COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TERENURE-RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE (2)
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
MOTION NO. 7
MOTION: Councillor C. Keane
"That this Committee discusses with the aid of an up to date report the results of the meeting requested by this Councillor (at last month's TRAC meeting) between the Management Committee of Ballyroan community centre and the Management Community Department South Dublin County council (a) giving report on agreements made and accepted (b) rejected and to state what action will now be taken to get this centre up and running as soon as possible to service the meals on wheels and the many organisations who have been discommoded. In all my time elected since 1991 I have never seen such services 'taken out' of a community as this council prides itself on the provision of community services and hopefully this will be rectified in the Rathfarnham area."
REPORT:
On Thursday 30th April, 2009, representatives of the Community Services Department met with the Ballyroan Community Centre committee, the local Parish Priest, as well as representatives of the community and users of the Community Centre to discuss the proposed refurbishment of the Ballyroan Community Centre and the construction of a new Pastoral Centre. Also present were Councillors Paddy Cosgrave, Cait Keane and John Lahart as well as Deputy Alan Shatter
This project was under review along with every other project on the Council’s Rolling Capital Programme as a result of the economic crisis and the downturn in capital funding. However, immediately prior to all capital projects being halted subject to review, the furniture and fittings had been removed from the community centre. The various clubs and other users were moved out and had to seek alternative accommodation for the duration of the contract. Also, staff who worked in the centre, were let go, in anticipation of the contractor starting work.
The users mainly were sports and games groups, but also included the local Meals on Wheels service, a service of great importance to the local community.
The Council officials were able to confirm the following at the meeting:
- The project is to go ahead in 2009, as planned, following the review
- Both elements of the project – the refurbishment of the Community Centre and the construction of a new Pastoral Centre, are to be implemented, with the priority given to the refurbishment of the Community centre
- It is most likely that the contractor will be chosen from the tenders already received and evaluated, rather than seeking new tenders. This is because the tender favoured represents great value for money. Also, if new tenders were to be sought, this would take another two months, which would further exacerbate the problem for the users and staff.
- Each element of the contract is expected to take six months. It is intended that the work be carried out as a single contract, with the contractor not leaving the site after the first phase.
- If the contractor favoured following the tender process is available, it is hoped that he could be on site sometime in May.
Those present asked a range of questions which were answered by the Council officials. The community are very anxious that the Community centre be re-opened as soon as possible. It was suggested that it would be very helpful if they could be back in the centre by January 1st 2010. Ideally they would like to be there for September 2009, but there is no chance of this being the case, so they must try to get by for the four months between September 2009 and January 2010.
It was agreed that the Council would make enquiries to see if there was any way to help out the Meals on Wheels service. The Treasurer for the centre said that the extra four months would mean that they would lose a significant amount of income and that he would be making a case to the Council for supporting funds to offset their anticipated losses.