COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 11, 2010

MOTION NO. 20

MOTION: Councillor S. Crowe

This Council in recognition of the recent CSO figures and the difficulties that a significant percentage of clients have in relation to literacy, agrees to take a more proactive and inclusive approach in consultation with groups like NALA (National Adult Literacy Agency) and calls on the Manager to do a root and branch review of Council application forms in order to simplify and help those with ongoing difficulties accessing  council services.

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council delivers a wide range of services and in total is responsible for delivering approx 400 distinct service offerings, either on its own behalf on behalf of other agencies, state bodies, or public services.  In order to determine the eligibility and need of many customers for these services, specific data must be established through the completion of applications forms.  

In some instances forms used by Local Authorities are of a national and generic nature and allow ease of assessment of the information that is needed to be known.    The Council has no discretion in the layout or data content of these forms. Examples of national / generic forms used within South Dublin County Council include applications for planning permission and Higher Education Grants.  It is accepted that in some  instances application forms may be quite comprehensive to allow for the provision of additional information in support of the application.   

Where forms are of a discretionary nature the Council will endeavour to avoid making application and registration forms overly long and complicated, and will try to ensure that every question / part of the application form is relevant, with clear marking of information which is mandatory and which is optional.  It has always been our intention to use simple straightforward language to help those with cognitive impairments or learning difficulties, as well as those who have English as a second language.   To this end we are committed to working with the National Adult Literacy Agency to make sure that people with literacy and numeracy difficulties can fully engage with us with a view to us meeting their needs.    South Dublin County Council is committed to ensuring that the services  provided are accessible to the whole community.