COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

MOTION NO. 18

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

"That this Committee requests the Manager to present a detailed report, for discussion, on both the Lucan Community Initiative and the future of the Lucan Sports and Leisure Centre."

REPORT:

The community team developed a plan for Lucan area to:  

• Engage more residents, and liaise with service providers in Lucan
• Identify community needs & issues.
• Establish and develop contacts within our new communities and residents who are new to Lucan.
• Compile and present a report on these findings
• Develop an appropriate action plan

Phase 1 - Plan of Action;

Phase 1 of the project concentrated on the following six schools to engage with Parents, Home School Liaison Teachers and Principals.

• Esker Educate Together National School
• Lucan East Educate Together National School
• Scoil Mhuire
• Gaelscoil Naomh Padraig
• Archbishop Ryan National Schools Junior and Senior.

Outcome

During the course of the project, after many attempts to contact,  it was agreed to replace Gaelscoil Naomh Padraig with Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada.

The community team met with principals, school liaison teachers and Parent Associations to identify the issues and needs in their community.  

            Meetings took place in 3 of the 6 schools identified – Contact was made with all 6 schools.

• Lucan East Educate Together – 6 meetings took place. Through the Home School Liaison and the Parents Association, Community Workers facilitated sessions took place to identify issues and needs and to explore the interests of parents and children in the surrounding community.

• Esker Educate Together National School – 4 meetings have taken place, a facilitated session to identify the needs and issues as well as exploring the interests of parents and children in the surrounding area. A Women's Group was developed, with fortnightly meetings to take place until end of school term. This school is in a temporary location in Adamstown and will move to its permanent location in 2014. 

• Scoil Mhuire Dodsboro – Meeting took place with the Parents Association where it was agreed to hold a facilitated session at a coffee morning. Up to 30 parents were in attendance at the coffee morning, issues and needs were identified and also the interests of parents and children were discussed. Discussions took place on Summer Projects and Volunteering opportunities. Meetings are ongoing, parents have set up a Cinema Club, and the first Cinema evening took place on Friday 10^th May. The next Cinema Night will take place on June 21^st in the school. 

• Scoil Eiscir Riada – phone calls, emails and letters sent to the school to request a meeting. No replies as of yet.

• Arch Bishop Ryan Senior National School – contact made with Principal John Ring. Meeting has taken place and contact made with the Parents Association. Requests for Meetings with the Parents Association but no date as of yet.

• Arch Bishop Ryan Junior National School – meetings taking place with Principal Marie Mullins – Ms. Mullins also now attends Balgaddy Network Meetings. No Parents Association in place, it is hoped to set one up next school term. The school would be delighted to facilitate a coffee morning in the new school term.

List of issues and needs raised through Facilitated Sessions – similar issues and needs raised in all schools.

• lack of  awareness/information on activities in the community
• lack of community facilities / space
• the need for more community activities
• Lack and need of activities for the youth in the area – after school and evening activity.
• Griffeen Youth Café only facilitates those living in Lucan East – too far from other Lucan areas.
• Lack of volunteers to support & run activities –
• Parents voiced concerns about the swimming pool and the need for it in their community
• Lucan Leisure Centre - not much on for younger people.

Community Work Initiatives:

 

Meetings took place with Lucan Leisure Centre – a pilot Boxercise Class was put on for 6 weeks – advertised in all post primary schools in Lucan. The class was slow to take off but numbers are increasing. It is hoped to re-advertise for September.  

Scoil Mhuire Cinema Club – meetings ongoing – Parents Volunteering and 2 Cinema Nights before School Term ends.

Women's Group in Esker Educate Together.

Community Development Work ongoing in the Lucan and Balgaddy Area

·         Group work ongoing in Adamstown and Lucan Areas

·         Community Worker involved in Lucan Festival

·         Parent and Toddler Groups / Women's Groups

·         Number of contacts and networks developed.

·         Balgaddy Network Meetings taking place monthly

·         Weekly Soccer and Boxercise – Balgaddy

·         Balgaddy Family outing to Ireland / Georgia Game on June 2^nd

·         Soccer Blitz in April – Balgaddy MUGA

·         Balgaddy Family Fun Day in August.

Phase 2 – Lucan

Community Workers whilst continuing to support the work in the schools will move on to Phase 2 of the Project: 

A survey is currently being developed which will be sent out to over 100 Clubs / Organisations by end of June 2013.

Purpose of Survey:

• To establish the proportion of facilities / locations in which activities take place in Lucan area
• Average level of participation in each Club / Organisation

Phase 3

3 Public Meetings will take place in September – Geographical areas to be agreed. Leaflet drops will take place in the surrounding estates of the agreed locations prior to the Public Meetings. These meetings will require a good deal of organisation so they can be constructive.

A draft report will then be prepared for senior management outlining the methodology used, identifying the range of activities available, naming the needs identified and outlining a strategy which will address  the needs.

This report will of course have to take into account the resources available to the Council. While there has been an awful lot of work done so far on this initiative, there is still quite a substantial amount still to be done, and the Community Team are making steady progress. 

Lucan Leisure Centre:

The Lucan Leisure Centre is the oldest of the three leisure centres in South Dublin County Council's administrative area, and is the only one which doees not have a swimming pool. At present, the Architectural Services Department is examining possible options for the building. A full survey of the existing building has already been carried out and the feasibility of adding an extension to the original building is being considered.  

A presentation to the Lucan Area Committee Meeting of the overall findings will take place as soon as they are available, later in the year.