Motorway Mayhem May Follow Appeal

The recent High Court decision to allow Jackson Way Properties to appeal to the Supreme Court for a judicial review of the Motorway Order has left local politicians and the public at large reeling.

"This follows a High Court refusal some months back by the same judge to allow a judicial review of the Motorway Order and comes as a bitter disappointment to everyone who has an interest in seeing our national infrastructure put in place rapidly" commented Councillor Olivia Mitchell.

County Councillor Betty Coffee stated, "The High Court decision allowing the appeal is a massive blow to one of the most important motorways in Ireland. It is a national scandal that a single interest can be allowed to deal such a blow which will result in major problems for business, transport and the development of a major business park at Leoparestown with the potential of creating over 1000 jobs. I hope that the Courts can allow the Motorway to proceed pending their decision".

However Jackson Way Properties believe it has legitimate grounds for asking for this review. The company owns 106 acres at Carrickmines, which will be cut in half by the South Eastern motorway leaving a northern and southern plot and about 22 acres of the company's lands will be used for the motorway. The current stalemate has arisen as the northern lands [ Zone E] have been zoned for industrial uses while southern lands [B] have been zoned for agriculture.

For several years, Jackson Way Properties has said that when constructing the motorway, the council should provide crossings under it for services and a bridge to preserve the development of the company's southern lands. The council propose an underpass to an agricultural standard only. The company state that after construction of the motorway, the lands will be incapable of viable agricultural use. Jackson Way Properties has offered to pay the extra costs incurred. The company has never resisted the construction of the motorway and has given way leaves for gas and sewage pipes to be laid through its lands to facilitate this. It has asked only that the development potential of its southern lands be preserved so if they are rezoned in future they will be capable of being developed. Local Councillors however state that Jackson Way Properties were fully aware of the extent of the motorway plans when they purchased the property in the first place.

What the delay means is that come 2001 the Southern Cross Motorway, currently under construction, will come to an abrupt end at Ballinteer. "Local traffic will battle with cars from all over the South East of the city as well as with HGV's from Dun Laoghaire Port and Rosslare as they all seek to access the half finished motorway at Ballinteer" commented Councillor Olivia Mitchell.

Also facing disruption are a number of planned investments both public and private which are contingent on the motorway being in place by 2003. "These are now in jeopardy and will at best have to be postponed pending a decision by the Supreme Court. Planned housing at Stepaside and the Waste Management centre at Ballyogan, which is a critical part of the overall Dublin Waste Management Plan, simply cannot go ahead until the time scale of the motorway is clarified" said Cllr Mitchell.

Having witnessed the disastrous traffic conditions at Templeogue resulting from legal action which delayed the Southern Cross construction by four years, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have been doing all that is possible to avoid a similar scenario in the construction of the South Eastern Motorway and the recent High Court decision is viewed with dismay. Jackson Way Properties say they attempted to pre-empt any delay by raising its concerns with the council three years ago.The appeal process is now underway and a speedy resolution is to be hoped for in the interests of all concerned.

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Taxation on Cars is Unfair

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry is spearheading a car owner's campaign designed to highlight the huge groundswell of popular opinion against excessive motor taxation and traffic congestion.

A national car owners protest day was organised on October 28th, where SIMI encouraged car owners to complete leaflets or log onto the SIMI web site to air their views on current car taxation levels, traffic planning and infrastructure. SIMI has committed itself to making politicians aware of car owner's views. Car owners are currently contributing IR £2.5 billion tax revenue to the government and are subjected to transport policies that SIMI believe are unreasonably anticar and aslo SIMI believe that the government seeks to blame car owners for the inadequacies of investment in road and public transport infrastructure over the past 20 years. Motorists in fact contributed in excess of 14% of all government revenue last year. The classification of the car as a taxable luxury is inequitable given the necessity of such a vehicle for personal mobility, especially in rural areas. The motor industry in Ireland has already grasped its responsibilities has succeeded in reducing emission levels and this should be reflected in taxation policy.

The current VRT system of taxation continues to draw older cars into Ireland, and these have much higher pollution levels. The SIMI's 1999 pre- budget submission therefore suggests that rates of VRT on cars which meet current stringent EU emission standards on first registration in Ireland be reduced by 2.5 percentage points. For further information contact Cyril Mc Hugh, SIMI, Tel- 6761690

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New Cure For Flu- From Your Doctor

Flu is a top of the range energy guzzler, traditionally requiring several days crashed out in bed, followed by about five days rest and relaxation.

However, a cure for flu is now available from your doctor. A new class of drug, the first of its kind in the world, known as a neu-raminidase inhibitor, is now available for flu. This new class of drug is specifically designed to target the virus and prevent the spread of infection from one cell to another within the respira-tory tract - the only place the flu breeds.

If the new drug is taken within 48 hours of flu onset, patients will experience less severe symptoms through-out the course of their ill-ness and they will be able to return to their normal lives more quickly.

Just remember, the new cure for flu requires a pre-scription from your doctor. More information can be obtained from Niamh Quinn at 6620345.

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Order of Malta 'In Touch' for 50 Years

A voluntary national youth organisation operating in 120 communities, in the Republic and Northern Ireland, the order of Malta cadets comprises boys and girls aged between 10 and 16 years, dedicated to bringing necessary first aid and care to the community. The organisation has expanded rapidly over recent years and is now one of the largest of its kind in Ireland. The volunteers form the backbone of the organisation and it is for this reason that they feature on a new Esat In Touch card. These cards can be used from touch-tone telephones and Esat Telecom will donate £5,000 to the order of Malta through sales of the card.

For sales enquiries contact Blackrock unit 7640230, Bray unit 2721373 and Sandymount 6282226.

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Southside Partnership Official Launch

Southside Partnership's newest weapon in the fight against unemployment and social exclusion, the Local Employment Service, was launched by Seamus Bren-nan TD on October 18th at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.

The Local Employment Service is a tailor made community based support service for the unemployed, travellers, people with dis-abilities and others who are most distanced from the labour market. In 1999, over 460 local people have registered with the LES, with 230 currently in per-sonalised mediation support with LES staff to obtain a job. A recent survey of clients clearly indicated positive attitudes towards the personal support given and the progressive out-comes achieved at the Southside LES. "There are nearly 7,000 people in the Southside area unemployed and up to 80% of these have been out of work for more than a year" said Adrian McGennis, Chairperson of the LES Management Committee.

The Local Employment Service provides a free, community based support service to anyone in the Southside area. Fiona Burke, LES co-ordinator says, "People can come into our main office in Monkstown farm, or any of our contact points in Ballo-gan, Shankill, Loughlin-stown, Hillview and soon in Whitechurch. Anyone who wants information about social welfare benefits, get-ting into a Jobs club, look-ing into training or educa-tion options or meeting with a professional counsellor who can help identify em-ployment options for them are welcome."

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Sallynoggin Author's book now on Leaving Cert.

'Hooked'- the newly published English Language novel by Re O Laighleis is obligatory reading in its Irish form 'Gafa' for the new Leaving Certificate curricu-lum.

Hooked tells the story of Dublin middle-class par-ents who are just discover-ing that their 17 year old son has sunk into the throes of heroin addiction. This hor-rific story alternates be-tween the life of the dis-traught mother and the ad-dicted son. The Leaving Certificate Curriculum Irish language novel on drug ad-diction is now available in English.

Born in 1953, Re O Laigh-leis is a native of Sallynog-gin. He taught in Scoil Iog-naid, Galway for twelve years before leaving teach-ing to write full-time. He is a multi-award winning au-thor and has written a cor-pus of topical and mould-breaking literature which is now be-ing translated into a number of languages. Re O Laigh-leis is currently Writer-In-Residence for County Mayo.

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New Arts Centre Opens in Cabinteely

Miss Sile de Valera, Minister for Arts, opened the new Grainstore Youth Arts Centre at Cabinteely House, Cabinteely on 2nd November.

An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Larry Butler said ,"The old Grainstore building has undergone extensive refurbishment works by the Parks department of the council to give a magnificent multipurpose and active Youth Arts Centre which will become a vibrant part of community life."

The former old Grainstore cow byre building now incorporates both an indoor and an outdoor performance area, exhibition space, darkroom facility, recording studio, snack bar, reception/office space and other working facilities.

It is envisaged that the Arts Centre will facilitate activities in both the visual and performing arts such as drama, dance, music, sculpture/ceramics, photography/film making, painting crafts etc.

The building has been licensed to Cabinteely Youth Project Ltd, a local voluntary group who have been instrumental in the establishment of the Youth Arts Centre.