COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, June 13, 2011
HEADED ITEM NO.4 (f) (1)
STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES
f) Arts, Culture, Gaeilge, Education and Libraries SPC
(i) Report of meeting 23rd May 2011
REPORT:
- Filling of Councillor Vacancy on Rua Red : South Dublin Arts Centre Company (Cllr C. Keane)
It was agreed on the proposition of Councillor Cosgrave, seconded by Councillor Gus O’Connell that Councillor Mick Duff would replace Councillor Keane.
The Chair and members of the SPC congratulated Councillor Keane on her success in election to Seanad Éireann and wished her well in her new public representational role.
- Report from SPC Subcommittee meeting( Council's Strategic Support for Business and Employment)
Arts Officer Ms Orla Scannell outlined the main provisions of the draft strategy which was developed by the SPC subcommittee under the Council’s ‘Improving Business Competitiveness’ programme.
Ms Scannell presented the issue in context: both nationally and locally.
She outlined the objectives of the strategy as follows:
- To gather information and address a lack of knowledge regarding the craft sector in South Dublin County
- To identify and deliver a range enterprise supports to the craft sector during the Year of Craft.
- To exploit empty spaces by providing space for creatives to work/showcase and sell
- To profile South Dublin as a Creative County
Ms Scannell outlined details of the following key actions
- Creative Village objectives and outlined work undertaken to date in that regard.
- Enterprise Support key objectives including
- linkages with South Dublin County Tourism,
- Broaches Exhibitions (May 2011)
- Rathfarnham Castle – A constant Threas (May 2011)
- South Dublin County Trail (Autumn 2011)
- Travelling Expo during 2011
- TEDX (November 2011)
- County Craft Trail and the main actions
In conclusion Ms Scannell advised that the strategy is a work in progress which will continue over the next 6/7 months.
A discussion ensued with members of the committee contributing along the following lines:
- Excellent progress made since last meeting
- A lot of ideas presented but there is a need to continue to push craft initiatives
- Model developed in Marley Park?? Worth considering
- Might be possible to secure “permanent exhibit space” in hotels
- Need to capture details on craft people who are not registered and link with them
- Examples of successes outlined and discussion on how to progress bring these to another level eg Buzy Bee, ICA lace making etc
- "Knitted” dog show scheduled for July
Ms Scannell thanked the committee for the feedback which will be further developed.
- Report from Literacy Seminar
Ms Maria Finn Social Inclusion Officer delivered a presentation on the seminar which was held in October 2010 which highlighted the importance of addressing literacy issues in relation to poverty and social inclusion.
Following the presentation a discussion ensued with contributions from Councillors Jones, Devine, O’Connell, Duff, Hannon, Cosgrave and Ms Murphy to which Ms Finn and Ms walsh responded. The main points discussed included:
- Advantages / disadvantages of the use of symbols instead of the written word
- Need to ensure that gaps don’t develop in LA services available / customer entitlements as a direct consequence of literacy problems
- Need for staff awareness of barriers which literacy issues can present
- Statistics pertaining to national literacy ability / problems and the reasoning for this level possibly but not exclusively a consequence of the older age group receiving less schooling in their earlier years.
- Prevalence of literacy problems in social housing
- Most people with literacy problems have reading difficulties
- Literacy provides confidence and “Lift” beyond poverty provided by literacy
- Issues with manner in which public bodies communicate/ use of abbreviations etc
- Irish language obligations, the competence of staff to deal with requests and the level of demand for services “as gaeilge”
- Commitment to support work of SI Unit in improving literacy ability.