In March 2022 former Minister for Infrastructure Nichola Mallon refused permission for the planning application for a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facility and waste incinerator at Hightown Quarry, beside North Belfast. The planning decision was made following over 5,000 objections submitted by the local community, and a wide range of political representatives from MPs to Councillors. It will increase the market for waste disposal and discourage recycling. Waste technology, waste composition and recycling policies had all moved on since the project was first conceived 15 years ago, and it should be abandoned once and for all - not blindly pursued with public money. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60893249 The planning refusal followed a long running campaign by the No-Arc21 group who represent residents around the Mallusk, North Belfast and South Antrim areas, who are opposed to the controversial project. This planning application was refused by a previous Environment Minister Mark Durkan, and successfully challenged in the Courts by No- Arc21. There is comprehensive and widespread political opposition to the project from all political Parties in South Antrim and beyond. Alternative do exist and if this Incinerator goes ahead it will reduce recycling and result in millions of tonnes of CO2 being emitted and accelerating climate change. This challenge is a flagrant waste of public money and resources can be better targeted to increase recycling to 70% by 2030 as per the Climate Change targets on Waste Management. During the current inflationary pressures that many households and workers are facing at present, councils should not be wasting more money on a legal case which questions local Ministerial powers to make such decisions. Over £20 million has been spent on the "Waste Monster" to date, how many pot holes, hospital beds, pay rises for key workers etc. could have been sorted in the over eight years of this white elephant. Bin the Burner

The Defective Concrete Block crisis is now affecting at least 12 counties across the country: Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Louth, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Carlow and Wexford. The crisis has seen thousands of homes, businesses and public buildings crumble, due to decades of State failure to enforce Building Control and Concrete Product Regulations, a system that continues today. For over 10 years, affected families and communities have endured Government inaction, a failed and inaccessible original Scheme and a standard (IS 465) to assess homes that is not fit for purpose nor science-led. Tens of thousands of homeowners have protested on two occasions in Dublin, are at financial and psychological breaking-point and they need your help. Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, has announced his intention to rush the Defective Concrete Blocks Bill through the legislative process and bypass the important step of pre-legislative scrutiny by the Housing Committee. This is against the wishes of the victims of this crisis and concerns expressed by both Scientists and the Insurance industry. The leading expert on concrete, Dr. Andreas Leemann, has described the Department of Housing’s proposed minor remediation options as ‘playing with fire’, whilst some homeowners have already been advised by insurance companies they will not be eligible for home insurance cover following remediation on the Scheme. But, the Government is ignoring these important warnings. Victims want pre-legislative scrutiny of this important Bill to ensure the Scheme works this time and is: o Accessible and provides the ‘Full Redress’ promised by Minister Darragh O’Brien o Includes all homeowners in all affected counties o Based on science and provides effective and durable remediation options Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Defective Concrete Blocks Bill would allow Housing Committee member TDs and Senators, from both Government and Opposition, to conduct a detailed examination of the Bill and, most importantly, to invite experts and stakeholders to provide their inputs. This will ensure the Government Gets it Right this Time and that families can move on with their lives. Without pre-legislative scrutiny, the new Scheme will be another failure and families will remain in crisis. Please sign this petition to let all TDs and Senators know you support our demand for Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the Defective Concrete Blocks Bill.

The local community in Inchicore have used the public library for generations since 1937. Now the Art Deco library needs refurbishment and a wheelchair access ramp built. The architects plan has been drawn up by DCC, but the tender has not been reissued after Covid. There may be alternative plans to convert the historic building into a tourist attraction - a possible social history museum, similar to EPIC. The library keys were handed over by the librarian to the DCC Dept of Property Development and Planning in January 2022. No one in the local community has been consulted about this. The local community are worried that they will lose access to this valuable community space. We are asking DCC to work with the local community on the future of the library, maintaining community access. The building has been empty for 3 years and is unheated. Refurbishment works are urgently needed due to the wet weather. The wheelchair access ramp has been fully designed - the tender just needs to be reissued by DCC.

There are many young families here and the creche was part of the deal when buying the houses.

It’s very important to ensure that such crimes on humanity & sites deemed to be crime scenes is properly investigated and while such is dragged out by the Irish government, the least we can do is protect & preserve the whole of the land respectfully until it’s investigated in the manner it legally should be.

In September 2021 the sale of homes at O'Devaney Gardens to vulture funds and large corporate landlords was banned, due to public outcry. Since then Bartra Capital, the main developers of the site, lobbied An Bord Pleanala, including threatening legal action, to rescind the ban. This week An Bord Pleanala caved. This means that hundreds of homes that could have been used for public housing, cost rental and affordable purchase will now, most likely, be sold in one big chuck to a vulture fund or large corporate landlord, who will charge extortionate rent and give little back to our community, unless we stop them. Dublin City Council Management have a responsibility and the power to step in and uphold a ban on the sale to vulture funds and large corporate landlords. Sign and share this petition to ensure that Dublin City Council Management step in and stop O’Devaney homes being sold to vulture funds and large corporate landlords.

1. A State construction company would divert scarce skilled construction labour to building projects where it is urgently required. In the midst of a national housing crisis, just over a quarter (26.6%) of Irish construction workers are actually building residential homes. Many are building hotels and offices. 2. We cannot rely on the private sector to provide affordable housing and social housing because this does not align with the business interests of ‘for-profit’ private housing developers. 3. A State construction company would attract more young people toward pursuing a career in construction by offering quality permanent employment and better pay and working conditions. There is currently a shortage of skilled construction workers, we urgently need to attract more young people to pursue a career in construction in order to meet Housing for All building targets. 4. Statistics show it is considerably cheaper for local authorities to directly build social and affordable houses than to buy completed units from private for-profit developers. https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-40744002.html?msclkid=433241c3b3b911ec927ed3f61cdce8d4

We have serious concerns about the safety of this junction as there is no traffic light system to enable safe crossing for pedestrians. This junction connects one of the most densely populated residential areas in the country with one of the busiest commercial and business districts in the country, yet there is no pedestrian crossing. There is a constant stream of people crossing in both directions around the clock, and the lack of pedestrian infrastructure makes it incredibly hazardous. The junction is currently prioritising only cars. Our community crosses the junction without the aid of a traffic light, which is unsafe and the act of crossing it every day is nerve-wracking and unpleasant - particularly for young children, for people with limited mobility, and for the elderly. We have witnessed too many near misses and accidents on this stretch of road, the latest, tragically, involved a fatality. This is a safety emergency that can no longer be ignored and requires immediate action.

Right now, the Integrated Education Bill is going through the NI Assembly - but those opposed to integrated education are misleading schools and parents, telling them the Bill will harm existing schools - it won't. The Bill can pass if enough parties support it - and what the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) do will be crucial. Last month, Doug Beattie, the UUP Leader, signalled his support for integrated education and said "Northern Ireland has been blighted by division.. and yet we don't take the brave steps to try and deal with that division...we need to end educational apartheid which is taking place here in Northern Ireland." We need Doug and his MLAs to support the Integrated Education Bill, and resist attempts by the Bill's opponents to sign a "Petition of Concern" - an Assembly motion that would doom the Bill. Write now and tell Doug how you feel!

It's been 40 years since the first integrated school was started here, but in 2022 only 7.5% of schools here are integrated schools - bringing together children from all backgrounds - Catholic, Protestant and other. But there is overwhelming demand: 71% of people here believe our children should be educated together. Stormont has commissioned a new Independent Review of Education that could change everything - but we need you to tell them integrated education matters to you so that they make recommendations to promote integrated education! Now's your chance to speak up! Email the panel members now and tell them that you want to live in a future where all our children are educated together, promoting reconciliation.

The rezoning of Shanowen Road Lands from Z6 "Employment and Enterprise" to Z1 “Residential" by DCC without an actual local development plan for the area would be a disaster for our local community. Notwithstanding the complete lack of appropriate face to face local consultation on the redevelopment, there are a number of serious issues emerging around the redevelopment. This development will mean that already overburdened local infrastructure will come under severe strain – detailed proposals on mitigating the negative impact on roads and public transport (Metrolink project cited in the proposal is not yet funded or guaranteed) are all missing from the existing proposal. This development also fails to provide much needed community facilities, green spaces and guarantees on local employment that would be lost from the site. With a greatly increased local population, it is likely there will be issues with scarcity of childcare facilities, GP care and other essential services. On top of all of these issues, the proposed development will do little to address the shortage of social and affordable housing in Dublin North West. The planned rezoning from Z6 "Employment and Enterprise" to Z1 “Residential” may look good on the surface but, in truth, the development is likely to be a Strategic Housing Development, where the bulk of units developed will be built-to-rent, owned by private investors. We are not opposed to new homes, but we want to see quality public and genuinely affordable housing in our area, and it must be built sustainably, with the community in mind. For Santry/Whitehall to grow and thrive, it will take a different model of planning, to the developer-led process that this site is following. We call on all DCC Councillors to reject this proposed Rezoning.

The Deer Park (Howth Demense) is a place of outstanding wild beauty with historic, cultural and environmental importance that is at risk of being destroyed. If these lands are rezoned for development, the unique characteristic of the Howth/Sutton peninsula will be changed forever. These lands have provided unquantifiable social benefits to locals, Dubliners, people from all over Ireland and international tourists for generations, no more so than during the recent pandemic when it served as a peaceful haven for physical and mental wellness. They are also home to a diverse environment of wildlife, native trees and shrubs which need further protection. Supporters of this cause recognise the need for housing and Fingal has already zoned 40% more land than its target for residential development in the next five years. Land owners must develop land that has already been zoned for this purpose. In addition to this, Fingal's CEO has emphatically said she supports the current High Amenity (HA) zoning of Howth Castle lands and is opposed to the rezoning of these lands. Please show your support to preserve Howth's unique identity and say no to the rezoning of The Deer Park.