Join our campaign to ensure FCC decline planning permission on the following basis :  1. Resident safety –  o increased car traffic and reduced greenspace: ▪ With nearly 90 residential units , the majority who are families with young children in the estate, the existing recreational greenspace of Newpark estate will be heavily and negatively impacted by the proposed development . Our existing greenspace is a very busy and much needed space.  The proposed development would reduce greenspace and would affect the safety of the existing cycle way that leads directly from the Newpark estate playground area– see maps below . The proposed new road access to Newpark Grove would effectively cut across our walk/cycleway and therefore remove the existing safety of this route from the playground and is very close to a corner therefore creating a serious safety risk from children cycling or scooting on their return from Newpark playground and green space . There is already direct access from the Manor house site onto Newpark drive , the council should not approve the taking of much needed greenspace and cycleways from residents to create new roads when they are not necessary.  o Impacts proposed cycleways.  ▪ As part of the Kinsealy area development plan, and following the conclusion of a successful public consultation – link the preferred walk/cycleway to Portmarnock train station will commence adjacent to where the planning permission is proposing to create access into Newpark Grove i.e. this planning permission request proposes a new road that goes across a cycleway that serves as a vital continuous connection into a very strategic proposed longer cycleway that will run to Portmarnock train station. This preferred route through Newpark to Portmarnock will be a strategic development in the coming years for the entire Kinsealy area and it is expected high volume cycling and pedestrian traffic will use this route to access the dart station, therefore it makes no sense to now put a new road directly across this route just to satisfy the financial gain of a developer to the detriment of residents and Kinsealy area safety. ▪ Kinsealy residents have been campaigning for many years now and have been in regular contact with Fingal County council to INCREASE our walk/cycleways, this proposed development TAKES AWAY from the very limited ones we already have.  2. Harm to character of the greenspace: o The Kinsealy manor house is an important and historical feature in the area, and this was one of the reasons previous planning permissions were refused. Accordingly, now building 3 modern MEWS houses directly on the site of this impressive building will impact the character of the protected structure.  3. Overdevelopment of already high-density estate: o Newpark estate is already high density at nearly 90 residential units, adding three more Mews type units is over development and unnecessary. 3 Mews type units does not align to housing shortage argumentation for this area or more generally, it is purely to satisfy the financial gain of the developers and not in the interest of residents.  o Chapel road is now at bursting point in terms of houses vs public infrastructure ratio. There are no buses running down chapel road, no safe access to Dart station, no other way to get to Supermarkets than drive. Chapel road needs capital infrastructure investment by Fingal County Council NOT more residential units that eat our greenspace and create more safety risk for our children.  o The proposed development proposes 1 parking space per unit. Kinsealy area is an area lacking significant structural development with no bus routes, no current access to Dart station, no pathway or cycleway to supermarkets.  1 parking space is not sufficient for each house as so it is likely these units would have parking shortages and be forced to park on Newpark estate roads thus causing blockages for emergency vehicles, impacting ability of children to see cars coming, frustrating existing residents with additional cars parked up on roads that are now free of such parking because houses in Newpark were planned properly with 2 spaces .  4. Environmental impact – loss of existing trees, further additional development in this area of the estate is not recommended given the high level of development in the past few years. This part of the estate should be preserved for nature and existing protected structures both to the benefit of the environment and resident wellbeing.  5. Overlooking residential playground resulting in privacy and wellbeing concerns for residents  – overbearing development of MEWs housing proposed to be almost directly on top of children playground and recreational space.   

If the government fails to launch criminal investigations against Elon Musk, they are making it clear that these social media corporations can blatantly break any law in any country. The laws on image based sexual violence and child sexual abuse material are clear and need to be upheld. Why are they putting the interests of social media bosses ahead of the people they were elected to serve? 

We are calling for the traffic lights to be properly aligned with the designated pedestrian walkway to make this crossing safe for everyone. By signing this petition, you are helping to protect our community and prevent a potentially tragic accident.

Right now, over 18,000 children across the country are overdue for an Assessment of Needs, 1,953 of them here in Kildare alone. Families are exhausted, stressed, and fighting a system that has failed them at every turn. From endless waits for primary care psychology, to 11,000 children stuck in limbo waiting for a first contact from CDNTs, to the scramble for school places and supports that simply aren’t there parents are being pushed to breaking point. Many families are trying to ensure there is early intervention for their child but are being left without vital supports. We have actually seen a reduction in the number of Speech and Language Therapists qualifying. It has gone from 370 in the academic year before the pandemic to 355 last year.  The number of therapists qualifying each year is reducing and on the other hand the government are scratching their heads wondering why they can’t fill the vacant therapist posts in CDNTs.  Children in schools are being let down too. Despite asserting that children don't need an assessment of needs to qualify for supports Parents, Teachers and school Principals know that resources are limited and children with an AON are prioritised. The Minister for Disability has announced a streamlining process for AON but hasn't detailed how this will be acomplished or set a timeline for compliance with the obligation for a 6 month assessment period for children.  We also want to see school expansions fast tracked. We hear announcements of funding but it then takes years between design stages, the tendering process, construction and the actual delivery of new classrooms. Many schools have had to convert classrooms to accommodate children with additional needs.  Please sign the petition so we can put pressure on the Government to deliver for the children in Kildare and across the country.  Melissa Byrne 

For decades in Ireland, young women were taken into Mother and Baby Homes and stripped of everything. They lost their identity, their dignity and their basic human rights. The maternity care they received was often harsh, dangerous and deeply traumatic. Many laboured alone, frightened and without proper medical support. The lifelong physical injuries and emotional scars these women still suffer today are a direct result of the conditions described in the Mother and Baby Homes Commission Report. At Sean Ross Abbey, where I was born, public records show that around one thousand and ninety babies and children died along with twenty three young girls and young women. Their deaths were recorded, but their resting places are unknown. Their families have no answers. Their names survive only on paper and the truth of what happened to them has been hidden for generations. These children deserve to be found and their mothers deserve answers before time runs out. When babies were born in these institutions many were taken from their mothers without consent. The Commission confirmed that large payments or donations were made for many of these adoptions, often directly to the religious orders. Mothers were never told, never asked and never given a choice. Some babies were sent abroad. Some had incomplete or altered documents. Many mothers left these homes having no idea where their children were taken. This was not informed adoption. It was forced separation. Inside these institutions thousands of infants died from conditions linked to neglect, malnutrition, infection and a complete lack of adequate care. The Commission also confirmed that vaccine trials were carried out on children without their mothers knowledge or permission. Who allowed pharmaceutical companies into these institutions. Who authorised these trials. Was it the State, the religious orders or both. The answers to these questions are in the records the Government has sealed for thirty years. We are told that inspections took place, but if inspections happened then how did thousands of children die. How were these conditions allowed to continue for decades. Again, the truth lies in the records the State has locked away for thirty years. This was not one home or one county. It happened across Ireland and touched every parish, every family and every generation. The Government claims it wants to learn from the past, yet it refuses to find the missing children, refuses to open the sealed records and excludes many survivors from redress. That is not learning. It is continuing the harm. These babies were not shame and they were not secrets. They were children. They were sons and daughters who deserve dignity, truth and the chance to be brought home. Their mothers deserve answers before they die. And the people of Ireland deserve honesty about what happened in these institutions run by both the State and the religious orders. This is why this petition matters. This is not only a survivor issue. This is a national issue, a moral issue and a human issue. Signing this petition is how every Irish citizen can stand with these mothers, stand with these children and demand truth, dignity and justice from our Government. I am doing this for the babies of Sean Ross Abbey and every mother who still waits for answers.

Why Keeping the Lights Matters 1. Pedestrian Safety Must Come Before Traffic Flow Roundabouts are designed primarily for vehicle efficiency—not pedestrian protection. At this junction, children walk daily to local schools and to the Little Harvard crèche. Signal-controlled crossings give them a guaranteed safe moment to cross, something a roundabout cannot provide without significant additional infrastructure. Traffic lights create clear, predictable stopping points, while roundabouts rely on driver judgement—something that is far less reliable when young children are crossing. 2. A Roundabout Increases Risk for Children and Vulnerable Users At busy multi-directional roundabouts: Cars are constantly moving. Gaps in traffic can be hard to judge, especially for children. Drivers often fail to yield to pedestrians at informal crossings. Replacing traffic lights with a roundabout would remove the only guaranteed safe crossing facility at this location and expose young pedestrians to unnecessary risk. 3. Controlled Signals Reduce Speed—Roundabouts Do Not The current lights naturally slow traffic and force vehicles to stop. A roundabout, even when designed well, encourages continuous movement and can lead to vehicles entering too quickly. With houses, schools, bus stops, and footpaths all nearby, lower speeds mean fewer and less severe accidents. Preserving the lights keeps speeds predictable and manageable. 4. Minor Traffic Delays Are Not Worth a Potential Injury or Fatality While some motorists are frustrated by waiting a few extra minutes at peak times, this inconvenience is insignificant compared to the safety provided by controlled pedestrian crossings. A slightly quicker commute cannot be valued above a child’s life. Traffic lights provide structure, clarity, and protection. Roundabouts prioritise flow—not safety. --- Why This Approach Serves the Community Best This area is expanding rapidly, with more families, more young children, and more pedestrian activity than ever before. Keeping and upgrading the traffic lights ensures: A safer route to school. Clear protection for pedestrians. Better accessibility for all residents. A transport layout that prioritises people, not just vehicles. We should expect a road system that safeguards our children—not one that encourages faster driving simply to reduce delays.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas can play a positive role in Ireland’s renewable energy transition — but only when properly regulated. Unfortunately, Ireland currently lacks the basic national standards that other EU countries already require. As a result, AD plants are being proposed far too close to homes, private wells, schools, farms, rivers, Natura sites, and even busy motorways. Local authorities have no consistent guidance, and communities are left exposed to unnecessary health, safety and environmental risks. The Problem 1. No minimum setback distances Ireland has no national separation distances between AD plants and: • homes • drinking-water wells • schools • roads and motorways • protected habitats Other countries use 300–500m as standard — Ireland uses none. 2. No national odour standards Odour from digesters, waste reception, and digestate tanks can travel long distances depending on wind and elevation. Ireland has: • no odour regulations • no odour-modelling requirement • no mandatory odour-abatement technology Communities near existing plants frequently report persistent nuisance. 3. Risks to private wells and groundwater Many homes rely on private wells. AD sites store large quantities of slurry, digestate, industrial food waste, and fats/oils/grease. A spill or leak can contaminate groundwater. Ireland has no minimum distance from wells and no hydrological protection rules. 4. Proximity to motorways and road-safety concerns AD plants store methane, biogas and large waste volumes. Without national TII guidance, sites can be placed only metres from national roads and motorways — raising concerns about: • tanker traffic • vehicle fires • collision risks • gas leaks • spill containment This is a major planning gap. 5. Industrial waste accepted with little oversight Many AD plants take: • offal • dairy processing waste • food-industry by-products • fats, oils, grease (FOG) • expired packaged food These greatly increase odour, emissions, and risk. Ireland has no national limits, no composition standards, and weak monitoring. WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR We call on the Minister for the Environment, the EPA, TII, and the Department of Housing to create national AD biogas regulations, including: ✔️ Minimum 500m setback distance From homes, schools, and private wells, unless independent scientific assessment proves otherwise. ✔️ National odour limits With mandatory odour-modelling, abatement systems, and compliance monitoring. ✔️ Groundwater and well protection Hydrological assessments, protected zones, and strict containment standards. ✔️ Rules for industrial waste Clear permitted-waste lists, composition limits, and independent monitoring. ✔️ Road-safety guidelines National TII rules for AD plants near major roads and motorways. ✔️ A full national AD planning framework Like those already existing for windfarms, quarries, and intensive agriculture — ensuring safety, consistency, and transparency. ⸻ WHY THIS MATTERS Ireland needs renewable energy — but we also need safe, responsible, and properly regulated development. Right now, communities across Ireland are being forced to fight these issues one planning application at a time, without the protection of national rules. A clear regulatory framework would protect: • public health • groundwater and private wells • road safety • rural communities • local wildlife and habitats • quality of life We urgently need the Government to act. CALL TO ACTION Sign now to demand strong national regulations for biogas AD plants — to keep our homes, water, and communities safe.

Why Change Is Needed 1. Ongoing Safety Hazards & Frequent Accidents The existing layout and road markings create confusion around right-of-way and turning paths. Many drivers approach the junction unsure of how to move safely through it, leading to numerous collisions and near-misses. Residents regularly witness dangerous situations that could be prevented with a clearer, more intuitive layout—such as a modern roundabout. 2. Regular and Prolonged Power Outages The traffic lights at this junction are well-known for frequent power failures, sometimes lasting several days. During these outages, the junction becomes extremely dangerous for motorists, cyclists, schoolchildren, and pedestrians. Without working signals or clear priority markings, the risk of serious accidents increases dramatically. A roundabout—safe, self-regulating, and functional during power loss—would eliminate this hazard entirely. We have a significant number of children walking independently to school as well as parents walking their children to our designated crèche, Little Harvard. Without pedestrian lights, crossing the road becomes an extremely high risk of serious accidents/death for all, which could be avoided with a roundabout and either a zebra crossing or pedestrian lights, like they have at the tennis club beside House Savers. 3. Unnecessary Traffic Delays The current signal-controlled junction contributes to significant traffic build-up, especially during peak school and commuting times. A roundabout would allow traffic to flow continuously and far more efficiently, reducing congestion and improving travel times for everyone in Rathnew and Wicklow town.

In Stapolin ETNS, we are having to campaign for 2 additional autism classes to meet the needs of children within our school and local community because the NCSE have informed us that our school is not considered a priority, despite us showing a clear need for these classes.  We currently have 2 autism classes which arre full. We have 8 children with eligibility letters in our mainstream waiting on an autism class space. On top of that we have 50 children on our waiting list, 20 of whom are in our immediate catchment area.  2 more classes is 12 spaces. That would ensure that the 8 children in our mainstream have access to the supports the need to access their education, as well as offering remaining places to some of those on our waiting list.  While we appreciate it’s important that schools without autism classes are encouraged and supported to open them, the need in our own school is urgent and undeniable, and we don't understand why both can't happen at the same time - allow us to open additional classes to support the children currently in our school and in our local catchment area, while also encouraging schools without autism classes to open them aswell.  Every child should have the chance to continue their education in the community where they’ve already built friendships, feel safe, and have strong relationships with staff who know and understand them. Please support our campaign for two additional autism classes in Stapolin and to support the rights of children to an appropriate education that meets their needs. 

Right now, one in 20 schoolchildren in Ireland are being diagnosed with autism, that’s a threefold increase in less than a decade. Yet there are still huge gaps in access to appropriate education, on both primary and secondary school-level. Children like Jamie are not asking for special treatment, only for equal access to education within their own communities. Uprooting autistic children from familiar surroundings, routines, and peers causes unnecessary distress and isolates them from the place they call home. Every child deserves an education where they feel included, supported, and seen, without having to travel miles away just to be accepted. It’s time to make sure that no family has to fight this same battle again.

It makes little sense to remove a teacher now when the school will meet the required pupil numbers in just a few weeks, with at least two confirmed new enrolments in December and January. The loss of this post means larger class sizes, disrupted learning, and increased pressure on already stretched staff. In Cloughduv village 2 years ago, we had approx. 200 houses. Now there are over 450, being occupied by new families. Our school enrolment has grown each year as  new families received keys for new homes. Pupil enrolment in Sept ’23 was 141 and is expected to be 182+ next Sept. Our Special Educational Needs (SEN) team is already operating under significant strain to support a growing number of children who need additional help. This decision will further impact the quality of teaching, inclusion, and pupil well-being across the school. While understanding that the Department must follow clear criteria, we believe there is a strong case for flexibility, understanding, and compassion in this situation. Allowing Cloughduv N.S. to retain this developing post temporarily until the end of the school year would provide stability for pupils and staff and allow time for the Department to see the school’s continued enrolment growth first-hand

Some students don’t need more motivation. They just need a meal. Right now across Ireland, too many students are studying hungry, skipping meals to pay rent or travel to class. Hunger isn’t just physical. It drains focus, energy, and hope. When we feed students, we’re not just helping them survive college. We’re helping them show up fully, to learn, lead, and become who they’re meant to be. This is why we’re building Crave Christi Student Sponsorship, to make sure no student is left behind because of an empty plate. Join us in turning compassion into action. Together, we can make student hunger impossible to ignore. Because hunger shouldn’t be part of the college experience. Not here. Not now.