Cllr. Eoin O'Driscoll

Author: eoinodr

  • Eoin O’Driscoll co-opted to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

    Eoin O’Driscoll has been co-opted to replace Maeve O’Connell on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council following her election to Dáil Éireann. Eoin will serve as a Councillor representing Stillorgan.

    Eoin is 32-years old and recently married. He works as a communications consultant and is passionate about using local politics to support our community to thrive.

    Eoin previously worked as a Parliamentary Assistant to Josepha Madigan (then Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht); Political Adviser to the Irish Mission to the United Nations; human rights observer in Palestine; and at the European Parliament.

    “I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and to join our strong local Fine Gael team led by our TDs Neale Richmond and Maeve O’Connell”, Eoin said.

    “My focus will be on ensuring that community is prioritised and that our local government better listens to and address local need. I promise to work hard and do everything I can to support the community here in Stillorgan in my new role as Councillor”.

  • Funding needed for more local playgrounds and other outdoor recreation amenities  – Eoin O’Driscoll

    An increase in funding is needed to deliver more playgrounds that will benefit communities in Churchtown and throughout Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, Eoin O’Driscoll has said.

    Local Election Candidate Eoin O’Driscoll is calling for more funding from Government to help Dún Laoghaire Rathdown meet the cost of large-scale new playground projects and also to expand and upgrade existing playgrounds.

    O’Driscoll said: “There is currently no play facilities for children in Churchtown. With many more young families moving into the area, this needs to be addressed urgently.

    “There is a major need also for outdoor recreation facilities for all ages. We are blessed with abundant green areas in our community, the delivery of park benches and other simple amenities to provide areas for people to come together and interact as a community are really important – particularly for young families and older people.

    “If elected as your Councillor on 7th June, I will be a champion for playgrounds, outdoor recreation amenities and community facilities. Our local government needs to do more to promote community.

    “As a local representative, I know how important these spaces are in terms of physical and mental well-being for the whole family.

    “The Department of Rural and Community Development provides significant funding towards the establishment and improvement of playgrounds through various schemes that it operates.

    “The Capital Grant and Play Recreation scheme operated by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Youth, supports Local Authorities in improving access to quality play and recreation facilities within our communities.

    “It offers funding of up to €18,000 per project, with a total of €450,000 awarded to 29 councils last year.

    “However, this funding is contingent on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council matching funding of at least 25% of the amount provided by the department, which could be a barrier particularly as construction and material costs are on the rise.

    “This is why more funding is required from Government with an increased cap for project awards to ensure Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council can deliver playgrounds and play spaces where they are needed.

    “Concerns have been expressed regarding equipment in some public playgrounds falling into disrepair and upgrading or replacing these pieces can be challenging and some councils can find it difficult getting projects off the ground.

    “This is why a boost in funding and a change to the criteria for the Play and Recreation Scheme would be ideal.

    “Playgrounds are vital spaces for our children and families and Fine Gael is committed to their future development and to delivering stronger and safer communities”.

  • 3,911 Local businesses should act now and apply for grant to help with increased costs – Eoin O’Driscoll

    3,911 Local businesses should act now and apply for grant to help with increased costs – Eoin O’Driscoll

    Business in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown should act now and apply for a once-off Government grant to help them meet rising costs, Fine Gael Local Area Representative for Dundrum, Eoin O’Driscoll has said. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

    O’Driscoll urged Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, that is currently administering the scheme on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to proactively engage with businesses and allow them to apply for the scheme beyond the May 1st deadline.

    O’Driscoll said: “This €257 million scheme was announced in Budget 2024 by my colleague, former Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, and will provide a real boost to micro businesses and small and medium enterprises here in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

    “In Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, 3,911 eligible businesses have yet to make a submission for the scheme and I would urge them to do so through the online portal at dlrcoco.ie. If they need assistance, businesses can also contact Dún Laoghaire- Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Rathdown County Council, which have written to all rate payers with a Customer ID and pin.

    “The deadline of May 1st for businesses to confirm their eligibility and upload verification details is fast approaching in a couple of weeks on May 1st, and I would like to see this deadline extended to ensure they benefit from this vital support.

    “For businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of less than €10,000, the ICOB grant will be paid at a rate of 50% of the business’s Commercial Rate bill for 2023. For qualifying businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of between €10,000 and €30,000, the ICOB grant will be €5,000.

    “There should also be pro-active direct email engagement by Local authorities and Local Enterprise Offices to ensure that entrepreneurs and business owners in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council get a portion of their rates back.

    “I am also pleased that Taoiseach Simon Harris and Enterprise Minister Peter Burke are working with Government colleagues to examine what additional supports can be provided to small and medium businesses, ahead of Budget 2025,”

    “Fine Gael is the party of small business. We know small businesses are at the heart of our local communities and economies. We also are aware of the pressure businesses are under, and we want to help,” O’Driscoll concluded.

    Minister Burke said: “This grant is a vital measure aimed at providing key funding to our small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy.

    “It is my priority and a key priority of this government to assist our businesses with any increase in costs they are facing to ensure they can continue to play a pivotal role in our local economy.”

    ENDS

    Notes to Editor:

    The increased cost to business (ICOB) grant is based on the value of the Commercial Rates bill received by an eligible business in 2023. 

    • For businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of less than €10,000, the grant will be paid at a rate of 50% of the business’s Commercial Rate bill for 2023.
    • For qualifying businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of between €10,000 and €30,000, the grant will be €5,000.
    • Businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rates bill greater than €30,000 are not eligible to receive an ICOB grant.

    Essentially, a business will get a payment of 50% of their 2023 rates bill or €5,000, whichever is the lesser.

    So far, only 1,067 submissions have been made for the grant in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown our of 4,978 potentially eligible businesses.

    Businesses simply register on dlrcoco.ie.

    Examples

    • A hairdresser with a rates bill of €8,000 per year will receive a payment of €4,000.
    • A restaurant owner with a rates bill of €12,000 per year will receive €5,000

  • Eoin O’Driscoll welcomes progress on playground at Finsbury Park

    I am pleased to welcome Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s recommendation to proceed with the delivery of a playground at Finsbury Park, Dundrum. It will be a very positive amenity for the local community.

    The demand for play facilities at this location is clear, with 87 per cent of submissions to the consultation support the addition of play facilities in Finsbury Park.

    I am particularly pleased with the Council’s decision to engage residents through a consultation process at such an early stage in the decision-making process. This has facilitated input into the development Finsbury from those who will use it and will allow for a community-centred approach to the design. Active, meaningful consultation is integral to ensuring that residents’ needs, hopes and concerns are addressed.

    It is also positive that the Council have taken on board feedback received during the consultation, including from myself, to incorporate community engagement in the park, i.e. through a community garden. I encourage any community groups interested in taking responsibility for a community area to contact parksconsultations@dlrcoco.ie.

    For more information regarding Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s report on the publication consultation see here.

    You can read my own submission below.

    eoin-odriscoll-fine-gael-finsbury-park-submission-240124Download

  • Eoin O’Driscoll calls for lower commercial rates

    Many businesses are struggling at the moment, dealing with high and rising costs of doing business.

    Local businesses sit at the heart of our communities and need to be supported as they deal with a challenging business environment.

    The Government has provided significant supports, worth €257 million, through the Increased Cost of Doing Business Grant. This is a vital measure to support small and medium businesses. Applications for the grant open on Thursday 14th March 2024 and I would encourage any eligible businesses to apply before the 1st May 2024 deadline.

    You can find more information in the scheme here.

    I am calling on local governments, particularly Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, to step up and support local businesses through a reduction of commercial rates. I have spoken to many local businesses in recent weeks who are facing increased rates in an already extremely difficult business context.

    Government, at a national and local level, needs to better support local enterprise. For this reason I am advocating for reduced commercial rates and I have submitted a motion to that effect to the upcoming Fine Gael Árd Fheis.

  • Double YES vote in referendums will finally recognise care and all families

    Voting yes for care and yes for family in the March 8th referendums will ensure an Irish constitution which is modern and inclusive, recognising all families and supporting the care families give to one another.

    On 8th March 2024, International Women’s Day, we are being be asked to cast their vote in favour of two changes to the constitution. The first is to delete articles 41.2.1 and 41.2.2, which refers to a woman’s role being within the home and proposes to insert a new Article 42B which recognises caregivers within families – regardless of gender. The second will be to expand the definition of the family found in Article 41.1.1.

    The proposed amendments seek not to diminish but to enrich our constitutional fabric by extending recognition and rights to all families, including those led by single parents and grandparents – a first in our constitutional history. This change recognises the reality of many, affirming their significance and contributions to our community.

    Moreover, the introduction of a provision dedicated to caregiving signals a transformative shift in our societal values. It acknowledges the invaluable role of caregivers, both men and women, in and outside the home, and commits future Governments to provide the necessary support they deserve. This is a commitment to the welfare of families and caregivers, ensuring they are supported, valued, and recognised.

    For more information, check out Fine Gael’s campaign website: https://www.finegael.ie/yesyes/

  • Supporting Local Business – Public Meeting, Tuesday 13th February 2024

    Supporting Local Business – Public Meeting, Tuesday 13th February 2024

    My name is Eoin O’Driscoll. I am your Fine Gael candidate for the Dundrum Local Electoral Area.


    I am passionate about using local politics to ensure that Dundrum
    is the best possible place to live, raise a family and grow old in.
    Supporting local enterprise is one of my core priorities as a
    candidate. Local businesses are at the heart of our community
    and are critical in ensuring it continues to thrive.


    Therefore, I am delighted to invite you to a public meeting 7.30pm Tuesday 13th February 2024 with Minister for Business, Employment
    and Retail Neale Richmond     and Aileen Eglington, PRO and past
    President, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Chamber of Commerce.
    The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss the opportunities
    and challenges facing local enterprise and how we can best ensure
    the continued prosperity of our local community.


    I hope to see you there for what should be a very informative evening.
    Please do get in touch if I can ever be of assistance to you.

  • Fine Gael delivering more money back in your pocket

    Fine Gael delivering more money back in your pocket

    Changes to income tax which are due to kick in from today  (Jan 1st) will put more money back into peoples’ pockets and ease cost of living pressures.

    Furth cuts to tax and USC will mean individuals in Dundrum will keep more of their hard-earned cash, while social protection payments due to be paid in January will assist households with the cost of living.

    Last October, a personal income tax package to the value of €1.3 billion, as part of Budget 2024, was announced by my colleague Minister Paschal Donohoe.

    The aim of this package is to ensure we all take home more of our income, pay the higher rate of tax at a later point and that workers earning the minimum wage remain outside the higher rates of USC.

    The main changes will see an increase of €2,000 in the income tax standard rate band cut-off point, going from  €40,000 to €42,000 for single people, from €49,000 to €51,000 for married couples or civil partners with one or two incomes, and an increase from €31,000 to €33,000 for the maximum increase in the rate band for two income couples.

    The main personal tax credits (Personal, Employee and Earned Income) will also rise by €100 from €1,775 to €1,875.

    Government is also providing for an increase in the ceiling for the 2% rate of USC of €2,840 from €22,920 to €25,760. The increase in the 2% rate band ceiling will ensure a full-time adult worker in who benefits from the increase in the hourly minimum wage rate from €11.30 to €12.70 will remain outside the top rates of USC.

    Overall, this tax package is worth €813 on the average wage, and when combined with the universal energy credit, equates to over €1,000 back in their pockets.

    We have always believed people pay too much tax on their hard-earned income and for that reason, Fine Gael in Government has led the way in cutting income tax and USC.

    It will also mean households in Dundrum are further protected from cost of living pressures , alongside a range of other measures to help families and individuals pay the bills.

    An increase of €100 in the Home Carer Tax Credit will also come into effect from tomorrow, bringing it from €1,700 to €1,800.”

    The Social Welfare package of €2.3bn delivered by my colleague, Heather Humphreys, TD, in October, was the largest in the history of the State.

    I am pleased that from January, there will be €12 increases in weekly social welfare payments to recipients including pensioners, carers and those with disabilities. A double cost of living payment will also be made on the week commencing January 29th, which will benefit 1.3 million people.

    Inflation is thankfully decreasing, and it is expected to reduce again in 2024 to 2.9%. Nevertheless, we know people and families are finding it hard to pay the bills due to ongoing cost of living challenges, so these measures coming just into the New Year  will provide further assistance.

  • Public Meeting on Youth Politics

    Public Meeting on Youth Politics

    I was delighted to host a public meeting on youth politics Tuesday 28th November 2023 in Dom Marmion House, Dundrum.

    I am passionate about using local politics to ensure that Dundrum is the best possible place to live, raise a family and grow old in.

    Young people’s voices are too often underrepresented in Irish politics. The only way to address this is to get involved. I firmly believe in the power of political engagement to deliver positive change in our community.

    To register to vote, check out: https://www.voter.ie/

    For more about Young Fine Gael, check out: https://www.yfg.ie/

  • Be vigilant about scam texts this Christmas

    Be vigilant about scam texts this Christmas

    Fine Gael Local Election Candidate for Dundrum, Eoin O’Driscoll has urged people to be aware of scam text messages circulating, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. “Over the past week alone, I’ve received a number of scam messages,” O’Driscoll said. “They range from the An Post ‘your package won’t be delivered unless you pay a fee’ text and the ‘claim your electricity credit’ text, all of which are scam artists trying to catch vulnerable people out,” he explained. “While all of these tricks have been reasonably well reported, I am urging people to speak to those around them, especially the elderly and more vulnerable, to explain to them that they should never click into the links. Have that conversation with people around you to remind people to always be wary of a number that they are not familiar with.”

    Comreg has some very useful tips such as:

    · Be cautious of unsolicited text messages from unknown senders

    · Do not click on a link or reply to a message

    · Don’t share personal information. Legitimate texts never ask you for personal or financial information

    · DO NOT RESPOND

    · Be familiar with how businesses and services you engage with will contact you – visit their website to find out or ask them how they are likely to contact you

    · Verify sender details by visiting the company’s official website or in the case of your bank, ring the number on the back of your bank card. NEVER use contact details in the text.

    “Coming up to Christmas, most people are working within budgets. With the cost of living still high, I would not like to see anyone getting caught out with these text scams. There are very clever organisations behind these scams and many of the numbers look like they are Irish numbers. Some of the links to the banks also look very real, so that’s why reminders are very important. If you feel you have been a victim of fraud, always contact your local Garda station, who are there to help,” O’Driscoll added.”