COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, November 25, 2013

MOTION NO.15

MOTION: Councillor D. Looney

That this Committee receives a report on the work undertaken to date on the Villages Initiative scheme for Templeogue and Tallaght villages.

REPORT:

The Villages Initiative when launched was based on the use of direct grant-aid to local community groups, focused on the Tidy Towns competition, to carry out works, projects and events on an ad-hoc basis.  A multi-disciplinary Council team prepared an analysis of issues and challenges arising and a report was completed for each village.  At the September meeting of the Council's Organisation Procedure & Finance Committee, the County Manager relaunched the Villages Initiative as a 5-year programme commencing 2014.  The new strategy will define landscape, public realm, signage / branding and heritage / tourism trail strategies for each village and divert Council works programmes to engage with and deliver those strategies.  An individual large-scale project building on and augmenting the unique selling-point of each village is under development, and funding will be established for each.  Local events and festivals will be supported.  Matching funding will be put in place to support and encourage private-sector involvement in relation to painting, environmental improvements and upgrading of commercial and retail premises in line with village plans and strategies.

Work is now underway across the 9 villages involved in preparing work programmes and costings.  There is a considerable amount of work involved in progressing all villages together in one ongoing programme.  Work in relation to urban clutter – i.e. removal of damaged bollards, defunct telephone boxes, out-of-date signage etc – has already commenced.

Work is progressing in line with the above programme on both Tallaght and Templeogue villages.  Templeogue has an active community group and have met with the council staff involved.  Studies on the 'showcase' project for each village is underway and will be consulting with local community groups early in the New Year.