September has been a very busy month and the budget for the year is currently being discussed. As a council we voted to maintain the Local Property Tax as it has been for the last three years. People often ask what this rate means and it effectively adds about 40 cent per week to your base LPT. This enables the councilors to allocate €350,000 per local area committee which enables us to resurface estates, provide some speed mitigation measures, provide cash to local areas to enhance their community etc. It also provides €450,000 to the Sports Capital Budget which allows us to provide Sports Clubs across the city with an important source of finance. All our local clubs have benefitted from this at one stage or another. I understand that there are many asks on people at the moment but I hope you think that this is good value
Over the course of the month of September there seemed to be lots on. From the highly successful Rathpeacon Family Fun day, the launch of the Student Enterprise Programme, the opening of the deepwater Container Terminal in Ringaskiddy and the Blarney Chamber Business Expo it was busy but great.
I am delighted that the new pipes that were laid on the Boreen Dearg in Rathpeacon were commissioned and this is the next step in ensuring that the level of water services in the area improve. There is one more area of concern and I am working with the local Irish Water crew to see that it is put on the capital works scheme for next year. That should see a dramatic improvement in the area.
It was great to meet the group from Blarney Tidy Towns, Kilcully Community Association and Waterloo Renewal Group in the Millennium Hall, City Hall, Cork for a Community Climate Action Programme celebration event. The Community Climate Action Programme has been up and running over the past year and is held in conjunction with Cork City Council and Cork City Public Participation Network and facilitated by Cork Environmental Forum.
I know that the sheer number of road works in the area have been creating difficulties for people and the most recent works on Curraghkippane and the Lee Road junction have driven up the amount of traffic going through the village. The addition of 100 houses in the new development are adding to peoples concerns but we will work with city council and ask that all that can be done is done to deal with the resulting traffic. I am anxious that the good work that is being done in Kerrypike is continued and I thank the community there who are a pleasure to deal with.
I was hoping that we would see footpaths upgraded and extended this year, but I have been told that this will now not happen until the new year. There are numerous ones I have requested. There are asks for some which require the purchasing of land which is a laborious process but nevertheless I will continue to pursue these.
Finally some congratulations to local people who have done great things. Firstly to the RTE journalist Brian O’Connell who won a Gold IMRO award for his story on the fight of Adam Terry and his wonderful family. A worthy winner and I wish him continued success. Secondly, it was my honour to be asked to the launch of Jessica Griffin’s latest book. A truly inspirational woman who has the support of an incredible family. It was a joyous occasion and I was honoured to share the podium with Jessica of course but also Don and Rachel of The Life Centre. The future is bright for this talented young woman.