Fact finding visit to Dundalk and Blackrock
Posted by Bronwen Maher on November 28, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Visited Dundalk Town and Blackrock last Friday 25th November, which included a meeting with Noel Matthews of Matthews Coach Hire Dundalk, to see ‘in-cab’ breathalysers in situ in their coaches.
In the European Parliament I have been calling for the compulsory fitting of in cab breathalysers to all new commercial passenger and goods transport vehicles, and I wished to see first-hand how these devices worked in practice. In cab breathalysers are control systems designed to prevent driving with excess alcohol by requiring the driver to blow into an in-car breathalyser before starting the ignition. Research shows that these in cab breathalysers are far more effective in preventing drink driving re-offending than traditional measures such as license withdrawal or fines. Matthews Coach Hire have been leading on this issue in Ireland.
Dundalk Tidy Towns Committee Chairman Willie Duffy, Cllr Marianne Butler, and Rose Marie O'Reilly, Secretary, Dundalk Tidy Towns Committee also briefed me on their various projects. The committee explained that they have instigated a schools based litter patrol which is proving very successful. Also of interest are the open days to encourage people to visit local heritage sites; and ‘Echos of Dundalk’ the permanent photographs of Dundalk Town from 1880 to 1980 which are to be erected at locations throughout the town. Finally I was extremely interested to hear about the ‘Uisce Bagga’ water conservation pilot project. They are strong plastic bags which are filled with water and placed into your toilet cistern, saving 1 litre of water per flush.
The day’s visit concluded with a meeting with Backrock Tidy Towns committee members John Horan Chair, Larry Magnier PRO and Mary Murtagh Louth County Council. I visited a number of Rural Development Programme projects, co-funded by the EU, including Hamilton Marsh, and the Blackrock playground and biodiversity garden.
Hamilton Marsh, is a reed bed habitat with a wide diversity of wild life, it is also an oasis of calm and wonderful to see any time during the year. The children's playground and small biodiversity garden are a lovely local resource and I advise people to take time to visit next time you are in Blackrock.
Senator Mary Moran, Ged Nash TD and Cllr. Leonard Hatrick Ms Childers joined the visit.
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