June 2024
Hi, there! — Welcome to the twenty-seventh edition of my monthly newsletter to keep you up to date on my work for Cork City North East.
This month we have updates on funding for new and improved parks in Tinkers Cross, Lotabeg and St. Luke’s — as well as progress on community centres in Ballyvolane and Glanmire.
I’ve also included a small message ahead of Friday’s local elections, asking you for your Number 1 vote to continue the work I’ve been doing for the next five years.
If there’s anything you want to get in touch about, or just to give your thoughts and feedback on this newsletter, please feel welcome to email me any time at oliver.moran@greenparty.ie.
Please also 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
There will be no regular meeting of Cork City Council in June because of the local elections — but a special meeting was held to finalise some statutory items before the end of this term.
I still wanted to include this section to the monthly newsletter to say thank you to the wonderful members of the Cork North City Greens — and everyone who provoked and suggested ideas for motions over the past five years. 👏👏
Every month, each councillor can submit up to four motions to Cork City Council and ask two formal questions of the Chief Executive. 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
What’s happening?
Vote to keep going green on Friday
For the past five years, it’s been my privilege to work for you as your local Green Party councillor. On Friday, you get to choose your councillors for the next five years — from now until 2029.
I’m asking you again for your Number 1 vote, to continue the work I’ve been doing.
In delivering more parks and community gardens, like we’ve seen flourish at St Luke’s, better play equipment installed across the ward, and new parks in the offing at Lotabeg and Tinker’s Cross.
In working with communities on transport, finding solutions on BusConnects to make sure plans work for everyone, and investing more in active travel in the North East ward over the past five years than any other ward in the city.
And in housing by supporting social housing, giving people more options like affordable housing and cost rental — like the more than 300 new apartments under construction at Horgan’s Quay — increasing the staff budget to tackle derelict properties seven-fold, and supporting Traveller-specific accommodation.
I want to continue doing this work for everyone in the North East ward for the next five years.
That’s why I’m asking you now for your Number 1 vote on Friday. A vote to Keep Going Green. And to please share this message with your friends and neighbours across the North East ward.
Funding for new parks
This month there was significant steps forward in progressing two new parks in the Mayfield area. One of these will be sited at Tinker’s Cross and the other is proposed for Lotabeg.
Last Friday, Cork City Council applied for €50,000 from the Community Recognition Fund to begin work on a playground at Lotabeg. This will be supplemented with local funding too.
Last month, Cork City Council Parks Department and UCC planning students hosted a community evening to discuss a vision for a park at Tinker’s Cross as well. This has already been earmarked for a separate €50,000 from the Community Recognition Fund.
The prospect of funding for a playground at Lotabeg is really exciting. The funding will mean being able to get the project off the ground this year, like was promised.
I’ve been working with local residents on the issue of a playground for Mayfield and Montenotte. It’s something that the local group can take real satisfaction at the pace of moving the project along.
The purpose of this funding is special too. It is to support communities that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries over the past number of years.
The Mayfield and Montenotte area has definitely done that and I think this would be an appropriate way of celebrating that, with a place that children regardless of background, can play together.
This month also, the beneficiaries of the Community Climate Action Fund in Cork were announced. This included €25,000 funding for a children’s bike track at the Railway Park and €50,000 funding to take the St Luke’s Community Garden to “the next level”.
Engagement on community centres
This month, I also received confirmation from officials of progress on new community centres in both Balllyvolane and Glanmire.
Officials confirmed that in relation to a community centre for Ballyvolane, they have contacted the main contributors to a 2019 report that identified the need for a community building in the area.
The purpose will be to look at progressing the outcomes of the report, especially a community centre.
In relation to Glanmire, officials also confirmed the need for more green spaces and a multi-use business/community hub, as expressed by the community in the recent “Health Check” for Glanmire.
Studies are currently underway relating to potential location options for a Community/Enterprise Hub in Glanmire. A feasibility study to determine the viability of such an initiative is due in August.
The idea of the centre in Glanmire being multi-functional and a business hub is significant. It could potentially serve as a centre of gravity for the whole of Glanmire.
Something residents have also asked is about lifelong and adult learning opportunities in Glanmire. That idea will now also be added to the potential uses of the future community hub.
In the news…
New figures shed light on politicians’ attendance at Cork City Council meetings
Green Party councillors Oliver Moran and Dan Boyle were top of the class, attending 122 of 125 meetings and 195 of 190, respectively, an average attendance of 97–98%.
Echo, Friday, 31 May
New ‘Wellbeing Room’ at Cork city Resource Centre launched by Minister for State
Cork City councillor Oliver Moran was also in attendance, and he said the room “is an open space available for community needs”.
Irish Independent, Tuesday, 21 May
Green light for €18m regeneration scheme for Spring Lane halting site
Green Party councillor Oliver Moran, chairman of the council’s Traveller consultative committee, described progress to this stage as “slow and difficult work”.
Irish Examiner, Monday, 13 May
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 2024 re-election campaign.
You can also keep up to date with my activities on Twitter, 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!
