Fingal County Council have agreed to supply Riverwood with shrubs to plant in the common areas in the estate. We are looking for a number of volunteers to help in this activity. If anyone is available we will be meeting on the green beside Riverwood Tennis Courts at 11 o'clock on Sat 19 May.

The Clean-Up of the estate will take place the following weekend on Sat 26 May at 11 o'clock. We would ask residents to pick up any litter in their area and to weed the areas between the curb and the road. There will be a central collection point of all rubbish at the junction between Riverwood Copse and Chase. Fingal will collect all the rubbish after the clean-up from this point.

A car on Riverwood Chase was broken into on Monday night/Tuesday morning (30 April/1 May). The car was parked in the driveway.

Some coins and the kids DVD player were taken. No damage was done as the car was not properly locked – it was a opportunist robbery.

It has been reported to the Gardai.

We encourage residents to ensure that their car is properly locked at all times and that valuables should be kept out of view.

There has been a number of burglaries in the area with 2 incidents in Riverwood Court recently. These took place during the day and we would urge residents to be aware of any suspicious activity and to note down the reg plates of any suspicious cars.

We would recommend that residents:

• always put on the house alarm when going out, even for quick trips
• put on the house alarm when going to bed
• keep any valuables out of sight, especially in cars
• get into a routine of locking cars and doors, and putting on alarms each night

We suspect that people who drop leaflets into houses during the night take the opportunity to check car doors and houses as they pass. We would also like to remind residents that most, if not all, of charity clothes collection are fraudulent. Collected clothes are sold for export and the profits are not given to charity, contrary to the claims on their leaflets.

Fingal County Council are giving Riverwood some plants and top soil after the committee contacted them about ways to improve our estate.

We are looking for some residents to help plant between 5/8 plants each, some Saturday in April or May. Contact us if you can help. It's a good way of getting to know your neighbours.

The committee are meeting Fingal Roads Department soon about road markings in our estate and ring road. If you have any ideas about road markings in your part of our estate contact us.

We hope to have our Clean Up Day on Saturday 2nd June.

Riverwood Residents Association is holding an update meeting next Wednesday 4th April in the Diswellstown Community Centre in St Patrick’s NS at 8:30pm to discuss the status of the engagement with the VEC and the Ombudsman for Children’s Office and next steps that may be required by the residents.

This meeting is important: This policy negatively affects our area, our community and our children. It is crucial that all residents attend this meeting whether you have children affected or not.

Yesterday Barnardos issued a Bogus Fundraisers Alert for the Castleknock/Coolmine area.

It has been brought to the attention of Barnardos children’s charity that a small number of bogus fundraisers have been operating in various locations in Dublin and Louth, specifically the areas of Clontarf, Castleknock/Coolmine and Dundalk.

The people concerned have been collecting cash door to door in residential areas claiming they are collecting money on behalf of Barnardos or looking for sponsorship for a run. If a member of the public is unsure as to whether the fundraiser is legitimate, Barnardos would advise that they ask for identification and a letter of authentication which is provided by Barnardos to genuine fundraisers.

Barnardos depend on the support of official fundraisers and door-to-door direct debit fundraisers to raise vital funds for the charity. The children’s charity encourages anyone who is suspicious or uncomfortable of a caller at their door to contact 1850 222 300 where the Barnardos fundraising team holds a list of active fundraisers who have registered with them.

A legitimate Barnardos door-to-door direct debit fundraiser will:

• Never ask for cash at the door
• Always provide official direct debit mandates to the values of €12/€15/€21 per month
• Wear a green Barnardos t-shirt (or a white t-shirt with a Barnardos 50 Years logo)
• Have a folder with information on Barnardos
• Have photo ID around their necks which should be on display

In addition, Barnardos is asking for anyone who notices suspicious activity to report it to their local Gardai and to Barnardos.