December 2024
Hi, there! — Welcome to the thirty-third edition of my monthly newsletter to keep you up to date on my work for Cork City North East.
This month we have motions on disabled parking bays outside private residences, control of school traffic on Gardiner’s Hill, promoting the work of Cork City Council through Cork Community TV, and stricter controls on vacant commercial buildings — as well as questions on toilet and rest facilities in the city centre and walking and cycling routes in Ballyvolane.
I’ve also included updates on the new city budget for 2025, assistance for owners of vacant and derelict properties to bring these back into use as homes, and “rooting for the Greens” at the annual European Greens conference in Dublin.
As ever, please feel welcome to email me any time at oliver.moran@greenparty.ie, if there’s anything you want to get in touch about — even if it’s just to let me know your thoughts on this newsletter.
Remember too to share this newsletter with your friends and neighbours in the ward.
Many thanks!
Oliver
p.s. You can use this link to easily read and share all my monthly newsletters ... oliver.ie/newsletter
Motions and notions
Each councillor can submit up to four motions each month to Cork City Council and ask two formal questions of the Chief Executive. One of these questions is asked at the Local Area Committee and must be about local operational matters.
Before the deadline each month, I meet with my local group, the Cork City North Greens, and we agree motions and questions for the month ahead. We call this our “motions and notions” meeting :-)
If you have ideas or suggestions for a motion, or have a question you want asked, just let me know!
Or join the Cork City North Greens ... my.greenparty.ie
Questions
“To ask the Chief Executive for progress on the Age Friendly ‘Take a Seat’ initiative and its incorporation of the ‘Leeside Leithreas’ scheme?”
I will also ask the following question at the next meeting of the North East ward Local Area Committee:
“To ask the Chief Executive the status of the alternative cycle route from Clonard to Mervue Lawn, via Meelick Park and Kempton Park, under the Ballyvolane Strategic Transport Corridor; if this can be implemented as a shared surface amenity in addition to the main proposed scheme; and specifically the potential to improve the area between the North Ring Road/Clonard and Park Court that is currently an unpaved informal pathway?”
Motions
“That Cork City Council will provide a policy for the addition or removal of disabled on-street parking bays outside private residents that are no longer needed (e.g. when a new occupant moves into a house); that there will be a published way for residents to request their addition or removal; and that parking fines will be waived for residents where a bone fide request to remove a disabled parking bay has been agreed but not yet implemented.”
“That Cork City Council will install a yellow box junction for control of school traffic on Gardiner’s Hill at the junction with Richmond Avenue, so as to continue the yellow box junctions already immediately to either side of this location (i.e. at the entrance/exits to schools).”
“That Cork City Council will partner with Cork Community TV to promote and engage people on the work and activities of the Council, including exploring ideas to work together on the promotion of the business of Council.”
“That Cork City Council will develop a policy requiring on-going and regularly updated evidence from liable persons claiming abatement of rates for reason of being unable to obtain a suitable tenant at a reasonable rent, including showing to Cork City Council a regularly-updated business plan; and that Cork City Council will advise the liable person of rates waivers when properties are used for meanwhile use by non-profit organisations, community groups and charities, and of the exemption for premises occupied by artists and other categories of uses.”
What’s happening?
City budget for 2025
This month, Cork City Council agreed its budget for 2025. A key priority for me was the reduced rates offered to property owners who keep commercial properties vacant.
A public consultation in September showed that there is huge demand in Cork to change this. However, despite that, there’s a reluctance among officials to do so for fear of impacting legitimate businesses who invest in their properties and are in-between occupants.
Currently, a 50% discount on rates is given to owners of vacant commercial properties. This will now be reduced to 40% with a commitment to review it again next year.
I’ve also been engaging with officials about the policy for granting the reduced rate to businesses. In particular, that we would adopt a more strenuous test for property owners claiming they are unable to find tenants.
The city already waives rates for property owners providing meanwhile use to community groups and charities. There are exemptions for arts uses too. I’ve proposed that a more strenuous policy would emphasise this as an option for property owners rather than leaving buildings idle.
Overall, Cork City Council agreed not to raise the headline figure for rates by 2.5% in 2025.
However, the idea that rates haven’t been raised is a spoof. Instead of increasing rates by 2.5%, the rates incentive scheme that gave small businesses 3.8% back on their annual bill is being scrapped. I said how I think it’s dishonest to businesses to pretend otherwise and unfair to the smallest of businesses in particular.
That was a factor of election politics. Some councillors made promises about rates going into the election that the city couldn’t keep. A way had to be found to square that circle and that way was to scrap giving the 3.8% back to small businesses.
I expect we will return to the question of raising rates, and returning the discount to small businesses, next year.
Assistance for vacant homes
This month, officials from Cork City Council hosted a series of open drop-in sessions for owners of vacant and derelict properties. These sessions are part of a concerted effort to tackle the housing crisis by bringing unused properties back into use while revitalising our neighbourhoods.
The resources and grants available for property owners are game-changers, many of which were introduced through Green Party initiatives in government. These measures are designed to provide financial assistance and practical guidance for refurbishing vacant properties into much-needed homes.
As an example of what’s on offer, these include:
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant: Up to €50,000 is available to refurbish vacant properties, increasing to €70,000 for derelict properties. This grant can be used for essential repairs and works, such as fixing roofs, plumbing, and heating systems.
SEAI Home Energy Grants: Homeowners looking to improve energy efficiency can apply for grants for insulation, heat pumps and other energy-saving measures. These grants align with the Green Party’s commitment to reducing energy use and climate-changing emissions.
Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan: For those unable to secure sufficient funding from commercial lenders, this loan offers an accessible alternative. It includes a bridging loan tied to the refurbishment grant, ensuring that applicants have the upfront finance needed to get started.
Advice and Guidance: Council officials are on hand to provide expert advice on planning, conservation and funding applications, ensuring the process is as smooth as possible (vacantproperties@corkcity.ie).
These initiatives reflect the Green Party’s focus on sustainable housing and social equity. The greenest building is the one that is already built. By supporting the reuse of existing structures, we reduce the environmental impact of new construction while addressing housing shortages.
It’s a practical solution that serves both people and the planet.
If you missed the Mayfield session, details on grants and resources are on the Cork City Council website — or contact me directly, I’m always happy to assist.
European Greens conference
Last weekend, I joined the European Greens in Dublin for their annual conference, that saw Ciarán Cuffe elected as co-chair of the party at European level.
After a set-back general election at home, it was a reminder that the Green Party is part of a wider family and movement. One that is pan-European and global as much as it is local.
Among the events I took part in was a workshop on climate action at local level in cities across Europe. It was eye-opening to see how the challenges we face in Cork are shared across cities, right down to issues like difficulties in recruiting bus drivers.
At home this week, Cork City Council met with officials from the EU Mission Cities group on being climate neutral by 2030. This includes access to technical knowledge and finance. The representatives met with the Climate Action Committee that I chair on Tuesday as well as senior staff and stakeholders in the city during the week.
Despite the set-back of the general election, the Green Party in Ireland has 28 councillors across the island, a TD and will likely elect at least one senator in the Seanad general election in January.
The focus of the work of those representatives over the next five years will need to be even stronger than ever to bring the benefits of a just transition to the communities where we live, and across Europe.
In the news…
Northern Distributor Road for Cork city moves a step closer
Green Party city councillor, Oliver Moran, said the Northern Distributor Road would be “a critical enabler” for the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.
Echo, Monday, 9 December
Green Party call for voting rights to be extended to EU citizens resident in Ireland
Green Party councillor, Oliver Moran, said the issue was causing a growing section of the population to become disenfranchised.
Irish Independent, Thursday, 28 November
Steps from Horgan’s Quay to Lower Glanmire Road steps closed since 2021 may open soon
Green Party councillor, Oliver Moran, told The Echo, “It’s been frustrating for commuters, and anyone else passing by the steps every day, seeing them stay closed.”
Echo, Saturday, 2 November
Keep in touch
Thanks for reading! Please feel welcome to share this newsletter and invite other people you know to subscribe — and, if you can, please consider making a donation to my political activities in the ward.
You can also keep up to date with my activities on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Mastodon and TikTok. And don’t forget, you can email me any time at oliver.moran@greenparty.ie.
Have a great month!
