tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87767732009-06-23T20:04:19.333+01:00Representing Ballinteer, Churchtown, Clonskeagh, Dundrum, Goatstown, Marlay, Windy Arbour.Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ieBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-35388850348574443602009-06-23T20:04:00.001+01:002009-06-23T20:04:19.341+01:00

A huge thank you to those of you who voted for me, and especially for everyone who put in so much hard work over the campaign. I'm delighted to be back on Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown CC for another five years.The first council meeting was last Friday. Labour have agreed a five-year programme for the council with FG, and I'll be posting it here.

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-5000285308817607252009-06-23T10:39:00.002+01:002009-06-23T10:42:13.761+01:00

Dundrum Main Street will be closed between 1 and 5 pm on Sunday, 28 June. It's for the Dundrum Festival céili and street entertainment.The alternative route will be via Dundrum By-Pass, Wyckham Way and the Sandyford Road and vice versa. A Traffic Plan will be in operation and diversions will be signposted.

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-61442369189354323232009-05-28T13:49:00.010+01:002009-05-31T17:01:56.276+01:00

I've noticed that traffic to this website has increased a fair bit in recent weeks. For those coming to find out more about what I stand for and who I am, this post should provide you with some of my ideas.By way of introduction, I'm from Churchtown and now live with my wife Aimee and three children in Meadow Grove in Dundrum. I'm 38, and outside politics, I've worked as a freelance editor for

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-87657900162155238382009-05-27T22:30:00.003+01:002009-05-27T22:34:43.140+01:00

Found this on the canvass this evening.

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-37814120977306677622009-05-18T21:51:00.003+01:002009-05-19T11:32:03.250+01:00

Have had some concern on the canvass about the return of the dreaded Sandyford Link Road, the road originally planned to run across the back of the Airfield estate. I have commented before on this madness here, here and here. I should probably explain where this is coming from. In his initial draft, the county manager proposed a dedicated busway alongside the Luas. I proposed a motion deleting

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-77244967372807914552009-05-04T16:58:00.003+01:002009-05-04T17:18:56.764+01:00

You would think that with all that's talked about supporting the Irish language that a group of dedicated parents, a vacant school site, and demonstrably strong demand for a new secondary school would be met with open arms by the Department of Education. But you'd be wrong.Since 2004, this committee has been campaigning for a new secondary school in the south Dublin area. I was happy to pass on

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-45897790272005574472009-04-28T23:03:00.006+01:002009-04-29T15:48:11.553+01:00

With the latest shocking forecasts from the ESRI, it really is time that we all, political parties especially faced up to the full extent of the problems facing the country. It is really time that we got over the small stuff. Getting rid of a few junior ministers, or trimming expenses is meaningless in the context of the issues we face. It might make us all feel a little bit better, but it's

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-55624784073633477002009-04-17T18:06:00.005+01:002009-04-17T22:24:33.429+01:00

Delighted to report that the new swimming pool at Meadowbrook, Dundrum opens on Monday. I visited it already, and it's a fantastic facility for the whole community. As well as the pool (25m) and learner pool, the facility has a fully equipped gym, 2 astro pitches, 2 squash courts, tennis court, basketball court, aerobics room and meeting room. There's also a coffee dock and seating area. You can

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-6869223178714123472009-04-14T09:12:00.001+01:002009-04-14T09:13:47.888+01:00

The Draft Development Plan 2010-2016 will be on public display,from Friday 24 April to Friday 3 July 2009, Monday to Friday, [excluding Bank Holidays], at the following locations: · The Concourse, County Hall, Dun Laoghaire (9.00am-5.00pm) · Council Offices, Dundrum Office Park (9.30am-12.30pm or 1.30pm-4.30pm) The documents may also be inspected at all branches of Dún

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-77546745788654703662009-03-30T09:39:00.003+01:002009-03-30T09:51:09.124+01:00

There has been a lot of annoyance at Greyhound and their failure to collect green bins in the last few weeks. The company's response to date has been poor. The winner so far was this comment to a Churchtown resident who was told when enquiring as to how he was to know that an extra collection had been put on, "we're telling you now".Greyhound have taken over from Oxigen as the green bin

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-54187319606306647352009-03-23T11:27:00.004Z2009-03-23T12:08:25.061Z

Eamon Gilmore is right when he calls for the Taoiseach to intervene with the unions to try to avert the proposed national strike next Monday (30 March). It is far from clear what will be achieved by this day of action, and while the anger of workers may need to vented, it is hard to see what good this strike will do. It is surely clear at this stage that the national pay deal is dead, and that

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-73091515038615975502009-03-16T17:42:00.002Z2009-03-16T18:11:27.648Z

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council today granted permission for Phase 2 of the Dundrum "Town Centre" development, subject to 61 conditions. If anyone is looking for a copy of the grant, please email me. It's 19 pages long, so there's no point posting it. It is disappointing that more substantial conditions were not put on the development. In particular, the failure to reduce the height of the

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-25942514561092635572009-02-22T21:00:00.006Z2009-02-22T22:06:53.507Z

Amid all the furore about the general economic decline, the full effects on local government and local services won't be seen for a little while yet. While there have been some job losses from local authorities already, and all are in more straitened circumstances, the real impact is some way off. There will be a sharp adverse effect on local government programmes, especially capital programmes

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-90723462753518044662009-01-27T16:58:00.000Z2009-01-27T16:59:33.488Z

Notice from RPA:LUAS GREEN LINE - LATE STARTS AT SANDYFORD STILLORGAN AND KILMACUD LUAS STOPS Sandyford, Stillorgan and Kilmacud Luas stops will be temporarily closed until 8.00am this coming weekend Saturday 31 January from 6.30am to 8.00am & Sunday 1 February from 7.00am to 8.00am. Alternative bus transport will be provided between Sandyford, Stillorgan, Kilmacud and Balally stops;

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-75856495433772027102009-01-21T21:56:00.003Z2009-01-21T22:01:38.834Z

Don't shoot the messenger! Just passing on the text of the latest council leaflet on the Sandyford Road nightmare.Timetable to completion:Following discussions with the contractor, the following timetable represents our best estimate of when outstanding works will be undertaken.Start Monday 26th January, (weather permitting) Balally Hill to Clonard EstateSandyford Road will revert to one-way

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-36324369794673750542009-01-20T10:33:00.003Z2009-01-20T23:22:34.148Z

There's only one story today. Little can be said about Obama's election and inauguration that hasn't or won't be said. If anything is more historic than the end of one of the most extraordinary political campaigns in history, it's the depth of the crisis into which Obama walks. The expectations created, and the hope he engenders have never been more needed.Lincoln may be the giant on whose

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-33236767319788668782009-01-18T11:37:00.010Z2009-01-19T10:29:53.498Z

The news that Dublin Bus is to cut jobs, services, and the number of buses it runs is staggering in the context of any serious attempt at a coherent public transport policy.The company itself is badly caught between a commercial mandate and a public service remit that even in good times is hard to reconcile. This week's news that there are to be substantial cutbacks, and what what Dublin Bus

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-20072203551850333522009-01-17T14:42:00.003Z2009-01-17T14:47:40.073Z

One issue that usually raises an argument is speed limits. So, whether your bothered by the 100 kph limit on the M50, or think that some roads should be 60 kph, and not 50, roads engineers will be available to meet the public about this issue during the week:"Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has invited the community to a series of informational meetings next week as part of the Council’s

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-63800498818662979822009-01-13T21:12:00.002Z2009-01-17T14:48:30.402Z

The Manchester sweatshops exposed by the BBC as making clothes for Primark (alias Penneys) may not be as dark or satanic as those of the nineteenth century, but it raises again questions of ethical consumerism - and highlights the importance of labels.This is not the first time Penneys has been collared for using sweatshop labour. Last year it was in Asia, this time it's in Britain. The company

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-10685700628068709072008-11-18T12:10:00.003Z2008-11-18T14:52:18.077Z

As SIPTU and IBEC hunker down again like a pair of sumo wrestlers who never get to the bout, it's good to see one Irish employer taking a novel and flexible approach to the economic slowdown.Permanent TSB has apparently offered employees up to €20,000 to take a two-year career break, or up to €35,000 for three years out (Irish Times Weekend, 15 November, p.3) . Now I don't know what the "up to"

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-90415983588669218422008-11-09T10:33:00.008Z2008-11-09T11:23:12.467Z

There are no tears shed at this desk about the demise of the Progressive Democrats. But the decision to disband was logical, and there's no disgrace in it. The PD party that took its momentous decision yesterday was a far cry from the entity that was melded in the white heat of Haughey-hatred and Thatcherite ideology. Long gone are the radical politics of flat rate taxes, and while PD leaders

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-4304931515132341282008-11-09T10:27:00.003Z2009-01-20T23:19:42.333Z

Amid all the talk about the decision not to proceed with the cervical cancer vaccine, someone brought to my attention that there is a programme provides free smear tests to women aged 25-60 who are eligible for screening.Women can arrange an appointment with a CervicalCheck registered smeartaker (doctor or practice nurse) at a convenient time and date. CervicalCheck has registered over 3,800 GPs,

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-56969465216671193262008-10-02T17:30:00.002+01:002008-10-02T17:37:37.687+01:00

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has started on a new development plan for the area. The council has organised information sessions on what's called the "issues and options" for the plan.There's a short booklet that you can get at the council offices or at the library. Alternatively, it's available on www.dlrcoco.ie. Information sessions for the public have been scheduled on the following

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-64680605156815823362008-09-29T19:45:00.006+01:002008-09-29T20:35:46.028+01:00

Just a few bits of local news that may be of interest.First, the council traffic-calming priorities have been announced after receommendations from consultants. The areas around Dundrum are:Loreto Avenue and Loreto RowLudfordGledswood ParkBroadford Lawn and Rise.If anyone wants any information on this, let me know by email.The additional information on the planning application for Phase 2 of

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776773.post-57368429035552151902007-02-27T21:45:00.000Z2007-02-27T21:58:38.608Z

[as delivered]In this party, we believe that our schools are for everyone. We also believe that everyone should have an equal chance of success in life. But they don’t. Children with special educational needs should be part of the mainstream in any education system.We are still leaving children behind. Only half of our school pupils have direct access to an educational psychologist. The rest wait

Aidan Culhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975896627784480589aculhane@cllr.dlrcoco.ie0