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Cllr Francis Timmons – Independent Voice

residents living in Balgaddy

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

QUESTION NO. 22

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive what future plans and services are planned to meet the needs of residents living in Balgaddy and will these address both the residents needs and concerns for play facilities, community centres etc.?

REPLY:

At present the Council’s Community Services Team are working alongside Housing Staff to ensure the needs of the community are met. Over the last number of years, the council has facilitated and funded the provision of two playgrounds, a MUGA (Multi Use Games Area), and a Youth Facility in Balgaddy. The Community Worker for the area also works with Ronanstown Youth Service, The Council’s Anti Social Unit and Local Garda to ensure anti social behaviour is monitored and young people involved are identified thereby ensuring that these facilities continue to address local needs.

South Dublin County Partnership in 2012 with the assistance of funding from Atlantic Philantrophies acquired a unit in Balgaddy from the Council and which is now operating as a community creche and family centre known as The Meile an Rí Family Centre. It offers a wide variety of services to the wider community of Balgaddy focusing on families and children under 12. The Community Worker works closely with centre staff to provide assistance to members of the community and to support initiatives in the centre such as book clubs, satellite library, healthy eating and Mother and Toddler Groups. The Council also recently handed over a unit to Ronanstown Youth Service who have now assigned dedicated staff to work in the area, alongside Garda Diversion Staff (GRAFT). In addition staff from both Community Development Team and the Council’s Sports Officers are working with the FAI Development Officers to deliver training for young people and their parents so that the ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ programme can be rolled out in the area. This training is scheduled to take place during the October Mid Term Break.

Over the course of the current year a number of Summer Projects were assisted including:

  • The young people of Balgaddy availed of the Summer Project in Meile an Rí Family Centre – week long for young children 4 – 12 years – July 14th to 18th – 60 young people registered and funded by Council
  • Part funded – Balgaddy Summer Project – Bush Centre – 2 weeks – 30th June to 11th July – for age 8 plus. 110 young people registered
  • Summer Bratz – number of children registered – age 13 plus – project aimed at older children in the North Clondalkin area including Balgaddy and part funded by Council –  Activities such as Kayaking, Horse Riding, Art and Crafts, Nature Projects, Dancing, Golf, Drumming, Gaming, Activity Days and Boxercise were provided
  • Up to 190 young people from the Balgaddy area involved in Council funded activities during summer 2014.

Future planning would provide for the continuation of Summer Projects in the coming years.

As previously reported to the Area Committee, a Specific Local Objective No. 27 of the current County Development Plan 2010-16 (page 268) refers to the redevelopment of lands at the Bush Centre and Parochial House at Foxdene in partnership with the parish of South Lucan to include the delivery of a new community centre for the Balgaddy/South Lucan area. The Council has not been formally appraised of any plans currently being developed for this centre.

However consideration can be given to the development of a partnership type approach to any proposal but such a plan would have to be examined in the first instance having regard to the availability of any funding and the viability and sustainability of plan.

 

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