COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF JOINT POLICING COMMITTEE

Friday, February 05, 2010

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor, TD

To ask for a report on efforts being made to publicise the availability of Council Officials and Community Gardaí at so called Advice Clinics in the Tallaght region and will the report please state if such clinics are receiving support from the Communities.

REPLY:

The Weekly Housing Clinics are publicised regularly in all Housing publications as well as on the Council Website and in all appropriate meeting replies.  The Estate Management team also publicises them widely in any of their dealings with the Community.

They are hosted by the Council's Housing Estate Management Team throughout the county at the following locations:

Clinic Name Address of Clinic Days Held Time of Clinic
Mary Mercer           Mary Mercer, Jobstown Every Thurs 11am – 12 noon
Glenshane/Rossfield 12 Brookfield Court Every Fri 11am – 12 noon
Killinarden Killinarden Community Centre Every Fri 11am – 12 noon
Fettercairn Fettercairn Community Centre Every Wed 10.45am – 11.45am
Clondalkin Civic Offices, Clondalkin Every Thurs 10 am – 11am
Ronanstown Ronanstown CYC Every Tues 11.30am – 1pm

Members of the public are actively encouraged to attend these clinics for purpose of discussing housing related business including incidents of anti social behaviour.  Where such incidents are reported they are treated with utmost confidentiality.  The Clinics are also attended by the local Community Garda.

It is noted that the numbers attending the clinics have reduced recently perhaps because many other means are available for communicating with the Estate Management section such as Freephone number, direct dial number, Customer care and  email address.  It is proposed to continue the operation of all clinics for the foreseeable future because of the importance the Council attaches to the availability of this means of personal communication with tenants, whatever the nature of their query.  The advice clinics also provide a structured forum where Council staff and the Gardai can exchange confidential and other information.