COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, February 15, 2010

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor C. King

That this Committee, concerned about the proposed cuts in Community projects such as the West Tallaght Resource Centre and all projects that receive funding through these projects, calls on the Manager to report on the projected loss of provision of Community services in the Tallaght area as a result of these cuts.

REPORT:

Early  in 2009 the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs commenced a review of the performance of Community Development Projects funded under the Community Development Programme. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible appropriate benefits for the communities that they serve.  This work is now completed.  As a result of the review the Department will not continue funding the following projects in Tallaght.

  These projects were allowed appeal this decision with guidance from the Department. However the original decision to cease funding these projects was upheld. 

The following projects will continue to receive funding in 2010 provided they sign-up to the new LDCP programme.

The Local Development Social Inclusion Programme and the Community Development Programme were the Department’s two main social inclusion/community development programmes. Both had a community development element and were delivered through separate local delivery structures. These Programmes came to an end on 31 December 2009 and have been superseded by a new Programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).  This will incorporate the remaining CDP’s and the Local Area Partnerships. 

The aim of the new Programme is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. This will be underpinned by four high level goals:

·        To promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services.

·        To increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources.

·        To increase peoples’ work readiness and employment prospects.

·        To promote engagement with policy, practice and decision making processes on matters affecting local communities.

It is intended that the new Programme will preserve elements of good practice from the CDP/LDSIP Programmes and will enable groups to objectively demonstrate the positive impacts they are securing for local communities.   An implementation strategy, involving the stakeholders, is underway in preparation for Programme roll-out over the course of 2010.     The Department of Community Rural and Gaeltach Affairs have been able to ring-fence funding for the Community Development Projects for 2010 and to maintain funding for these at 2009 levels. 

Both Equal Access CDP and West Tallaght Resource Centre are limited companies.  Five staff from these two CDP Groups will lose their jobs.    Staff who were employed by the CDP’s but funded through different programmes will continue to be employed as long as funding is secure but will have to find other structures to work within and negotiations are underway at present in this regard. 

The West Tallaght Resource Centre operated from a purpose built community building which is in Council ownership and the future of this building is being discussed at present.  All groups using the building will operate as normal at present.  Equal Access CDP operated from rented accommodation in Brookfield Enterprise Centre.