Eamon Ryan TD
Minister for Communications, Rathfarnham, Dundrum, Ballyboden, Knocklyon,Firhouse, Churchtown, Foxrock,
Energy and Natural Windy Arbour, Mount Merrion, Goatstown, Stillorgan, Kilmacud, Sandyford,
Resources Stepaside, Kiltiernan, Clonskeagh, Ballyogan, Leopardstown, Ballinteer, Cabinteely
Dear Constituents,
Thank you for taking the time to read my Summer
2009 newsletter.
We are in exceptional economic times, with
many people experiencing real financial hardship
as pensions fall in value and jobs have been lost.
It is a challenging time to be in Government but
we have to be responsible and make decisions in
the national interest that will help our economy
and our country recover.
If we steer the country in a Greener direction our
recovery will be quicker and more sustainable.
By investing in renewable energy and new clean
technologies we can create green collar jobs
which avoid a boom and bust cycle. We can
continue to attract foreign and local investment,
while at the same time protect the social services
we need and cut back on our carbon emissions.
The recovery will be Green.
In my own Department I am delivering these
new green jobs as we reduce our reliance on
imported fossil fuels and promote the use of new
digital technologies. The Green Party has also
been working across every area of Government
to promote the values we want to see in our
country.
I have given some examples of the work we are
doing in this newsletter and I look forward to
hearing from you to discuss these or any other
issues.
Please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
Autumn/Winter
SUMMER 08
2009
Home Energy
Saving Scheme
As part of our economic stimulus plan the
Government has provided €100 million to
improve the insulation of existing homes
which will help create some 3,000 jobs in the
construction sector. Half of this budget is being
provided for the Home Energy Savings Scheme
which is designed to help people improve their
own homes.
Grants are being made available for a variety of insulation measures which if introduced could
reduce the average household fuel bill by an estimated €700 each year.
I recommend that households Proposed Typical % Typical Typical payback
avail of the grant that Measure grant level Support net BER (years)
is available to employ a improvement
building energy assessor Attic Insulation €250 30% 10-20% 3-6
to do a ‘before and after’ Cavity Wall
energy rating of the house Insulation €400 33% 15-20% 4-5
and advise on what are the Insulation
Internal Wall
€2,500 28% 25-30% 7-10
best energy improvements External Wall
to make. It also makes real Insulation €4,000 21% 25-30% 15-20
sense to come together with Heating control €500 40% 15-25% 4-5
upgrade
a number of other houses in
Heating Control
your road and try and get a Upgrade plus €700 28% 25-30% 4-5
volume discount for the work high efficiency
boiler (90%+)
to be done.
Those in receipt of a fuel allowance can avail of similar insulation measures at only a nominal
cost to themselves via the ‘Warmer Homes Scheme’ which is also administered by Sustainable
Energy Ireland.
The best way to get information and apply for these grants is via the web at www.sei.ie/
grants or by ringing 1850-927000 I will gladly assist you with this so please do not hesitate
to contact me should you wish to take part in the scheme.
The Next Generation
of Broadband
In my two years in office the use of broadband • Establishment of a One Stop Shop to
has more than doubled to 1.25 million give service providers flexible and open
households. We were lagging behind other access to existing and future state ducting
countries due to a lack of investment in our infrastructure.
networks but in recent years broadband The next generation of broadband speeds
speeds and prices have improved on the back are already starting to be delivered in Dublin
of competition between different providers. South.
As Minister with responsibility for this crucial
infrastructure I am determined we will have Eircom have tested higher speed Fibre to
the next generation of broadband access for the Cabinet systems in Dundrum, Sandyford
Ireland. This infrastructure will help create and Ballyboden which will provide up to
jobs in the new digital economy and keep us 25megabits per second. UPC is currently
socially connected. I am now introducing: upgrading their cable network to provide high
speed services across the constituency.
• 100mbit broadband access to every
secondary school in Ireland
More details on these local services are available
• New planning regulations to ensure open on: www.eircom.ie, www.upc.ie and
access fibres are installed in all new buildings www.eamonryan.ie/communications

Achieving Cleaner
Greener Energy
I have been working hard to change the rules
and the nature of electricity generation in
Ireland. We can use our natural resources to
bolster the economy, create green collar jobs
and reduce carbon emissions.
Microgeneration New measures were
introduced to encourage electricity generation
in homes, farms and businesses across Ireland.
This includes a support price, which means you
can generate your own electricity and be paid
for the excess you don’t use.
Gas and Electricity Prices reduced This
month electricity prices were reduced by 10%
and gas prices by 12%. This not only helps
consumers but also makes Irish business more
competitive.
Smart meters Over the next five years, every
home in Ireland will have a smart meter to
track your energy use on an hourly basis.
Being ‘energy clever’ as a consumer, a supply
company and a nation is one of the ways
we can meet our energy and climate change
challenges.
New Green Jobs The ESB recently announced
the creation of 3,700 new jobs in the green
economy. These jobs will be in the areas of
smart meters, electric vehicles, wind energy,
home insulation and green technology.
All of these initiatives will help create thousands
of jobs and position Ireland as a leader in the
rapidly developing clean energy economy.
New Local Area Plan
for Goatstown
In my own submission I outlined the need for better
traffic management, safer pedestrian crossings and
cycling facilities, more public transport, community
services and a sustainable village design with a
good mix of facilities and civic space.
The existing crossroads provides the potential
for a sustainable and self contained village core.
By designing a new centre in an integrated and
compact manner it should be possible to create
an attractive village setting which caters for the
needs of local community. I remain opposed to the
Eastern Bypass and we are campaigning to have the
plans removed from the County Development Plan
so we can get ahead with more sustainable local
development. For a copy of my own submission
log onto www.eamonryan.ie/local
the new Councillor for Blackrock
The Dublin Mountains Partnership
The Dublin Mountains are one of our greatest treasures. Few other capital cities allow one so
easily to get out into the mountain air and away from it all. We have to protect and develop
this asset in a way that best serves everyone’s interest.
The Dublin Mountains Partnership (DMP) is a joint initiative established to improve the
recreation potential of the public lands in the Dublin Mountains. The Partnership has set out a
ten year vision to improve the facilities and manage recreation and other uses of the area by
upgrading trails, improving signage, providing public transport links and tackling anti social
behaviour such as dumping. I have been promoting the Dublin Mountains Partnership since the
beginning and as a local representative I will do everything I can to make sure it works well. For
more information see www.dublinmountains.ie
Get
Ireland
Growing
Last month The Green Party
launched a national campaign to
increase the number of allotments
and community gardens. We also
held a public meeting on growing
food locally, which over 200 people
attended. For more information
on this campaign and to find out
how you can get involved log on to
www.getgrowing.ie
Money and Budgeting
Advice
The Dundrum / Rathfarnham and District Money Advice and Budgeting Bureau have been
awarded funding for and additional part time money advisor. MABS is a free, confidential
and independent service for people who are experiencing financial difficulties or need advice
on managing their money. They are open to the public from 9 - 5pm Mon – Fri at 1A Upper,
Kilmacud Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14. Call 299 0360 or email dundrum@mabs.ie to
make an appointment.
Eamon Ryan with local Green Party
Reforming Local representatives.
Government
Minister for the Environment John Gormley is
preparing a blueprint for reforming local gov-
ernment that will see the introduction of a di-
rectly elected mayor for Dublin.
He has already introduced a spending limit of
€15,000 for local election campaigns and will This allowance has been abused by a minor-
soon introduce a cap of €2,000 (from the cur- ity of councillors around the country who sign
rent allowance of €10,000) for the amount of up for conferences, claim the taxpayer funded
expenses a councillor can claim in a year for expenses and then leave without attending the
training. conference.
 Community Tax breaks for
Policing cycling to work!
initiative All workers are now able to benefit from
the Bike to Work Scheme. This scheme

launched enables your employer to purchase a bike

and safety equipment for you worth up
to €1,000 without you being liable for
A Joint Policing Committee has been benefit in kind taxation. This equates to
set up in each local authority area. a saving of 41% on the cost of a new
These committees will provide a bike.
forum for An Garda Síochána,
elected representatives and member The Government is also spending €5m
of the public to come together to on upgrading cycle lanes in Dublin. As
discuss local crime issues and make well as reducing traffic congestion and
recommendations for safer communities. The Committee’s function will be to monitor lowering carbon emissions, more people
crime and anti-social behaviour in the local area, including levels of alcohol and drug cycling to work will improve health and
misuse. fitness levels. So why not talk to your
employer about participating?
The Committee will also advise An Garda Síochána on how to improve their role in the
community to achieve the highest possible quality of life for those who live there. Public To find out how to take part log on to
participation will be enhanced through the hosting of public meetings to engage the www.bikescheme.ie
wider community in issues affecting their locality.
For more information, contact the Community Department of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown
County Council, 205 4748 or in South Dublin County Council 414 9000.

Dundrum Shopping Centre

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council recently granted permission for phase
2 of the Dundrum Shopping Centre. I am not opposed the re-development of the
village but I would just like to see a more sustainable urban design that would
create a real town centre, with a proper mixed use of services, good transport links,
more civic amenities and a streetscape that creates sense of community for all the
surrounding areas.
The decision is now in appeal with An Bord Pleanala. For more information log on The
The County
County
to www.dundruminterestgroup.ie Development
Development Plan
Plan
– Have your say
– Have your say
Both
Both Councils
Councilsin in
Dublin
DublinSouth are inare in
South
the process of reviewing their County
the process of reviewing their County
Development
DevelopmentPlan.Plan.These
Theseplans
planssetset
outout
aa vision and strategy for the proper
vision and strategy for the proper
planning
planning and
andsustainable
sustainable development
development
of the County for a six-year
of the County for a six-year period in in
period
terms of physical growth and renewal,
terms of physical growth and renewal,
economic,
economic,social
socialand
and cultural activity,
cultural activity,
and
and environmental
environmental protection and and
protection
enhancement.
enhancement.
South
South Dublin
DublinCounty are currently
County are currently
completing the draft plan
completing the draft plan shortly
andand
it itwill
will go out to public consultation later
go out to public consultation later this
Walk on Wednesdays! this
year.year.
More
www.sdcc.ie
www.sdcc.ie
More detailscan
details can be
be found
foundonon

Eamon Ryan with students from St Attracta’s Ballinteer

The
The second
second phase
phaseof ofthe
theDunDunLaoghaire
Laoghaire
Walking in supervised groups is a safe, fun, healthy and environmentally friendly way to get to Rathdown
Rathdown consultation hasjust
consultation has begun.
just begun.
school in the morning. The Draft County Development plan is is
The Draft County Development plan
Many schools are now organising ‘Walk on Wednesdays’. This usually involves a group of teachers, available
availablefor
forviewing
viewingin in
council offices
council or
offices
parents and volunteers coming together to organise walking to school one day a week. They on www.drlcoco.ie The closing
or on www.drlcoco.ie The closing date for
meet at a central place and then walk the rest of the way to school in a group. When a walking submissions is 13th Julyis 2009.
date for submissions 3rd July 2009.
culture has been established, you can then start a ‘Walking Bus’, which encourages pupils to walk
every day. Why not ask your school about starting a walk to school scheme? For more information
For
For details
detailsofofmy
myown
ownsubmissions log log
submissions on
log on to www.greenschoolsireland.org or call 4002223. to www.eamonryan.ie/local
on to www.eamonryan.ie/local
 Working with Eamon Ryan TD - Your Green Team
Meabh Cody is the Green Party’s rep- Adrianne Wyse is the Green Party’s
resentative in the Stillorgan Ward. This representative in the Sandyford Glencul-
area includes the areas Clonskeagh, len Ward. Brought up in Dublin South
Mount Merrion, Kilmacud, Foxrock and she is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Cabinteely. She is an active member of Amnesty, a
Meabh grew up in Kilkenny. She now Director of FADL, Treasurer of the Gal-
lives in Clonskeagh, and works locally as lops Residents Association and is a rep-
a telecoms engineer in Dundrum. resentative on the National Women’s
Contact Meabh Council of Ireland.
Tel: 087 7839744 Contact Adrianne
meabhcody@gmail.com Tel: 086 1658851
www.meabhcody.wordpress.com glencullencampaign@gmail.com
www.adriannewyse.ie

Cllr. Terence Corish was recently Elizabeth Davidson is the Green

co-opted to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Party’s representative in the Rathfarn-
Council for the Dundrum Ward. Terence ham Ward. She has lived in the area for
lives with his wife and son in Goatstown. most of her life and she contested Dub-
He graduated as an Electrical Engineer lin South West in the 2007 General Elec-
in 1980 and he currently works in archi- tions. She has worked with some of the
tecture and planning consultancy. more marginalised members of society
Over the past 10 years Terence has been and she has campaigned for the protec-
a member of various organisations tion of the Dublin Mountains with the
working on conservation campaigns for Friends of Massy Woods, and on other
Dublin. local initiatives.
Contact Terence Contact Elizabeth
Tel: 087 9471453 Tel: 087 6358444
tcorish@cllr.dlrcoco.ie elizabeth.davidson@greenparty.ie
www.terencecorish.com www.elizabethdavidson.ie

Deirdre De Burca, Green Party Spokesperson on Europe

Senator Deirdre de Burca grew up in Loughlinstown, County Dublin. After teaching for a number of years she
returned to study psychology in University College Dublin. She worked in the field of disability and mental health
with Rehab for over a decade. She was a County Councillor for Wicklow before becoming a member of Seanad
Eireann in August 2007.
Senator de Burca is the Green Party’s Spokesperson on European Affairs and a member of the Joint Oireachtas
Committee on European Affairs. Why not check out her website on www.deirdredeburca.ie or www.
whatistandfor.ie or ring 086 806 1450 or email:deirdre.deburca@oireachtas.ie

Contact Be part of the

recovery - join
Eamon Ryan TD
the Green Party.
Dáil Eireann, Kildare St., Dublin 2.
We need a new politics to restore confid-
dence and hope in our country and our city.
Tel: 618 3097
I believe that our vision of a Greener Ire-
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie land will provide the way forward. You can
Web: www.eamonryan.ie be part of the solution by getting involved
in your own area.

Join Us!
Send me your details
if you are interested in
more information on
the Green Party.
Phone, email, or fill in the
form and send it back to
I am interested in receiving information on (please tick all that apply)
me.
www.eamonryan.ie
Name The Dublin South Greens meet at 8pm on
the first Tuesday of every month in Taney
Address Parish Hall, Taney Road, Dundrum, where
we discuss politics on both a national and
local level, and talk about how we can im-
prove the quality of life in Dublin South.
Phone Mobile If you are interested in finding out more
then please do come along to a meeting.
Email There are many ways in which you can
help out. If you would like to get involved
with the Green Party and help your com-
munity steer itself in a greener direction,
Energy Childcare Transport
then please do get in touch. We look for-
Housing Health Education ward to hearing from you.

Stock sourced from sustainable forests.