News
(16th November 2023) 10 year delay in the start construction of enhanced flood defence totally unacceptable
(16th November 2023) The Sandymount and Merrion Residents’ Association (SAMRA) has said that the ten-year delay in the start of construction of enhanced flood defences along Strand Road in Sandymount was totally unacceptable
While there are flood defences currently in place, the enhanced flood defences are needed to deal with climate changes predicted to occur between now and 2100.
The works were originally due to start in 2019.
SAMRA said it is seeking an urgent meeting with Minister Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Office of Public Works, and the Head of Flood Risk Management at the OPW, whom it met with in December 2022 and was given assurances that the issue would be dealt with as a matter of urgency. An engineering design consultant was to be appointed in Spring 2023.
"Delaying these enhancements until 2032 are unacceptable," said Chairman of SAMRA David Turner.
“OPW is the national agency responsible for flood defences. We want it to get a grip on this and apply maximum urgency as was agreed last year,” said Chairman of SAMRA David Turner.
“It is beyond belief that we are still getting one excuse after another.”
“What are we paying our property taxes for?”, he said.
Ends
UPDATE: Dublin Port Company's 3FM Project - 12th June 2023
SAMRA is opposed to Dublin Port Company's (DPC) proposal to build Ireland's largest container storage facility on the Poolbeg Peninsula overlooking Sandymount Beach. It has been engaging with the DPC and is so far disappointed with the engagements but will continue to amplify the concerns of the Sandymount community.
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Below are the various submissions and letters exchanged with the DPC.
Discharge of Sewage and Waste onto
Sandymount Beach on 11th May 2023
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SAMRA has written to the CEOs of Uisce Eireann, Environmental Protection Agency and Dublin City Council to have this matter dealt with urgently.
"As a Residents Association we find this to be absolutely unacceptable and are now seeking that you undertake urgent action to make sure this disgraceful occurrence does not happen again. There is no excuse that will be acceptable for this matter not being addressed with the utmost urgency. I would appreciate if you could advise by return the actions that you are planning to take to address this matter."
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YET ANOTHER REASON WHY A TASK FORCE IS NEEDED FOR THE AREA
11th May 2023
Uisce Eireann must stop discharging disgusting sewage and waste onto Sandymount Beach
The Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association (SAMRA) has called on Uisce Eireann (Irish Water) to immediately stop its policy of discharging raw sewage directly onto Sandymount Beach.
Today (11th May) at 3.00 pm huge volumes of raw sewage, which includes sanitary products including used condoms, was deposited onto Sandymount Beach.
Chairman of SAMRA David Turner who witnessed the discharge said it was totally disgusting to see this complete disregard for the health of the local community and it was creating an acute public health risk for the hundreds of people who use the beach each day.
"People are walking and dogs are in the area and are going to end up carrying the sewage home on their feet. It's totally disgusting and it's shameful that Uisce Eireann should be allowed to do this and create health risks for people", he said.
"This is nothing short of wholesale pollution which, if it was being done by a commercial company, it would be closed down immediately." "It is completely unacceptable", he said.
Anthony Jordan RIP - a scholar and gentleman
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We are sad to learn of the passing of Anthony Jordan and offer our sincere condolences to his family.
Anthony came to Sandymount in 1976 as a proud Mayo man and has been throughout an active contributor and supporter of activities in our area.
He inaugurated and ran the annual "Yeats Day" event on the Village Green for more than 20 years to ensure that this lives on as part of our cultural heritage.
He was described as a scholar and gentleman, he was the author of a number of books, the most recent being “Second Sandymount Man” - a study of Seamus Heaney.
Typical of Anthony, one of his last acts of local public service was to ensure that his book reached all of the schools in the area.
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As the current Jack Torpay Award holder, he will be sadly missed by his many friends and colleagues in SAMRA.
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Anthony is pictured recently receiving the Jack Torpay Award from SAMRA Chair David Turner.
Statement from Sandymount and Merrion Residents’ Association (SAMRA) re: Dublin Port Company’s 3FM plan.
SAMRA calls for independent review of options for Dublin port
Sandymount and Merrion Residents’ Association (SAMRA) has called on Minister Eamon Ryan to commission an independent review by international experts to determine the most up to date options for the development of Dublin Port.
Speaking at its AGM (see presentation HERE) on Monday evening 24th April, Chairman of SAMRA David Turner said: “Given the widespread opposition (local and political) to the Dublin Port Company’s plan to significantly expand its footprint and to build Ireland’s largest container storage facility beside Sandymount’s UNESCO protected beach its 3FM plan is at a dead end.
“Dublin Port needs to go back to the drawing board and consider all options to minimise its impact and maximise the benefits of its unique position for the whole community and not just for the convenience of businesses that use the port” he said.
“We believe the best way to identify the full range of options is to commission international experts who are completely independent and can draw on the most up to date intelligence and what other city based ports have successfully achieved.
“Dublin Port’s 3FM plan is also not future proofed. The port will have reached capacity by the time it’s finished. What is the point in spending hundreds of millions of euro on a project that will be out of date by the time it’s complete?
Image of what the largest container storage facility in Ireland might look like
28th March 2023 - Statement from Sandymount and Merrion Residents’ Association (SAMRA) re: the Powering Up Dublin consultation programme
The Sandymount and Merrion Residents’ Association welcomes EirGrid’s public consultation programme launched today (28th March 2023) on the upgrading of Dublin’s power grid which, when complete, will increase the city’s access to renewable energy supplies.
The project is another pressing reason why a Task Force must be urgently established to coordinate the required infrastructure projects for the Sandymount area (flood defences, sewage upgrades and off road cycle lanes) if years chaos and duplication are to be avoided.
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23rd March 2023 - SAMRA Observations on the Application by Cignal Infrastructure Ltd. for a Licence for Telecommunication Infrastructure on the Public Road/Footpath on Herbert Rd., Dublin 4.
SAMRA wish to make the following Observations in regard to the above Application.
Firstly we challenge the statement in the Planning Statement that all other options for
location of the infrastructure are ‘exhausted’. Where is the evidence for that ? Have all
height opportunities been explored ? Are there no other commercial or private off-street
locations available ? For example, has the possibility of mounting it on the structure of the
AVIVA Stadium or within its site been explored.
Secondly why can’t the existing infrastructure on the roof of the Sandymount Hotel be
upgraded ?
Thirdly, SAMRA does not agree with the Planning Statement that the installation will be
readily assimilated into the streetscape and skyscape. The pole’s scale and height at 18m
above the footpath are very prominent and it and the associated cabinet will add to street
clutter.
Such infrastructure located on residential streets is simply not acceptable and we request
that DCC refuse the Application
Application Withdrawn
PRESS RELEASE - 21st March 2023 - DUBLIN PORT 3FM PROJECT PROPOSAL
The Sandymount and Merrion Residents’ Association (SAMRA) objects to the proposed hijacking of land on the Poolbeg Peninsula by the Dublin Port Company for the construction of a boiler station and the largest container storage facility in Ireland.
Dublin Port’s 3FM development plan proposes to use 20 acres of land (more than 5 times the size of Croke Park) adjacent to an accredited UNESCO Marine Biosphere and an EU Conservation Area noted for its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife, to build a container storage facility and boiler station.
This proposed facility will be visible to tens of thousands of people from the Pembroke Quarter Development, visitors to the area, and residents across Dublin Bay. It is wrong to use this unique finite amenity for storage when there is a city centre housing crisis.
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Read full statement here
Call for Task Force to oversee Seafront Works
14th June 2022
This is a letter from SAMRA to our elected representatives, requesting their support, leadership and influence to the appointment of a single Task Force from the various bodies involved to integrate and deliver the combined scope.
SAMRA believes this to be a crucial action needed to make headway and achieve optimum outcome on these separate high priority scopes.
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SAMRA’s call has received numerous responses of support from senior leaders and this formed the main basis of a meeting between SAMRA and Minister Ryan 8th July 2022.
Motions passed calling on Dublin City Council to lead a Dublin Bay south east area taskforce - 14th Dec 2022
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SAMRA's Chairman David Turner (3rd from left) and Head of Planning Niall McElroy (far left) met Minister Patrick O’Donovan (Minister for Office of Public Works) (far right) . and local Councillor James Geoghegan (2nd from left on 14th Dec 2022. Jim Casey Head of Ireland’s Flood Defence and other officials also attended.
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SAMRA restated its call for Task Force to integrate this all the works that need to be undertaken on the seafront; cycleway, upgraded sewage works and flooding defences. together.
All agreed that this is essential and Councillor Geoghegan followed up the meeting by tabling a motion at the SEAC (South East Area Committee Meeting) calling on
Dublin City Council to lead a Dublin Bay south east area taskforce.
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You can read the motion here.
SAMRA welcomes village pedestrianisation
The Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association (SAMRA) welcomes the decision by Dublin City Council’s elected Councillors at their South East Area Committee meeting on Monday 14th February 2022 to re-introduce the pedestrianisation and a traffic free area on the east side of Sandymount Green.
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The pedestrianisation will be for 3 days (Friday – Sunday inclusive) per week between Easter and Halloween.
The decision follows a successful trial last year (2021) which was introduced following direct representation made by the voluntary SAMRA Committee to Dublin City Council.
Following that trial Dublin City Council carried out a survey among the community. It found that there was overwhelming support for the initiative. (Results here)
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Chairperson of SAMRA David Turner said: “We are delighted to be working closely with Dublin City Council and elected Councillors on this initiative which in its current form addresses the varying views expressed by members of the community.
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“We see this initiative as another step along the road to greatly enhancing the attractiveness and vibrancy of this unique village for local residents and visitors alike.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Dublin City Council and Councillors on implementing the many ideas that members of the community have proposed which will preserve and enhance the historic integrity of the village, the unique beach area which is a UNESCO designated Biosphere and the Poolbeg Peninsula, and increase their accessibility and amenity for the city”, he said.
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