James Lawless – View from the Tracks

I was advised last week that accessibility works at Sallins and Naas train station are at an advanced stage of design and that Irish Rail have met with council officials in pre-planning sessions re the required works. I was told they expect to apply for planning permission in July and work will commence as soon as planning is received.

Obviously this would be very welcome but we have had false starts before. This is probably the most concrete update I have had though so hopefully it will happen this time.

On a separate note I am trying to get the station cleaned up for the Tidy Towns at present. Am sure all readers of this blog are model citizens with regard to litter etc but if everyone could make a special effort as the tidy towns judging is running at present and the station cost them points last year.

Yesterday’s opinion poll marked a new low point for Fianna Fáil and for the government, but the real low point has been the slow drip drip, of death by a thousand cuts and gradual erosion of party support over the past many months and even years.

I’ve long said it is not good enough to simply want power for the simple reason of having power. You must want to do something with that power and have clear and powerful enough goals to inspire others to entrust you with it. I’ve been working on some policy ideas with a few other like mindeds but I might talk more on that another day.

For now, here are a few simple things I think the government could and should be doing if it is to recover its standing among the people.

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It’s been a busy few weeks in the life of waste processing in the greater Naas area, and in particular on one stretch of road along Kerdiffstown and Monread, where not one but three current or proposed waste complexes have received permissions, injunctions or stays of execution over the recent while. I summarise below the current state of play.

Bio Energy Plant
A huge number of objections were received by Kildare county council against the proposed bio-energy complex at Monread / Kerdiffstown. The upshot of this was that the council refused planning permission for the proposed facility. The owner now has five weeks to appeal this decision. Residents or interested parties can also make a submission on the appeal.

NB Whilst the proposed facility is located adjacent to the existing Kerdiffstown dump, however the proposal comes in from a separate party, an M&M Coldstores company.

Existing Kerdiffstown Dump
After almost three years of filing by the EPA the high court granted a temporary injunction against the A1 waste facility at Kerdiffstown on Friday 14th May. This prevents A1 from lodging any further waste into this landfill. A question then arises as to how the estimated 1.5 million tonnes of unprocessed waste in the landfill is to be cleaned up. I have raised this question with the Minister and it is also being pursued by a number of parties including the EPA and the CAN (Clean Air Naas) group (www.can.ie).

Extension to Kerdiffstown Dump
Although the existing dump has now been shut down, at least temporarily, the council simultaneously granted planning permission for the construction of a new dump on an adjoining 26 acre site across the road from the existing plant. The council maintain that each planning proposal is dealt with on its own merits and this application satisfied the various grounds. However this new extension has yet to receive a license from the EPA and that application process will be ongoing through the Summer.

Please see attached map for the location of the above three sites. At any stage residents can continue to report odours to EPA on (01)268 0100 and these will all be logged and referenced in future cases and applications to extend / continue operations.

Last Summer I spent a few weeks in Connemara. I fell in love with the region, its people, landscape and history. I particularly relished the folklore and the indomitable spirit of resistance and survival.

On right is a photo of the famine memorial at Delphi County Mayo. Hundreds perished here after being forced to trek  overnight for alms then refused.

Today is National Famine Commemoration Day.

In honour I publish for the first time a short story I wrote set amongst the landscape, if not the exact time period, of An Gorta Mór.

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I recently made a submission to Irish Rail (IR) on the new timetable, on behalf of NASRUG and as part of a process of ongoing consultation with IR. The hope is this may be considered as part of the next issued timetable, which is due out in December, but an outside chance of coming onstream earlier due to the new line capacity offered by the Kildare Route Project.

My key timetable points below:

Naas & Sallins Rail Users Group – NASRUG

Timetable Feedback 2010.

Submitted: James Lawless
(Contact 086 834 8869, james@jameslawless.ie)

Morning ex Sallins

Problem: Too large a gap between 8.15 and 8.59
Solution: Restore 8.15 to 8.25 or add new train 8.30?

Evening ex Heuston

Problem: Gap between 18.50, 20.10, 21.10
Solution: Reschedule as 19.30, 20.22, 21.10?

Connecting Trains

Problem: Commuters charged extra for making connections e.g. via Newbridge
Solution: Allow season ticket holders this flexibility.

Capacity

Problem: Some trains now running as three carriages
Solution: Allow extra carriages on busier trains (e.g. 7.45 ex Sallins)

Sundays & Bank Holidays

Problem: No evening Sunday service home (last train departs 6.15pm)
Solution: Schedule later Sunday evening service, e.g. 7.30pm or 8pm

Problem: No bank holiday service at all
Solution: Run Sunday or other reduced service level on bank holidays.

(Later Sunday service especially important during championship summers!)

I have spoken about Killeenmore a few times on this blog recently and how I was disappointed to see them miss out on the first round of funding announced last month for flooding relief works in the local area.

Good news this week as I have kept onto our Dáil reps and the council officials and got word through Deputy Fitzpatrick’s office that Killeenmore will now be granted a flood relief allocation of 20,000 this year, with work due to start in May.

This is badly needed and we will keep a watching brief to ensure delivery.

Interesting post by Jon Worth (of EU fame) on the breakdown or gradual bio-degradation of FaceBook.

I think the fundamental premise is very true, that FB communications have become degraded due to the sheer volume of often unimportant traffic. How to sort the wheat from the chaff?

Worth a read:

http://www.jonworth.eu/facebook-isn%e2%80%99t-working/

Funding has now been announced for flood relief works in Kildare and the government has made a multi-million available to local authorities for such works. Funding has been drawn down by Kildare County Council for the following projects:

Minor Flood Relief & Coastal Protection Programme 2010 - Kildare County Council

• Butterstream, Clane Construction of flood relief structures €356,142
• Ardclough Construction / Replacement of canal & road crossings €306,410
• Confey, Leixlip Upgrade culvert €66,556
• Newtown, Kilcock Construct overflow pipeline €237,912

Total  €967,020

I am disappointed to note that Killeenmore, Sallins is omitted also no mention of Johnstown (although this may have been allocated separately as was discussed in detail at council recently). Much work has recently been completed at Kerdiffstown Sallins to address the culvert issue which caused the Waterways flooding but there may need to be additional measures there in time also.

Killeenmore is in most urgent need of flood relief works and I will be asking why the omission.

NASRUG met with IrishRail at the start of last week to discuss various issues on the rail service from Naas and Sallins station. Full minutes are below.

Meeting Report

NASRUG met with Irish Rail on Monday 25th March.

Present for NASRUG: James Lawless, John Cunniffe, Conor McGarry

Present for Irish Rail: Myles McHugh

1. Timetable

JL queried whether a new timetable could be introduced Summer 2010 due to KRP concluding. MMcH stated that line capacity in place but dependency on rolling stock. Stock on order for delivery 2011. Passenger numbers down at present. Next timetable to be introduced November 2010. Agreed a dedicated meeting would be held Autumn for timetable inputs.

JL Asked whether Docklands station might allow Phoenix park tunnel trains into town – answer no because Meath on track about to link in there via new line at Pace.

2. Punctuality

MMcH acknowledged punctuality had been an issue from Nov 09 thru Jan 10. Measures taken in Jan 10 by IR seem be working. NASRUG acknowledged recent improvement. Noted the 6.31am train still unreliable. MMcH to check this service.

3. Station Upgrade

JL asked when would the station upgrade finally take place? MMcH said that Sallins had “fallen between gaps” with KRP on one side and intercity station revamps on the other. Said design now in progress. Aiming provide disability access by end 2010. Dependent on department transport funding but MMcH said department had always supported disability projects to date. CCTV and other upgrades planned alongside. Access may not take form of lift possibly overhead ramp and bridge instead.

4. Miscellaneous

Smart cards currently being rolled out on DART line, may be rolled out later in year on Sallins line. Discussed repair work at station car park including broken bollards and patch ground. Useful discussion on future of underground carpark also. Asked whether bike rack can be secured with concrete, MMcH to progress. JC raised late boarding of 17.35 MMcH to investigate. Announcements raised (as always) and mismatched station announcements.

5. Infrastructure

Metro West investment received EU approval last week. Interconnector at advanced stage design.

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Coincidentally an article appeared in some local media last week surrounding the disability access issues at the station and suggesting the issue was in hand - sample coverage:(http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/Sallins-train-station-to-get.6176342.jp).

The reports (which obviously followed the script of a press release) did not relate to what was discussed at the meeting, the information (for what it was worth) was not shared with those of us attending the meeting and I would have to wonder as to its timing and why this was released within the same week as the ‘official’ set piece meeting was due to take place. Could it have been an attempt to hog the headlines and displace the ‘official’ meeting in news cycles? Or am I too cynical?

According to wikipedia the phrase “curate’s egg” refers to something that is partly good and partly bad, but as a result is entirely spoiled. Modern usage has tended to change this to mean something having a mix of good and bad qualities. I am still veering between the two definitions in the context of this cabinet reshuffle.

It is possible to support a party without supporting its leadership. It is possible to support a party without supporting a government led by that party. Neither would be a normal situation but these are not normal times. I suspect there may be a number within the Fianna Fáil family falling into one or both of the above camps at present. A little like Catechism it can be argued that one is either “in or out” and that an a la carte approach is not possible. For my part I continue dining at my preferred restaurant but I do reserve right of judgement on the set menu.

Some good people were promoted yesterday and I am very plased for them. Dara Calleary, whom I know from old, is an intelligent, erudite and hard working politician. Very glad to see him moved up the chain. Pat Carey is another good performer ; a different mould but again capable and articulate – slightly surprised to see him in Gaeltacht affairs (as an urbane city gent) but like all good professionals, one must adapt and change as required. (Which incidentally, is exactly the skill our own commander in chief needs to develop.)

No problem with Tony Killeen and good to see a fellow yellow belly (Sean Connick from Wexford) move up the ranks. Batt O’Keeffee will be a safe pair of hands in enterprise and his robust approach may well bring a hardnosed effectiveness to the various negotiations involved. Bully boy tactics from Mick O’Leary and co won’t be expected cause Batt too much bother.

As for the curate’s egg… I am not about to commit complete hari kiri but .. for my liking .. very conservative… very cautious .. very late. Vacancies were filled and and a swap or two was made. It would appear minimal change was desired. Which is not what I felt was needed. I like Noel Dempsey, I like Dermot Ahern and I like Brian Lenihan (who is doing a fine job, better than many in the full of their health). But on the subject of health, there are many many Fianna Fáilers that could do at least as good if not a far better job than the independent TD from west Dublin. Likewise I would not have put the Tánaiste into Education and I would not have given the greens their power grabbing new junior. There is plenty of talent on the backbences and it appears under the current regime that is where it will stay. I would have thought this was not a time for making the minimum substitutions necessary; rather a time for throwing out the rulebook. I regret this may come to be seen as a lost opportunity up to and far beyond the next general election. Lord, help me to be hopeful.