“Gardaí from Tallaght are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body of a female in her 50s in Loretto Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin. Gardaí attended the scene following a call from Dublin Fire Brigade at approximately 9.50am this morning the 10th of April,” said Sergeant Margaret Flanagan

“The office of the State Pathologist has been notified, and a post mortem is underway in Tallaght hospital. The scene has been preserved. There have been no arrests and there is no further information at this time,” she added.

“This decision has clearly been in the pipeline for some time, but the manner in which it was announced was bizarre. I first found out about it on a visit to the Council’s website early Saturday morning,” said Cllr Dermot Looney (Labour).

He added: “It turns out that the elected councillors had only been informed about this through a late Friday afternoon email in which we were told the deal was done – but we were told to remain quiet about it. Meanwhile, the council have posted the information to its website, and Greyhound sent out a self-congratulatory press release which the council have been happy to publicise!”

He said the council’s move was in spite of a recent council motion opposing any attempts to privatise the service.

Looney said: “The elected representatives of this council have had no hand, act nor part in this ‘executive decision.’ I have done everything in my very limited power as a councillor to stand up for the public bin service, and in particular the thousands of less well-off and elderly residents who rely on the waiver, via motions, questions and political pressure at council level.

“The decision of successive governments to take any powers away from elected representatives regarding waste means we could not halt this move,” he added.

Greyhound has said it will not increase costs to consumers and will honour existing waivers.

The following are recent Department of Education school inspection reports. The reports can be read on the department’s website – click on month published and then on the ‘PDF’ link for the school report you wish to view.

These are the schools in Dublin which were evaluated, and what subjects were looked at. WSE = whole-school evaluations. Sorted by date published and type of school:

National Primary Schools

Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, Fionnghlas, Baile Átha Cliath 11 – WSE
St Joseph’s BNS, Terenure, Dublin 16 – WSE
John Scottus NS, Northumberland Road, Dublin 4 – WSE

Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education

Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey – PE
Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12 – History
St Laurence College, Loughlinstown – TY
Synge Street CBS, Dublin 8 – Science & Biology

Published December 2010

National Primary Schools

Scoil San Treasa, Mount Merrion – WSE
Scoil Treasa, Firhouse, Dublin 24 – WSE
St Joseph’s School for Deaf Boys, Navan Rd, Dublin 7 – WSE
St.Mary’s School for Deaf Girls, Navan Rd, Dublin 7 – WSE

Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education

Fingal Community College, Swords – MTWCS
Ardscoil La Salle, Raheny, Dublin 5 – Religious Education
Balbriggan Community College, Balbriggan – Music
St Declan’s College, Nephin Road, Dublin 7 – Art
Manor House School, Raheny, Dublin 5 – Music
Dominican College, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9 – English
Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan – Science & Biology
Riversdale Community College, Blanchardstown Road North, Dublin 15 – Science & Biology
Plunket College, Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9 – Science & Biology
Belvedere College S.J., Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1 – Art
St Fintan’s High School, Sutton, Dublin 13 – SPHE
Maryfield College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 – Gaeilge, Irish(t)
St Aidan’s Christian Brothers’ School, Whitehall, Dublin 9 – Geography
St Finian’s Community College, Swords – Music
Mercy Secondary School, Inchicore – History
Christian Brothers College, Monkstown – English
Gonzaga College, Dublin 6 – PE
Sancta Maria College, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 – Business Studies
Saint Benildus College, Stillorgan – History
Newpark Comprehensive School, Blackrock - WSE, French, Gaeilge, Irish(t), Mathematics, Metalwork & Engineering
Presentation College Terenure, Dublin 6W – LCVP
Holy Child Community School, Sallynoggin – French
Rockbrook Park School, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 – French
Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 – History
Deansrath Community College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 – History

Published November 2010

National Primary Schools

Our Lady of Mercy Convent School, Booterstown – WSE
St Pius X Boys’ National School, Terenure, Dublin 6W – WSE
Kilternan Church of Ireland National School, Kilternan – WSE
Saint Catherine’s Infant School, Cabra, Dublin 7 – WSE
St Brendan’s Boys’ National School, Artane, Dublin 5 – WSE
Drumcondra National School, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 – WSE
St Catherine’s Senior National School, Ratoath Road, Cabra, Dublin 7 – WSE
St Kevin’s Junior National School, Donaghmede, Dublin 13 – WSE
St Mary’s National School, Windsor Avenue, Fairview, Dublin 3 – WSE

Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education

Jobstown Community College, Tallaght, Dublin 24 - History
Mount Sackville Secondary School, Chapelizod, Dublin 20 - Science & Biology
St Kevin’s Community School, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 – History
Moyle Park College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 – Mathematics
Coláiste na hÍde, Tallaght, Dublin 24 - Stair, History (t)
Tallaght Community School, Tallaght, Dublin 24 – Mathematics
St Michael’s College, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 – Spanish
St Columba’s College, Whitechurch, Dublin 16 – Science & Biology
Clonkeen College, Blackrock – TY
Ringsend Technical Institute, Dublin 4 – Metalwork & Engineering
Jesus and Mary College, Goatstown Road, Dublin 14 – WSE, TY, History, Mathematics
St Joseph Of Cluny, Killiney, Co Dublin - Music
St Andrew’s College, Blackrock, Co Dublin – PE
Mount Anville Secondary School, Dundrum, Dublin 16 – Classical Studies
Ballinteer Community School, Dublin 16 - English
Caritas College, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 - French
St Laurences’ College, Loughlinstown, Dublin 18 - French
Meánscoil Iognáid Rís, Drimnagh, Dublin 12 – Technical, Graphics & Design & Communication, Graphics
St Conleth’s College, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 – CSPE
St Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon, Dublin 16 – Business Studies
Ballinteer Community School, Dublin 16 - Science & Physics
Pearse College, Crumlin, Dublin 12 – English
St.Tiernan’s Community School, Dublin 16 – Science & Biology
John Scottus Secondary School, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 – Science & Biology
CBS Westland Row, Dublin 2 – Science & Biology
Mount Anville Secondary School, Dundrum, Dublin 16 – Science & Physics
Terenure College, Terenure, Dublin 6W – PE
Rockford Manor Secondary School, Blackrock – English
Mount Temple Comprehensive School, Malahide Road, Dublin 3 – WSE, English, Guidance, Music, Science/Biology
Patrician College, Finglas, Dublin 11 – Gaeilge, Irish (t)
St David’s C.B.S., Artane, Dublin 5 – SEN
St Joseph’s C.B.S., Fairview, Dublin 3 - SEN
St Aidan’s C.B.S., Collins Avenue, Whitehall, Dublin 9 – MTWCS
Pobalscoil Neasáin, Baldoyle, Dublin 13 – TGDCG
Loreto College, Swords – RE in Junior Cycle
St Paul’s C.B.S., North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 – RE in Junior Cycle
Portmarnock Community School, Portmarnock – English
St Paul’s College, Raheny, Dublin 5 – RE in Junior Cycle
Mater Christi Secondary School, Cappagh, Finglas, Dublin 11 – Science & Biology

South Dublin has a significant problem with ghost estates in “limbo” and only partially completed, according to a Labour councillor.

He also highlighted the problem of developers retaining a controlling interest in management companies.

“Ghost estates have been characterised as a particular problem in small rural towns and in the so-called ‘commuter belt.’ However, there are issues particular to our situation in South Dublin. Here, unlike in other counties, it is clear that many of these uncompleted developments involve apartments, which make up approximately half of the units in the study,” said Dermot Looney, a councillor on South Dublin County Council.

The report on ‘ghosts estates’, he said, found that there were 49 ghost estates in South Dublin with some 9,425 units. Within these 2,953 units were not even started, 760 are still under construction, and 1,286 units were completed but vacant.

Looney said: “Of the 119 areas set aside for open space in these estates, 45 were uncompleted. These add up to severe difficulties for residents of nearly 4,500 homes which are occupied in the partially-completed estates.”

He said as well as issues regarding issues of good standards of living, estate completion and the creation of sustainable communities, the South Dublin area has a problem with management companies in apartment and other multi-unit developments.

“In particular, developers retain a controlling interest in many management companies but may not be contributing their management fee. This can create great difficulty for residents in getting vital work done in their estates. The issue of management companies is another failure of ‘light touch’ regulation in Ireland and regrettably the new legislation on management companies is not retrospective,” said Looney.

IMAGE: File picture of a ‘ghost estate’,  Some rights reserved by topgold

A house full of cannabis in the Dublin suburb of Rathfarnham was raided by Gardai this afternoon.

Gardai value the plants found in every room of the house in Grange Wood, Rathfarnham at a street value of €200,000.

“All four bedrooms of the house were being used to cultivate cannabis plants.  In total Gardai discovered 529 plants, which subject to analysis may have a street value in excess of €200,000,” said Sergeant Jim Molloy of the Garda Press Office.

View Grange Wood in a larger map

The crash took place around 4.30pm on Wednesday at the Miltown Drive junction of the Braemor Road, between Rathfarnham and Dundrum.

Witnesses to the collision involving the cyclist and a silver coloured Mercedes salon car are being asked to contact Rathfarmham Garda Station at 01-6666500, the Garda Confidential Line 1-800-666 or any Garda Station.

Councillor Looney had proposed a motion against the price increase of 31% at a meeting of council, yet county manager Joe Horan approved the increase on Monday.

“Fianna Fail’s latest assault on local residents comes in the form of another jumped-up stealth tax,” said Looney, “And despite all the guff we heard at Monday’s Council meeting, they are squarely to blame for the increase.”

Costs will rise from €8 per lift for a black bin to €10.50, while the charge for brown bins will rise from €4 per lift to €5.25. Councillor Looney blames Minister for the Environment John Gormley for indirectly forcing the hand of SDCC councillors.

Looney said, ”Minister Gormley and the FF/Green Government continue to give the two fingers to South Dublin by crediting the residents in our county with the lowest Local Government Fund allocation in Ireland. The chronic shortfall in support from central government has led to the further stretching of Council finances.”

“It is regrettable that the county manager over-rode the decision of the people’s representatives on the council – but let’s not forget who is to blame for this lack of democracy,” concluded Looney.

South Dublin County Council said recently that the bin collection would still work out as the cheapest waste collection service in the country.

IMAGE: Photo by Lorna Mitchell, some rights reserved.

The charge for collection of a black bin (for general waste) is to increase from €8 to €10.50, while the charge for collection of a brown bin (for food and garden waste) is to rise from €4 to €5.25. Collection of green bins (for recyclables) is to remain free of charge.

Labour councillor on SDCC Dermot Looney was critical of the increase in charges: “For a large family who need to leave out a black bin and a brown bin every two weeks, this represents an increase of €97.50, from €312 per annum to €409.50,” says Looney, “as well as the economic cost to local people, there is evidence to show an environmental impact to such decisions, with fly-tipping and dumping set to rise.”

SDCC Director of Services and Deputy County Manager Philomena Poole says that the new rates may actually save people money if they are more strategic with their waste: “With the additional separation of waste through the brown bin, customers may well be able to save themselves money as they will be putting out their black bin less often.”

Photo by freefotouk on Flickr. Some rights reserved.

The release includes 12 whole-school evaluations (WSE) of Dublin primary schools, one whole-school evaluation at post-primary level and 13 stand-alone subject inspections at post-primary level.

The department says whole-school evaluation reports look at the school’s management, planning and management of resources; the effectiveness of teaching and learning; its arrangements for student assessment, supports for students, provision for minority groups and home-school links.

Responses from a school’s board of management – if available — can be found at the end of reports.

Reports can be viewed here, a list of all the schools included are below:

Primary Schools

• St. Joseph’s National School, Tivoli Road, Dunlaoghaire
• St. Patrick’s BNS, Ringsend, Dublin 4
• St. Catherine’s NS, Donore Avenue, Dublin 8
• Zion Parish Primary School, Rathgar, Dublin 6
• Whitechurch NS, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
• St Kevin’s Girls’ NS, Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24
• Scoil Íosa, Tymon North, Tallaght, Dublin 24
• St. Damian’s NS, Walkinstown, Dublin 12
• St. Audoen’s NS, Cook Street, Dublin 8
• Scoil Chaitríona na mBráithre, Baggott Street, Dublin 2
• Scoil Mhuire Senior National School, Blakestown, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15
• Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa, Ballygall, Dublin 11

Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education

• Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole
• Newark Comprehensive School, Blackrock
• Meánscoil Chroimghlinne, Crumlin, Dublin 12
• Stratford College, Rathgar, Dublin 6
• Templeogue College, Templeogue, Dublin 6W
• Terenure College, Terenure, Dublin
• Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Coolock, Dublin 17
• Coláiste Choilm, Swords
• Portmarnock Community School, Portmarnock
• St.Aidan’s Christian Brothers’ School, Whitehall, Dublin 9
• St.Mark’s Community School, Tallaght, Dublin 24
• Collinstown Park Community College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
• Moyle Park College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
• Tallaght Community School, Tallaght, Dublin 24