Author: eoinodr

November / December Update – Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll

1. Budget 2025

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council passed its 2026 Budget amounting to  €313.7m representing a 12% increase on Budget 2025. The expansionary budget, passed with the support of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil governing group will provide for a significant uplift in the provision of services for our local community.

There was a particular focus on increase maintenance budgets which should facilitate better service delivery locally, including –

• Grass cutting – €450,000
• Tree care – €400,000
• Grass Pitch Maintenance – €135,000
• All-weather pitch maintenance – €250,000

Other increased budget lines I want to highlight are –

• Arts Grant funding has more than doubled to €226,000
• Climate Action Plan Phase 2 – €883,000
• New books and digital library services – €65,000

I look forward to working hard to getting these additional resources working efficiently and effectively for local communities.

• 12 New Local Gardaí

12 new Gardaí have been allocated to our area (via Dundrum Garda Station). This is a significant increase in local policing resources following the launch last year, by then-Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, of a major new recruitment drive for An Garda Síochána. 

The 12 new Gardaí, which are due to start working locally by the end of the month, represent the single biggest increase in Garda resourcing for the local area. The increased Garda resources should facilitate increased Garda presence on the beat and increased enforcement – particularly on issues such as anti-social behaviour, traffic and parking violations. 

• Community Safety Partnership

I had the honour of being elected by my fellow Councillors to join The Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP). This  is a newly established initiative aimed at enhancing community safety across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown by placing local voices at the heart of decision-making. The partnership will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders including local councillors, An Garda Síochána, community groups, businesses, educators, and statutory agencies such as the HSE, Tusla, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

I look forward to kicking off work with the Partnership in the new year to support community safety initiatives locally.

I will continue my work on the Local Policing Forum, so please do get in touch if there are any matters I can support you with regarding local policing/community safety.

• Stillorgan Library

Budget 2026 also provided full funding for the new Stillorgan Library. This is on track to open in Q1 2026.

It will be a fantastic facility for our local community and I greatly look forward to its opening in the new year.

• Cabinteely Greenway

The consultation on the Cabinteely Greenway closed last week, 11^th December 2025.

The Greenway should be a positive community amenity but it is integral that it is progressed with full, meaningful engagement with local residents. I have received significant feedback on the proposals which I look forward to reviewing in detail, alongside the results of the consultation, in the new year.

I will be working to ensure that local residents’ feedback is fully taken into account and the Greenway is designed and delivered to best support local need.

• EU Committee of the Regions – Housing Working Group

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to represent Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at the EU Committee of the Regions. This brought together local representatives from across Europe to discuss issues of common concern to local government, share best practices and identify potential solutions to shared problems.

Of particular interest, I took part in the launch of the European People’s Party Housing Working Group at the Committee of the Regions. With access to affordable, suitable housing posing a major problem across Europe, this Working Group should provide a good opportunity to work together and bring some new ideas back to our respective local authorities to help build more homes locally.

• Trad Fest

I have raised on a number of occasions my disappointment that in previous years Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has been the one local authority in Dublin that has not taken part in TradFest – Ireland’s largest traditional music festival.

Therefore, I am pleased that it has been confirmed that the county will host a number of events as part of TradFest 2026 on a trial basis. While the events are all on the east side of the county in 2026, if the trial is successful, TradFest 2027 and beyond will offer great opportunities to bring more people to heritage sites in our area to enjoy some of Ireland’s best traditional musicians.

You can find out more about next year’s events in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown here: 2026 Artist Lineup | TradFest Dublin

• Open Consultations

Proposed Variation No. 1 to the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Citizen Space

Deadline 26^th January 2026

Environment: Green Dog Walkers Pledge – Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Citizen Space

Deadline 31^st December 2025

• In the Media
• Dublin’s Q102: Parking Charges in Stillorgan Village shopping centre
• Dublin Gazette: Major strides being made to protect children in Dublin online – Eoin O’Driscoll
• Dublin Gazette: Local children receive free book bags – Eoin O’Driscoll

Major strides being made to protect children in Dublin online – Eoin O’Driscoll

Fine Gael’s wants to secure young people in Dublin future with plan for age verification for accessing online sites, Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll (Fine Gael – Stillorgan) has said.

Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll said new steps are being taken to introduce age verification to better protect children in Dublin online.

“Fine Gael and my colleague Minister Patrick O’Donovan, want to secure our children’s future.

“Parents are doing their part in trying to protect their children from online dangers like pornography, cyberbullying and harmful algorithms that can lead to exploitation.

“Recently we’ve seen huge strides in online safety and it’s whole-of-Government priority.

“A recent Fine Gael Online Safety Survey gathered the views of more than 2,200 parents and guardians across the country. It found that there is overwhelming support for age limits and verifications. This report highlighted the issues and now we want to address them.

“The government is developing a trusted age-verification tool through the digital wallet to ensure only adults can access adult content.

“The new digital wallet will soon be launched and will be used to confirm ages of internet users, making sure platforms like YouTube and Instagram are properly held to account.

“On top of age verification, Fine Gael has also allocated €6m to schools across the country to help keep them smartphone free, including €1,216,325.00 allocated to benefit 95 schools across Dublin.

“We’re supporting safer school environments with mobile-phone restrictions, that will reduce distraction, improve wellbeing and support teachers.

“Our Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton has been working with schools, teachers, parents and students. Safer screens mean secure futures.

“Significant progress is being made at EU level, including major fines for non-compliance with online safety rules. When Ireland assumes the EU Presidency in 2026, we have a chance to take the lead on this important issue and deliver stronger protection measures for children.

“Protecting our children online is a key priority for Fine Gael and we have taken big steps to ensure parents in Dublin aren’t left to handle this on their own,” concluded Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll

1,566  young children in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown have benefited from free book bag – Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll

Children across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown have benefitted from a free book bag as part of the Little Library Initiative, Fine Gael Councillor Eoin O’Driscoll has said.

Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll said the books and resources in the book bag, which is available in both English and as Gaeilge, has supported parents and their children in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in the transition to primary school.

“I’m delighted to see so many children in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown benefit from the My Little Library initiative.

“The scheme seeks to build strong links between young children, their families and their local library.

“These books and stories help each child prepare for this big step in transitioning to primary school. Books are a great way of helping parents support their children with their early language and literacy development.

“Across the country, almost 40,000 young children have benefited from the Little Library initiative this year.

“Nearly 20,000 children across Ireland will also join the library this year because of the My Little Library initiative.

“There is still a small number of Little Library book bags in libraires around the country for any five- and six-year-olds who have still to collect their bag. I encourage all remaining families to avail of this initiative and to join the library,” concluded Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll

Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll welcomes allocation of 12 new Gardaí to Dundrum Garda Station 

12^th November 2025 

Local Gardaí confirmed last night, at a public meeting of the Dundrum/Stillorgan Local Policing Forum that 12 new Gardaí will be appointed to Dundrum Garda Station. 

Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll, member of the Local Policing Forum, said “I greatly welcome the announcement that 12 new Gardaí will be allocated to Dundrum Garda Station. This is a significant increase in local policing resources following the launch last year, by then-Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, of a major new recruitment drive for An Garda Síochána. 

“The 12 new Gardaí, which are due to start working locally by the end of the month, represent the single biggest increase in Garda resourcing for the local area. The increased Garda resources should facilitate increased Garda presence on the beat and increased enforcement – particularly on issues such as anti-social behaviour, traffic and parking violations. 

“I look forward to working with local Gardaí and local residents through the Local Policing Forum to support safe, secure local communities.” 

ENDS 

Public should have their say on priorities for Irelands EU Presidency – Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll

You can have your say on Ireland’s priorities for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union next year through a new survey, Councillor Eoin O’Driscoll (Fine Gael, Stillorgan) has said.

Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll said that the consultation process is an important milestone in preparing for one of the most significant responsibilities Ireland will undertake on the European stage.

“Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026 offers a unique opportunity to shape the European agenda at a time of major change and challenge.

“This public consultation will allow individuals, businesses, and community organisations to have their say on the themes and priorities Ireland should advance during its six-month term.

“This is another chance to demonstrate Ireland’s capability and influence on a European level, and to reaffirm our reputation as a constructive, solutions-focused member state. With Europe and Ireland facing significant geopolitical challenges, the upcoming Presidency offers an important opportunity for Ireland to demonstrate real leadership on the international stage.

“The consultation has now opened for submissions and will close on 12 December 2025. You can make a submission by visiting: The Development of the Priorities and Policy Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.

“The consultation process ensures that ideas from every corner of the country can contribute to shaping how Ireland leads in Europe in 2026.

“I’d encourage everyone to fill out the survey and have their say on what Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU,” concluded Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll

ENDS

Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll welcomes confirmation that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown will participate in Tradfest 2026

2^nd November 2025

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has confirmed its intention participate in Tradfest 2026 on a trial basis with a view to full participation in Tradfest 2027 and beyond.

The Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council made this confirmation in response to a motion raised by Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll (Stillorgan, Fine Gael).

Cllr. O’Driscoll said “I am very pleased to receive confirmation that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will be taking part in next year’s TradFest on a trial basis with a view to full participation in TradFest 2027.

“At present we are the only Dublin Local Authority that does not take part in Ireland’s largest traditional music festival. Participation in Tradefest will will be a fantastic opportunity to bring world-leading traditional musicians to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, attract international visitors, and showcase some of our wonderful local heritage sites.”

ENDS

October 2025 Update – Cllr Eoin O’Driscoll

1.     Local Policing Forum

A public meeting of the Dundrum/Stillorgan Local Policing Forum will be held on Tuesday 11th November at 7:30pm until 8:30pm in Dundrum Council Office, Maher’s Terrace, 1 Main Street, Dundrum, Dublin 14, D14 XV10​.

There will be an opportunity to raise issues and address questions on relevant matters with members of An Garda Síochána from the Community Policing Team.

The meeting is a great opportunity for you to raise any concerns or views on local policing and public safety. I hope to see you there but if you cannot make it, I am more than happy to raise any issues on your behalf, just let me know.

2.     Local Community Safety Partnership

The Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) is a newly established initiative aimed at enhancing community safety across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown by placing local voices at the heart of decision-making. The partnership will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders including local councillors, An Garda Síochána, community groups, businesses, educators, and statutory agencies such as the HSE, Tusla, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organisations passionate about making the county safer and more inclusive. Applications are welcome from residents’ associations, youth groups, educators, sports organisations, minority communities, and voluntary bodies.

For further information, see here.

3.     Stillorgan Library

At a recent meeting of the Dundrum Area Committee, I received the following update regarding the construction of the new Stillorgan Library. It is an exciting development for Stillorgan and I look forward to visiting it in early 2026:

“Construction continues on the new Stillorgan Library. As per schedule, it is hoped to have the building handover by the end of 2025, allowing the commencement of fit-out.

Work remains on-going on the furniture and shelving tender, which we would hope to issue shortly.

Allowing for a 12-week procurement period for some items of furniture and given this may be further affected by factories/offices closing over Christmas, this would take us to​ Q1 2026

The IT installation and the stocking of library shelves will also be required. There may be some overlap between the furniture fit out and DLR fit out, but this would depend on the selected supplier’s fit out programme and timelines for procurement of shelving.​ Work continues to purchase stock for the new library.”

4.     Cabinteely Greenway

Consultation Now Open – Deadline 11^th December

The Cabinteely Greenway aims to develop a 2.3km safe, accessible, and attractive route for walking, wheeling, and cycling between Cornelscourt and Cherrywood. Stretching for 2.3km, the Greenway will offer a route through Cabinteely Park and surrounding areas.

The Greenway should be a very positive amenity for the local community but as always, it is imperative that local views and perspectives are fully taken into account in the Greenway’s design and delivery.

​

A consultation on the proposed scheme opened today with a deadline for submissions of Thursday, 11^th December 2025. You can find further information and details of related webinars and drop-in sessions here.

5.     €833,000 in Funding Available for Community Climate Action Projects

Applications are now being accepted for Phase 2 of the Community Climate Action Programme. Deadline 15^th December 2025.

The programme provides funding for local community groups and organisations interested in developing capital projects that address the challenge of climate change. Community groups can apply for funding to support projects in five key areas:

• Community Energy – Improving energy efficiency or promoting renewable energy use
• Travel – Encouraging sustainable travel options
• Shopping and Recycling – Reducing waste and increasing recycling rates
• Food and Waste – Tackling food waste and promoting local food production
• Local Climate and Environmental Action – Broad initiatives that protect the environment and address climate change 

For further details, see here.

6.     UCD Student Accommodation

I was pleased to join Maeve O’Connell TD and local Fine Gael Councillors at the sod turning event in UCD as construction began to deliver 493 new student accommodation beds following the investment of €67m ​by government.

​

As I have repeatedly argued in the Council Chamber, the only answer to our housing challenges is to build more homes. As such, I greatly welcome any new housing in our community. This announced accommodation will greatly benefit not only future students at UCD but will also help reduce pressure on rental accommodation in the surrounding area. I look forward to continuing to work with government, in my capacity as a local councillor, to build more homes locally

7.     Local Property Tax

As you are likely aware, we are currently in the midst of a new valuation period for Local Property Tax. The deadline for your LPT Return is 7^th November 2026 for new valuation bands to apply from 2026 to 2030. You can find out more from Revenue here.

In this context, I want to draw your attention to a decision taken by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council over the summer; I was pleased to co-sign and strongly support a successful motion that ensures that we will retain the full 15 per cent downwards adjustment for LPT within the county for the next year.

This was a particularly important vote to mitigate the impact of the current revaluation of properties for LPT purposes. As the first revaluation since 2021, and considering the rapid inflation of house prices in that period, all homeowners will face increased LPT bills next year.

Council officials estimate that, with the full downwards adjustment in effect, the average homeowner in DLR will face a 5 per cent increase in their LPT bill. This will facilitate an extra €11m in income for the Council and facilitate a significant increase in Council expenditure for 2026, outpacing inflation by some margin.

It was disappointing, therefore, that the Green Party, supported by the Social Democrats, put forward a motion that would have ended any downwards adjustment on LPT within DLR. Taking the revaluation (and the Council’s conservative estimate of an average 5 per cent bill increase) into account, by defeating the Green Party motion, we have avoided increasing LPT bills within DLR by a massive, in my view unjustified, 23.5%.

​8.  In the media

I was pleased to get some media pick-up on my work in the Council over the past weeks. You can read more here:

• Over 70s can now bring a loved one or friend on public transport for free
• Companion pass to benefit 133,464 in Dublin – Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll

1.      ​​H​eather for President – A President for All

​The President​ial election is now in full swing with Fine Gael in Dublin Rathdown getting fully behind our candidate Heather Humphreys. We had great turnout earlier today in Dundrum to welcome Heather to the constituency where she received an extremely warm reception from shoppers.​​

​​Over the coming weeks we will be campaigning heard to put Heather in the Áras, so please do get in touch if you are willing to help out.

​2. ​Scoil San Treasa – New School Building Project

​We had very positive news this week as the Department of Education granted approval for the Scoil San Treasa school building project in Mount Merrion to proceed to the Construction Stage. The development will deliver –

·       The replacement of four existing prefab classrooms, and five additional new mainstream classrooms

·       A new additional Special Education Teaching room alongside a new special education facility

​
​This is a very important and positive development to ensure high quality, permanent education facilities for Mount Merrion and the wider community.

​2.  New Student Accommodation for UCD

It was great to join so many Fine Gael colleagues at UCD yesterday for turn the sod on the building 493 new student on-campus accommodation beds​. This project ​w​ill be delivered with €67m in support from government through the Short-Term Activation Programme announced in 2022.

​As I have repeatedly argued in the Council Chamber, the only answer to our housing challenges is to build, build, build.​  As such, I greatly welcome any new housing in our community.

This announced accommodation will greatly benefit not only future students at UCD but will also help reduce pressure on rental accommodation in the surrounding area. I look forward to continuing to work with government, in my capacity as a local councillor, to build more homes locally.

​3.      Cabinteely Greenway

The proposed Cabinteely Greenway will create 2.3km of segregated suburban greenway infrastructure (effectively bike lanes, improved pedestrian paths and associated improvements to green spaces). It is intended to provide improved walking and cycling connections between Cornelscourt and Cherrywood.

Council officials have provided assurance the no existing lanes of traffic or parking will be impacted.

The Greenway ​should be​ very positive active travel infrastructure for the community. However, as always critical to the effective delivery of this project will be meaningful engagement with local residents. A Consultation will go live​ next week, from 25^th September – 6^th November, I encourage you to take part and share your views as part of the consultation process. I will circulate further details once available. Of course, I would be very happy to hear your own views directly in the interim.

​7.      Disability Strategy

I was pleased over the summer to be appointed by Minister Hildegarde Naughton as Fine Gael’s disability champion on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. I look forward to working with Minister Naughton and Fine Gael’s other disability champions across the country to better support those living with disability.

I was pleased to provide input into the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People published by Minister Naughton and Tánaiste Simon Harris which was published over the summer. You can read the document here.

8.      Open Consultations

a.      Environment: Green Dog Walkers Pledge – Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Citizen Space

9.      In the media

a.      Expansion of carers allowance will see increase in weekly payment

b.      Local Property Tax Increases

c.      Comments on the Presidential Race (Dublin People)

d.      Dún Loaghaire-Rathdown Council votes to cut Local Property Tax for 2025 (Dublin People)

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councillor Eoin O’Driscoll (Fine Gael – Stillorgan) has called on Ireland’s centre ground voters to unite behind Fine Gael’s Presidential Candidate, Heather Humphreys.

“I was proud to nominate Heather Humphreys as Fine Gael’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election, and I am very pleased that her candidacy has now been officially confirmed.

“Heather is a serious and experienced public servant with a proven record of achievement – from major legislative reforms, to championing families, to leading the hugely successful 2016 Easter Rising Centenary Commemorations.

“At a time when we see the damage caused by radical populist politics across the globe, Heather offers something different: stability, integrity, and leadership rooted in the political centre. She represents the values of the strong majority of Irish people.”

Cllr O’Driscoll contrasted this with the positions expressed by Catherine Connolly:
“While Ireland’s left has a proud tradition, it is deeply disappointing that so many of Ireland’s left wing parties have united behind a candidate who distrusts the European Union; blames NATO for Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine; endorsed a leading anti-HPV vaccine campaigner as president; and refuses to answer questions about her visit to Syria facilitated by the Assad regime.

“These are not progressive views – they are morally bankrupt, and dangerous positions for anyone seeking to become Ireland’s Head of State.

“In this context, it is vital that voters of the centre come together behind Heather Humphreys next month and ensure that Ireland is represented by a President we can be proud of on the world stage.”

ENDS