Greystones Archives - Councillor Derek Mitchell

The preliminary Census results show Greystones Municipal District has increased population by 4,041 to 30,352, a 15% increase since 2016. Wicklow County has increased by 9%, the Greystones increase being 31% of the total, increasing Greystones from 18 to 20% of the County’s population. This population growth was discussed at Tuesdays Municipal District meeting. Census 2022 also shows the population of Greystones-Delgany 405 short of 2028 target of 21,727. At least 1,000 houses are being built now and I expect Greystones will overshoot its 2028 target by at least 2,000…

I have analysed the Councils 2022 Budget and found, once again, that Greystones is being used as a ‘Cash Cow’: Greystones receives 40% less expenditure than any other of the 5 areas. €190 spent per person as against €369 in the West and €288 on average. I will not be voting for the overall budget unless moves are made to correct this. Management have justified this in the past saying some years are up and some down. A 5 years analysis shows this is wrong, the underfunding is consistent. Also stated the…

It was announced in Los Angeles that the largest film & TV studio in Ireland is to start construction in Greystones. The first section, 7 stages & offices will be open mid 2024. Overall it will have 670,000 sq. ft. and employ over 1,000 people on the 44 acres. ‘I welcome this announcement as the town has the lowest number of local jobs of any place in Wicklow and this will help reduce the need for commuting. The site is central with good connections to DART, bus, road and cycle…

Council management are proposing a €1M fund for rural areas, especially West Wicklow, funded from Development Levies. These are paid by developers on each house and are meant to fund infrastructure to support those houses. Such as footpaths, roads, playgrounds & Social facilities. However there is little development in rural areas compared to the fast growing areas of Greystones, Newtown & Wicklow Town where there is much need of new infrastructure. The capital funding for West Wicklow is already 20 times more than Greystones and its revenue spend is over…

Tuesdays meeting of the Council was told that 5 of the 12 outdoor staff positions in Greystones Municipal District were vacant as staff had left or retired. Most of these positions are to be recruited in January. Also a study of the staff numbers required is to be done early next year. ‘It is disturbing that so many positions have been allowed to be vacant at one time, no wonder it has been so difficult to get work done. I did an analysis of the amount of staff & budget…

Submission on Community Benefit Fund of Offshore Windfarm ORESS Consultation Windfarms encounter local resistance in very many communities, including loud campaigns against them in Wicklow and other counties. Previous thermal power stations had major local benefits including jobs, trade, substantial rates to provide local services and giving the communities a sense of purpose. This is lacking in offshore wind which will provide few jobs, except where the base is, but will have a large visual effect on a wide area. Communities need to feel connected to it, need to see…

Greystones will be ‘Wind Farm Central’ with the Codling Bank & the Dublin Array ones meeting offshore, the largest windfarms in Ireland. It is vital that this benefits the town and residents feel connected to it. It is important that the Community Benefit Fund from each wind farm is seen to be spent locally, in those areas that see the turbines. Consultation on this closed last week and I lobbied to get this fund kept local rather than National which was originally proposed. I want to see this fund spent…