MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, January 11, 2016
QUESTION NO. 15
QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons
To ask the Chief Executive what can be done for teenagers living in SDCC and in what way SDCC can and do assist in this?
REPLY:
The Council has always identified the need to support younger persons in our County and a range of initiatives and supports are in place.
South Dublin County Council fully support Comhairle na nÓg, which is co-facilitated by SDCC, Crosscare and Foroige and which if focussed on the needs of young persons in the County. A committee of up to 25 young people represent the County on Comhairle both organising events and working on projects agreed by young people for young people. Comhairle meet fortnightly in County Hall and have an Annual General Meeting. They reach out to young persons through schools, youth services, Irish Wheelchair Association and related organisations. Up to 120 young people attend annually. One young person represents South Dublin Comhairle on The National Executive.
Late last year Comhairle organised the ‘Let’s Go Mental’ Event in Tallaght Stadium, working in partnership with Council’s Sports Office to promote good mental health in our County through, sport, music and entertainment.
In addition to the above, the work of the Council’s Sports Office and Local Sports Partnership pays particular attention to the younger cohort of the population of our County. Through the work of the Sports Development Officers and initiatives such as the Late Night Leagues, a strong focus is paid to the youth of our county. The Council continually reaches out to schools, colleges and institutes with its sports programmes and will shortly begin the 2016 Cross Country Series which will involve thousands of school going persons in the County through local, regional and county based competitions.
When new initiatives such as the Community Initiative Fund and the Community Endeavour Awards are being developed, a particular focus is generally included to address the needs of younger persons.
Finally the Council also support other initiatives such as Tallaght Jigsaw Mental Health Service and Fettercairn Horse Project and through the network of community facilities provide space for youth services and clubs throughout the County.
