Who are we?

Finglas for Diversity is a multi-agency network of local service providers and community groups working to highlight the benefits of a diverse and inclusive community. The group is made up of representatives of community groups, statutory agencies and local residents. Membership is open to individuals and groups in the area who are working to promote diversity. The Finglas for Diversity group came together in response to a number of racist incidents in the area and in recognition that collective action was needed to develop an integrated response to combat racism and promote diversity. What do we do?

Our objectives are:

To inform members of the local community through education and training
Network and meet with individuals and communities
Respond in a variety of ways to discrimination at a local level Lobby through national representative bodies against discrimination
What do we stand for?

The Finglas for Diversity group works towards creating an inclusive community that celebrates diversity and challenges all forms of discrimination. Why do we think diversity is important for Finglas?

Finglas has always been a culturally diverse community. As with the rest of the country the level and range of cultural diversity continues to grow bringing a variety of new cultures, ethnic backgrounds and nationalities to the area. While most residents are happy to work and live with people from different cultures, there is a perception that Finglas’ growing interculturalism is a negative development and evidence that racist behaviour has increased and intensified. By working together to show the positive aspects of inward migration, we hope to support the integration of new communities, promote interculturalism and help prevent racism in the area – which can only benefit the whole community. The Finglas for Diversity group works towards creating an inclusive community that celebrates diversity and challenges all forms of discrimination.

We aim:

• To promote the benefits of a diverse society
• To challenge discrimination
• To educate people about diversity
• To promote equality, access and inclusion
• To challenge stereotypes
• To accept and respect difference

Our activities include:

Training
We provide training locally to promote anti racism awareness. We also organize training for trainers programmes

Historical Cultural Awareness
We encourage people to look at their own history and become aware of their own cultural roots

Events
We organise intercultural events and activities to promote the positive benefits of a diverse society.

For more information on Finglas for Diversity contact:

Paul Rogers

C/o Finglas Cabra Partnership

Tel: 01 836 1666

Email: paul.rogers@fcp.ie

Or

Patricia Burke

C/o Project West

Tel; 01 864 3847

Email: patricia.burke@prowest.ie

I am not a supporter of neutrality. I consider it a national embarrassment and the hiding place of the moral coward. However, I think that Irish men should be members of the Irish Army as was my brother Peter, a retired Lt Colonel – with a pension! I do not think that pledging allegiance to another country is legitimate if one wants to remain Irish.

The Union Flag is not one I warm to. Imperialism, colonialism and racism are in its weave and texture. It is an emblem that Irish participants in British colonialism and empire building hid behind for decades and centuries. But, the real history of Ireland is the narrative of all it’s people not just the story of the Irish speaking mainly rural society. So the Union flag has a cache in our society among teh Anglo-Irish, and unionists on both sides of the border.

However, I consider the Irish soldiers in the British Army from a non-unionist tradition to be a group of mercenary adventurers with a James Bond licence. During the troubles, I know of Finglas residents who served in Down and Armagh in the British Army. IRA activists and British Army soldiers from the same Finglas streets – near neighbours! I am not inventing this in any way.

I have no objection to Irish Men joining the army in any state, once that state is not oppressing another or oppressing Ireland, directly or indirectly. In the constituency of Dublin Northwest, I know men who served in one of the British Army, the French Foreign Legion, the US Army or Marine Corps and some of these had also served in the Irish Army.

Ireland should be part of a European Defence Force – not neutral. I await that development. This Force should be under the command of the EU Presidency with a uniform only distinguished by a Harp etc on the name badge.

Sorry Kevin, but the British Army will never be “Our Boys”.

1.0 Introduction:
The document sets out a Draft Brief to guide preparation of an update of
the Finglas Regeneration Strategy 2005, by re-addressing issues effecting
Finglas Town Centre and the surrounding hinterland in the short, medium and
long term. The objective is to deliver a document that concentrates on the
issues outlined in the original document such as the built environment,
socio-economic issues, development opportunities, planning context and
infrastructure and to expand the study to highlight any additional issues
which may be of importance in re-establishing Finglas as a vibrant and
sustainable urban centre.
An update of the Strategy is considered necessary in the light of the
length of time that has passed since the production of the original
strategy, and the importance to review the situation in the light of
significant changes arising from the current economic circumstances and the
production of an updated Dublin City Development Plan, inclusive of new
policies and standards e.g. relating to climate change, scale of
development etc..
The document shall have regard to the objectives of the Dublin City
Development Plan 2005-2011, whilst acknowledging the current preparation of
a draft Dublin City Development Plan for 2011-2016 and shall take into
consideration the current economic situation and relevant local, regional
and national strategies and policies.
Considering the difficulties arising from the current economic climate
there will be an emphasis on investigating feasibility of measures that are
regarded as achievable and capable of making a real impact in the short
term. It will also be important to investigate the potential to build on
any perceived strengths and possibly identify future uses, services,
facilities and functions that are different and/or complimentary to those
provided in the surrounding competing developments/centres. In this context
any future development at competing centres/areas considered detrimental to
the regeneration of Finglas village, ought to be resisted.

2.0 Extent of Study Area
The study area shall remain focussed on Finglas village centre and the
immediate surroundings, however the role of the village shall be also be
re-examined in the context of contiguous areas and sites that impact on the
centre resulting from compatible uses and potential strengthening of
linkages eg North Road and Jamestown Industrial Estate. Also impacts at a
regional level will be considered, in particular the relationship to the
current and future development of Dublin City Centre, Charlestown and
Ballymun.
The extent of the immediate area of study is contained within the boundary
of the Key District Centre as defined in the Draft City Development Plan.

3.0 Aim of Update of Finglas Regeneration Strategy:
Dublin City Council’s seeks to deliver an updated regeneration strategy for
the Finglas urban centre that incorporates innovative planning and design
proposals integrated with economic, social and cultural proposals that will
help transform the centre of Finglas.
The Plan will re-examine a range of key issues and opportunities such as
the weaknesses in urban legibility and structuring; the deficiencies in the
sense of place and landmarks; the disjointed elements in the built
environment; lack of variety in the built environment; the opportunities
for the creation of a strong focal point for the area; introduction of
improved permeability and linkages.
The current economic climate is an important consideration in terms of
setting realistic achievable goals and in this context it will be important
to assess regeneration targets within a framework of shorter term /medium
term and longer term goals.

4.0 Review of Relevant Documents and Policies
As part of the process of delivering an updated regeneration strategy for
the Finglas urban centre it will be necessary to review and update the
existing strategy taking account of
Plans and site specific studies that have been prepared within the area on
behalf of DCC since the adoption of the Strategy. Any contradictions
between the various Plans and development briefs would need to be resolved
as part of this process
New emerging standards, zonings and policies arising from the updated
Dublin City Development Plan (currently at Draft stage) will need to be
considered
DCC and An Bord Pleanala decisions on planning applications, that have been
made relating to prominent sites within the area, need to be considered to
inform the update of the strategy.
The following Plans prepared by DCC and/or on behalf of DCC, which will
need to be considered include:
• Draft Dublin City Development Plan 2011
• Finglas a Regeneration Strategy 2005
• Finglas Feasibility Study (FKL Architects) 2006
• Finglas Village Urban Study (Donnelly Turpin) 2006
• North Road Area Guidelines 2008
• Traffic Management Plans for the area (inclusive of new slip road
alignment and Proposals for new bridge across Finglas dual carriageway)
• RAPID plan

The review of the existing Finglas Regeneration Strategy 2005, will involve
consideration of:
• Achievements of the Finglas Regeneration Strategy to date
a) Weakness identified within the Regeneration strategy
b) Identification of current obstructions to the implementation of
Regeneration Strategy
The challenges and opportunities Finglas faces by virtue of its close
proximity to the newly developed areas in Fingal including Charlestown and
Meakstown, should also be addressed.

5.0 Consideration of Strengths/Opportunities
The document shall readdress the strengths and opportunities in Finglas
including:
a) The village’s prime location along a main transport artery to and from
Dublin
• Quality bus corridors
• Position adjacent to the N2
• Access to the M50
• 6 km from Dublin City Centre
• Future possible transport links i.e. Luas/Metro
b) Close proximity to established industrial estates such as Jamestown Road
and McKee Avenue
• Large tracts of employment based lands
• Opportunities for employment creation
c) Finglas as primary hub of an established residential hinterland
• The short walking distance of the village to established residential
communities
• Local demand for services and facilities
d) Wide range of Institutional Lands
• Regional/Area office
• Health Service Facilities/Social Welfare Centre
• Schools/Libraries/Church/Community/Leisure Complex/Childcare Facilities
e) Potential redevelopment
• Super Quinn site
• The village square
• Jamestown Road Industrial Estate
• Site at Jamestown Rd and Clunes Road
• Open space adjacent to Motorway on Seamus Ennis Road
• Iceland Site
• Car park site bounded by the Main Street, Seamus Ennis Road and Jamestown
Road
• Sites along Ballygall Road West
• Other relevant sites identified during course of this study

6.0 Consideration of Challenges:
The document shall readdress the challenges facing Finglas at present and
in the future including:
1) The current economic situation at local, regional and national level
2) The opportunities arising from the proposed Metro North and Metro West
rail network
3) The key sites within Finglas Village Centre which require redevelopment
(as stated previously)
4) The predominantly low density development established in the area. The
potential effect of the proposed Charlestown and Ballymun projects
5) The severance effect of N2 dual carriageway and poor relationship
between the pedestrian bridge and the surrounding area
6) Poor pedestrian movement and traffic congestion and dominance of
vehicular traffic
7) Poor public space and public realm and lack of focal point/ landmark
building and the dominance and obtrusive impact of random parking at
central locations in the village

7.0 Next Steps/Actions:
A. Identify Internal Working group
B. Commence study following approval of Brief by Area Committee
C. Summary of Update Regeneration Plan stages:
1) Undertake full analysis of relevant documents and studies, policies and
objective, including Planning decisions, outlined in the body of this
report, to inform the review process and to articulate the vision of the
village
2) Consultation with relevant support services/utilities/ traders
representative bodies/agencies
3) Assess and quantify different land uses, existing and proposed, to
ascertain appropriateness of mix of uses/levels and provision of
residential/retail/commercial//cultural/community etc.
4) Assess Infrastructure capacities to ascertain development potential
5) Assess quality of village environment and its retail and other uses,
taking account of levels of vacancy and quality and adequacy of open
spaces/public domain/infrastructure/street furniture/signage and legibility
etc, to ascertain where improvements would be desirable
6) Assess existing patterns and provision, and identify new proposals, for
linkages and accessibility within village and between village and key
destinations incorporating assessment of car parking provision/cycling,
walking and public transport facilities ( inclusive of possible new links
to proposed METRO and alignment of possible rail link to Finglas village).
These future vehicular traffic routes should reduce intrusive impact of
vehicles and traffic congestion and enhance public transport, walking and
cycling environment
7) Identify appropriate design and scale of future development, including
assessment of landmark buildings and spaces, in context of current policies
and design guidelines and recent planning decisions in the area. Re-assess
previously identified potential redevelopment sites in this context.
Identify short and medium term measures on the basis of the above
assessment, to improve and enhance the identity, physical environment and
public realm and create opportunities for appropriate permanent and
temporary use of space, (internal and external) to create a viable
sustainable urban village in the context of a full urban analysis. A short
term measure to enhance the public realm to act as a catalyst for
redevelopment/refurbishment would be important in this regard. Investigate
whether refurbishment options have merit over redevelopment at appropriate
locations in the village
9) Identify possible funding mechanisms and sources, which can deliver
such improvements
10) Updated Finglas Regeneration Strategy Report to Area Committee for
approval in January/February 2011, following adoption of new revised Dublin
City Development Plan.