Minutes of the Dublin 15 Environment Group Meeting Date: Wednesday 19th April 2006 Time: 7pm Present: Monica, Deivis, Maria, Maeve, Petrina Absent: Gina, Valerie, Frederic   Networking (Ongoing) Eugene joined us for an hour to discuss and outlined the political structure of the council. Basically we aim to get someone on one of the Strategic Policy Commitees. Also to run a Seminar maybe in August/September with all other relevant groups in Fingal. We began some brainstorming of what we would like to achieve for Fingal: Carbon Reduction/ Energy Efficiency: All new buildings to be built to a higher standard, e.g. include solar panels where appropriate Policy re. grants for home/business owners who try to go greener Buses in Fingal should have zero emissions Packaging – should be biodegradable/tax incentives for businesses who change it Light Pollution The type of stuff the council/developers are planting Habitat protection Education Community Involvement: Encourage more people plant stuff, maybe thru prices Give access to others to influence policy/ provide a platform for them Tap into what Fingalians want We are to ask ex-members of the group if they would like to get involved. Tolka Valley Renewal (Ongoing) The cleanup on Saturday went very well. (as per Email from Maria, not actually discussed at meeting).   Hanging Baskets/Seed Distribution (April) Ray Hutton is ready to go. Need receipts so we can pay him for his supplies. Monica to bring the Credit Union book to the next meeting. A lady from the Fingal housing department as well as Blanch Tidy Towns have been doing some internal advertising for this also. Maeve to put something on the websites.   Green Fingal Week (Bonsai May) Deivis got some trees from Atlantic but isn’t overly happy with them. The ones in Coillte didn’t suit. He might try Van der Weil in Aughrim. He is to draft an article for the CV and bring it to the hanging basket workshop. Maeve & Maria will pass it on to CV. We will suggest that people can bring their own Bonsai’s if they so wish. Petrina will do up a poster, Maria to email her a picture from the last one. Maeve to follow up with Trish Kennedy. Tuesday May 9th is the proposed date.     The proposed date for the next meeting is Tuesday 2nd of May at 6:30. We are meeting earlier to try and get the Networking off the ground.