adult units compared with 27 admissions to adult units in 2020. “I asked the HSE this week at the mental health committee if this could rise again this year with the closure of 11 beds in CAMHS, Linn Dara and they responded that this is a
NEW MATERNITY SCHEME FOR SOUTH DUBLIN COUNCILLORS IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT A new scheme which provides maternity leave for South Dublin councillors will be positive for all women wishing to pursue a career in politics, Emer Higgins TD has said. Deputy Higgins said: “My colleague, Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke TD, is introducing a scheme to provide maternity leave for councillors, which is an extremely welcome development. “This means that female councillors in Dublin can appoint a temporary substitute for a maternityrelated absence. “Currently, our 40 Councillors in South Dublin County Council are not classified as employees, meaning they are not covered by the statutory framework on issues such as maternity leave. “This scheme provides access to maternity leave under the Maternity Protection Act 1994. Dublin councillors will be entitled to the same rights as female employees, and those with the relevant PRSI contributions. “The proposal to allow for a temporary substitute will address situations where councillors feel pressure to turn up to important votes or debates or fulfil their community representative role, when they would really prefer or need to be at home caring for their new baby or recovering themselves.
“Fine Gael is working to build stronger, safer communities. Our councillors make a hugely valuable contribution to local communities across Dublin and Fine Gael in Government will continue to ensure they are supported.” Commenting on the draft legislation, Minister Burke said: “After significant engagement with councillors across the country, with legal advisers and officials, I am delighted to secure Cabinet approval for my proposals to provide maternity leave for councillors. “The decision allows us to address a deficit which should not exist in a 21st century workplace, to provide full maternity leave for our councillors. “Our rate of female participation in both local and national government is shamefully low, and I believe this measure will remove another obstacle and allow us to make the role of a councillor more accessible to half of our population “For far too long, female politicians have been denied a basic right of maternity leave as our political system displayed an inherent design bias “We see many Oireachtas members starting off their political careers in local government so these measures will also have a positive effect on gender equality in our Dáil and Seanad Chambers.”
possibility. “We need to get rid of this draconian practice which sees some of our most vulnerable children with acute mental
health needs admitted to adult psychiatric hospitals. It is a very frightening experience for any child to
be admitted to a hospital for mental health reasons, but this is exasperated for those children who are placed into adult units.
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MABS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE LOW TAKE UP OF DEBT RELIEF NOTICES MABS has launched a new report called For the Few but not the Many which provides an analysis of Debt Relief Notices (DRNs) from a debtor perspective. The report, compiled by Dr. Stuart Stamp an Independent Social Researcher at Maynooth University and Paul Joyce, Senior Policy Analyst with FLAC was launched recently by Fiona Coyne the Chief Executive of the Citizens Information Board (CIB). CIB provided the social policy grant aid for the report.
Debt Relief Notices (DRNs) are a statutory personal insolvency arrangement targeted at “low income low asset” (LILA) debtors that were introduced in the period following the Global Financial Crisis by the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, which was subsequently amended in 2015 and 2021. The report highlights the fact that while Debt Relief Notices can be transformative for those who use them, the actual number of applications for DRNs has been much lower than anticipated. The projected number was 3,000 to 4,000 in the first year. In fact, only 1,924 DRNs having been approved in total from 2013 to the end of 2021. In England and Wales where a similar arrangement exists
in the form of Debt Relief Orders (DROs) the take up per head of population is eight times greater than in Ireland. Reasons for such a limited take up include eligibility, administrative burden and supervision period requirements. There is also a need for more publicity and awareness around the availability of DRNs. Speaking at the launch Dr. Stuart Stamp said: “Our research shows that Debt Relief Notices can be transformative in terms of removing the stress associated with debt problems, improving people’s wellbeing and enabling them to get on with their lives again. However, uptake at the moment is way too low and we need both legislative reform to improve access and greater promotion to increase awareness”. Paul Joyce, FLAC, added that the statutory review of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 (as amended), currently being carried out by the Department of Justice, provides a timely opportunity to revise the rules relating to the Debt Relief Notice (DRN) and to introduce reforms to help boost applicant numbers. Particularly now, in light of the current financial pressure on households with
low incomes. The research is timely as 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the Personal Insolvency Act (2012). This Act heralded a new era for insolvent debtors in Ireland introducing three new Court backed debt resolution mechanisms for debtors and underpinning in law an insolvent debtor’s right to a fresh start. Following the enactment of the Act, the Minister for Social Protection requested the Board of CIB to provide Approved Intermediaries, through the MABS network, to administer DRNs on behalf of the public. Initially 13 Money Advisers were trained as Approved Intermediaries (AIs) and now there are AIs available nationwide, in every MABS location. As well as being at the forefront of supporting the public to access DRNs, MABS has also worked to provide feedback to enhance the operation of the legislation in practice. Over the past decade, qualifying debt amounts, asset values and the value of motor vehicles have been revised upwards following submissions from MABS. Speaking at the launch Fiona Coyne, Chief Executive, CIB said “I would like to congratulate the MABS regional companies
for undertaking this research which represents a comprehensive and considered overview of 10 years of Debt Relief Notices in Ireland. It highlights that
when successful, a DRN can be truly transformative for people. This year also marks 30 years since the establishment of MABS. This report demonstrates
that MABS staff continue to demonstrate the same desire to assist people with unmanageable debt and secure a fresh start as they did back in 1992.”
NOVENAS FOR LAURA LYNN MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. With grateful thanks to Our Lady for favours received. And thanks to the Sacred Heart for favours received. H.B MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. With grateful thanks to Our Lady for favours received. And thanks to the Sacred Heart for favours received. H.B MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. With grateful thanks to Our Lady for favours received. And thanks to the Sacred Heart for favours received. H.B MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three
days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. With grateful thanks to Our Lady for favours received. And thanks to the Sacred Heart for favours received. H.B MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. With grateful thanks to Our Lady for favours received. And thanks to the Sacred Heart for favours received. G.L MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. With grateful thanks to Our Lady for favours received. And thanks to the Sacred Heart for favours received. L.R MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. With grateful thanks to Our Lady for favours received. And thanks to the Sacred Heart for favours received. F.R
If you would like a Novena published please send a postal order or cheque (Minimum of €10 per prayer) made out to Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice, along with your Novena to: NEWSGROUP, Unit 3 Floor 2 St Dominics Shopping Centre, St Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24. If you require any further information please call 01 45 19 000 or Pictured L to R Dr. Stuart Stamp, Fiona Coyne, CEO of Citizens Information Board and Paul Joyce. Pic Credit: Tommy Clancy
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