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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 11, 2009

HEADED ITEM NO. H  4 (a)   (i)

 

STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES

 Attendance:

Members:                                                                           Officials

 Cllr. J. Hannon                                                               P. Smith, Director

 Cllr. G. O’Connell                                                         W.Sheils, Senior Executive Officer

 Cllr. S. O’Conchuir                                                        G. Byrne, County Librarian

 Cllr. J. Neville                                                                 K. Philips, E/Director, Arts Centre

 Cllr. C. Jones

 Cllr. M. Ardagh                                                              

 Cllr. T. Delaney                                                               Apologies

 Cllr. C. Keane                                                                 Cllr. J. Lahart

 B.Bollard                                                                         Cllr. T. McDermott

 J. Fay                                                                                A. Fitzpatrick

 E. Smart

 An Cathaoirleach, J. Hannon presided. Cllr. C.Keane took over the chair when Cllr. Hannon had to leave the meeting at 6.00p.m.

     Minutes of meeting of 23^rd February 2009 – proposed by Cllr. Ardagh and seconded by Cllr. Keane and AGREED.

       Farmers’ Market Update

W. Sheils presented a report to the members on the Farmers’ Market. The market has been operating successfully since it’s re-establishment on 17^th April, and will take place every Friday from 11.00a.m. until 4.00p.m.

There have been approximately twenty stalls selling a range of fresh produce , and it is expected that this number will increase as the weeks go by. There is a fishmonger, as requested by the members, and there is also a jazz musician to lend a bit of atmosphere to the market.

There have been one or two minor glitches, but nothing of any substance, and the venture seems to be a popular one so far.

There are plans to involve musicians and artists to broaden the range and appeal of the market and the overall format will be reviewed periodically to try and ensure a good balance.

Cllrs. Delaney, Keane, Hannon and O’Connell and Ms. B. Bollard all contributed to a debate, and welcomed the re-establishment of the market. The possibility of fruit and vegetables from allotments going on sale in the market was raised and the members requested that this option be investigated.

W. Sheils responded and the report was NOTED.

 Libraries update

Georgina Byrne, the new County Librarian presented an update on the County Library, which included a statistical review and other initiatives recently introduced into the Libraries system.

Following a general discussion, to which Cllrs. Hannon, Keane , O’Connell, Ardagh, Delaney, Neville and O’Conchuir contributed, the work of the libraries was praised and Ms. Byrne was congratulated on her appointment as Count Librarian and commended for all the new initiatives currently underway.

The report was NOTED.

RED County Arts Centre – Update

The update took the form of a Power-point presentation and was delivered by Ms. Karen Philips, Executive Director of the Arts Centre.

Cllrs. Ardagh, and Mr. J. Fay contributed to a debate on the presentation. Ms. Philips and Mr. Sheils answered questions and the report was NOTED.

Any other business

 

W.Sheils reported to the meeting on the idea of re-activating the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Tallaght. It is proposed to initiate contacts in an effort to mark the day with an appropriate form of celebration.

A lively debate followed to which Cllrs. Ardagh,  Keane, O’Conchuir, and Jones contributed along with Mr. J. Fay and MS. B. Bollard.  W.Sheils responded and the report was NOTED.