COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

MOTION NO. 22

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

Cathaoirleach's Business

"That the Manager would present for discussion at the meeting a Report on the actions of the Council, including allocation of finance, carrying out of work, etc. to the realization and ongoing operation of Community Facilities in Palmerston, including the Community and Youth Centre,  the Dual Purpose Sports Hall at Pobalscoil Iosoilde, other facilities such as Library Services, the improvements to Waterstown Park, and any other public facilities, in the period since 2005, and if a figure, even approximate, can be provided for direct financial expenditure in support of such facilities."

REPORT:

The Council has worked very closely over the last four years with Palmerston Community Council to try and bring the community facility adjacent to the Supervalu site to a point where it could be handed over to the Community Council. The facility itself was to be transferred to the Council as part of an application for planning permission for a three storey building beside Supervalu.  The planning application proposed that the Council use the top floor as a community facility. The building which was presented to the Council was essentially a shell and was not complete in any sense of the word. The Council was asked to complete the construction element of the project but refused to do so in the circumstances.

In the meanwhile, the facility has been substantially completed by the developer in conjunction with the committee established by the Community Council and the SDCC has made contributions both towards the fit-out of the facility and towards the employment of a Manager. However, it is understood that the facility has not yet been transferred to the SDCC. In the meanwhile, SDCC is due to meet with Palmerston Community Council  once a date and time can be agreed.

Services to the communities of Palmerston continue to be developed by the Library Service including four mobile library stops at Kennelsfort Road, Woodfarm Drive, Old Lucan Road and Glenmaroon as well as six others in the Lucan area. St Lorcan's Boys NS is also visited by the Mobile Library service with class registration and classroom libraries being delivered. The public library in the grounds of Stewart's Hospital is resourced by South Dublin Libraries and operates from Monday to Friday each week. New leased lines and ICT services for the library were delivered in 2012 and the acquisition of new stock is funded by the Libraries Department. A marketing drive in the local area with information leaflets being delivered to each house took place in 2012 and new finger directional signs were put in place directing people to the library in early 2013.  Workshops on a range of topics from local heritage to stress management are delivered from this library throughout the year and funded by Libraries. Literacy projects have also been ongoing throughout 2012 and 2013 with PobailScoil Isoilde and St Brigid's NS in Palmerston. Library staff will attend the Palmerston Community Centre Open Weekend in June to market the services of Stewart's Library and our online resources and services to schools. Staff from Stewart's Library and from Lucan Library are also working with the team in the Community and Youth Centre to raise the profile of both libraries to the local community and a number of new initiatives are planned for autumn 2013 including a book stock selection with both children and adults titles will be set up in the café area of the community centre, including information on library services: library staff will provide materials and replenish collection every 6/8 weeks with community centre staff managing the collection on a daily basis. Customers will be able to browse collection and borrow books in an informal way. Library staff will also be engaged in programming of school events in the Centre for the autumn to include events during the Children's Book Festival and/or Teen Festival and a Book Club will be established in the Centre in the autumn, with support from staff from Lucan and Stewart's Library. Indicative costs for this work since 2005 amount to €500,000.

In relation to Waterstown Park, the following improvements have been carried out between 2005 and 2013.

Completion of the main pedestrian footpath system.

Provision of 2km of dedicated cycle track.

Provision of public car park with lighting and CCTV.

Provision of anti-slip surface to entrance paths

Provision of low stone wall to park boundary at Riversdale Estate.

The cost of these works over an eight year period was approximately €650,000