COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor B. Bonner

Cathaoirleach's Business

This Committee calls on the Manager to investigate the possibility of establishing a separate, dedicated Community Safety Forum for the Balgaddy area in order to assist residents with their particular housing and policing issues.

REPORT:

Local Policing Fora have been set up in three locations in South Dublin County and provide a mechanism through which the community, the Gardai, and the Local Authority and other stakeholders as required come together to improve communication, share appropriate information and identify issues of concern in relation to policing, anti-social behaviour and estate management.

They work together to find solutions to issues raised, report on progress and develop guidelines to manage difficulties that arise.

The Local Policing Fora report to the Joint Policing Committee at each meeting and can advise the County Council and the Gardai on how to best perform their functions having regard to the need to do everything feasible to improve the safety and quality of life and to prevent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the area.

It would not be practical to set up a forum purely to serve the needs of any one estate. At present, both the Garda Síochána and South Dublin County Council are putting considerable time and effort into trying to help the residents of Balgaddy as much as possible. The Gardai and Council staff work very closely together to deal with anti-social behaviour issues. In addition, the FAI Development Officer,the Housing Department,  the Social Inclusion Unit, the Community Workers, the Estate Management Officers and the Anti-social behaviour officers have all been working closely with the residents and service providers in Balgaddy to improve the quality of life there.   The Balgaddy Child and Family Centre has also successfully  introduced a wide range of community services since the centre opened in September 2012.

All of those mentioned are working hard together to address the various problems that have arisen in the Balgaddy area and will continue to do so.