AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL

Well not quite, however the new housing initiative announced on March 2nd goes some way towards helping those households in the lower income bracket purchase their own home. This will involve the provision by local authorities of additional new houses specifically for low income house purchasers, on land provided by the local authorities and therein lies the sting.

The recent allocation of £11.7 Million for housing in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area for housing construction and remedial works has been welcomed by Mary Hanafin T.D as a tremendous boost for those on low incomes seeking housing who said "In conjunction with the special low interest loans for low income earners this should help ease the pressure for housing in the area" Not everyone would agree with this optimistic outlook however.

For residents in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Area the outlook is still bleak according to Olivia Mitchell T.D. The success of this initiative depends on local authorities having or being able to purchase land in the first place. "With land prices in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area running at approx. £1million plus per acre and with virtually no land currently owned by the local authority, this initiative hasn't got a chance of success in this area" Ms Mitchell said. The main elements of the scheme are (1) Local authorities will arrange to build houses suitable for purchasers who qualify under the scheme by satisfying an income test or by surrendering local authority or voluntary accommodation.

This income test is a single income earner of £20,000 or less and in the case of double income households, where two and a half times the principal income plus once the secondary income is £50,000 or less.(2) Houses will be sold at cost price, i.e. at a discount from the market value.(3) The Housing Finance Agency will provide mortgage finance to enable local authorities to advance loans under the scheme at a variable rate of 4% at present, or a fixed rate of 4.4% for five years. (4)There will be a graduated rate of subsidy to assist with repayments which will further reduce mortgage outgoings for those with a household income of not more than £16,000.

When announcing the initiative Mr Noel Dempsey T.D. Minister for the environment and Local Government and Mr Robert Molloy, T.D. Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal stated "The purpose of the new scheme is to help address the affordability gap which house price increases over the last few years have created for aspiring home purchasers on modest incomes."

An essential element of the scheme is that it is directly linked to the supply of additional housing to be built on land owned by the local authorities. Because this housing will be built on land owned by local authorities and will not be sold for profit, these houses should be available at a discount from the market value of other housing in the area. By availing of finance from the HFA typical outgoings on these houses will mean that a house costing £84,000 on a 95% loan will have net monthly repayments of £440. For a household on a gross income of £20,000 this monthly repayment amounts to 31% of net income. For those households with an income of £16,000 or less the graduated subsidy would reduce their monthly repayments thus a family on an annual income of £16,000 and availing of the subsidy the monthly repayments amount to 30% of net income.

Brian Hayes of Fine Gael however has condemned the Government for it's initiative which he says is totally inadequate in it's attempt to assist lower middle income earners own their own homes.

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DUN LAOGHAIRE SONG CONTEST

The accolades that continue to flood in for the Dun Laoghaire Song Contest are well earned. Words like 'launched' and 'sparkling' can very comfortably be attributed to the now famous Dun Laoghaire Song Contest.

The attraction of a very substantial cash prize plus sea trips and crystal, have ensured that entry levels continue to grow at a phenomenal rate, last years entries topping over 300. Launched recently in the offices of The First Active in Lower Georges Street Dun Laoghaire, the 1999 Dun Laoghaire Song Contest promises to be the biggest and best to date.

The winner of this prestigious song contest will receive £3,000 presented by I.M.R.O, The First Active Crystal Trophy, plus 500 CD's of the winning song presented by Trend Studios. There is also a runnerup prize of £1000 again presented by I.M.R.O. and The First Active Crystal Bowl. All qualifiers will receive a piece of engraved cut glass crystal presented by First Active. In addition Stena Line will donate a cheque of £100 and a trip for a car and five passengers on the luxurious HSS Ferry. There will also be a special prize of £100 and a Trophy presented by the Organisation for Irish Songwriters.

Last year the contest was won by Rob Burke who as a result of his win was invited to travel to L.A on the 5th of March to write with Don Henly and Glenn Frey of Eagles Fame. The contest will take place on Sunday 25th July 1999 in the Royal Marine Hotel Dun Laoghaire and will be compered by Larry Gogan. Application forms can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelop to P.O Box 5676, Dun Laoghaire.

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£280,000 FOR PROTECTION OF VICO ROAD

The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources have announced the allocation of £280,000 for the protection work at Vico Road under the 1999 Coastal Protection Programme. The allocation was welcomed by Councillor Betty Coffey who has urged the Manager of DunLaoghaire Rathdown County Council to ensure that this work be completed before the summer. "This is a safety matter and the Council must act in a responsible manner and carry out the work with the utmost urgency" said Councillor Coffey.

" I have been urging for many years that this work be carried out and I am very pleased that this funding has finally been allocated to the Council" the Councillor concluded.

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CHURCH ROAD OFFICIALLY OPENED

An Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Dr Richard Conroy officially opened Church Road Killiney on March 9th.

Church Road, from its junction with Rochestown Avenue forms an integral part of the developing road infrastructure in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County. Strategically located between Dun Laoghaire and the N 11, this road forms part of the main route from Dun Laoghaire Town Centre and Harbour and the South East of the Country. It's importance in the road network is further emphasised by the proposed South Eastern Motorway which forms part of the motorway Cring around Dublin. A high quality road has been constructed capable of dealing with the projected traffic flow of 34,000 vehicles by 2016 along this strategic corridor, at a cost of £1.88 million. The improvement scheme incorporated the widening of the existing Church Road over a distance of 1200m.

Professor Conroy added that "Careful consideration was given to landscaping. The principal areas were at each end of the road and an area on the east side midway along the route. This landscaping will complement the natural granite walls and will generally enhance the overall environment of the route".

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DOING THE BUSINESS FOR CRIMESTOPPERS

Crimestoppers, the national freephone (1800-250025 ) crime fighting service, announced the details of its new partnership with Dublin Bus which sees the Crimestoppers message and number included on over 300 thousand bus timetables. Over a quarter of a million of these timetables are delivered to households around Dublin.

Given that Dublin Bus have over half a million passenger journeys per day, the exposure to the Dublin public could not be better. Over the year nearly two hundred million users of Dublin Bus will get the Crimestoppers message

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RAINBOWS

When there is a death in the family, or when a parent leaves, the entire family is affected. Usually most of the attention goes to the adults.

Children grieve too and often their distress can go unrecognised. Sometimes children don't want to talk about their feelings because they perceive they are further hurting their already grieving parent. They see you are upset and don't want to add to it. This is where Rainbows can help.

Rainbows is a free of charge 12 week programme where the children share their feelings through activities, games and discussions. We have a team of sensitive, caring trained adults who have volunteered to help these children put their feelings into words, work through their grief, build a stronger sense of self esteem, and begin to accept what has taken place in the family. For more information or to put a child's name on the waiting list Contact Anne at 282 3424.

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DUNNES STORES MANAGER SCOOPS AWARD

One of Ireland's youngest supermarket managers has won the 1998 'Cecil King Young Manager of the Year Award'.

Kevin Dowd (29) General Manager, Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt was presented with his award by Dan Flinter, Enterprise Ireland recently in recognition of his exceptional managerial abilities at such an early age. Organised and sponsored by Chapman Flood Mazars, Chartered Accountants, the prize includes a foreign travel fund of £5,000 to enrich the winner's education, personal and international development and experience. Mr Dowd plans to use the travel prize to gain experience of management practices in UK and Spanish retail operations.

Kevin has been General Manager of Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt for the past three years, with a staff of 700 and over 40 managers. He started in the retail business at the age of 16 as shop floor assistant in Quinnsworth, over a number of years he was promoted to various management positions and joined Dunnes Stores in 1996 as General Manager of their Blanchardstown Store. He is also the 1997 winner of the Supermarket Manager of the Year Award.

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DON CONROY VISITS HOLLYPARK GIRLS SCHOOL

Pupils at Hollypark Girl's School on Newtown Park Avenue had the pleasure of meeting Don Conroy, well known TV presenter, author and environmentalist .

Don was in the school at the invitation of Volkswagen Audi main dealer Grange Motors to give an illustrated talk to the students on wild life and the environment aimed at encouraging them to become more aware of the beauty of their surroundings. General Manager at Grange Motors, Ashley Allison said "apart from his broadcasts on RTE's The Den, Don Conroy is well known as the author of numerous children's books and for his work as an artist, cartoonist , environmentalist and ornithologist. He was instrumental in Ireland becoming the first country in Europe to be declared a whale and dolphin sanctuary. Don's sea trilogy Saoirse the Grey Seal, The Mermaid's Song, and When The Sea Calls are amongst the most beautiful children's books ever written.