COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 14, 2014

QUESTION NO.46

QUESTION: Councillor Charlie O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to report to the Council on what supports are available to organisations in the County to promote and organise St Patricks Day activities?

REPLY:

The Council previously supported groups /organisations financially and also provided assistance in the form of the expertise of our Community Services Department. In previous years the Lucan Parade was supported and Community groups in Tallaght were supported to develop a parade / celebration centred in Tallaght Stadium.

Following the significant review of budget allocations over the past recent years and the need to achieve savings in the light of the financial position overall,  our focus has shifted towards developing and supporting Village Festivals.  The communities in Lucan, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Rathcoole, Palmerston and Newcastle (and the surrounding areas) have been supported with huge success. In the current year (2014), considerable efforts are being made to add Rathfarnham to this list.

While every effort will be made to continue to respond to requests for support from groups wishing to organise and develop activities / celebrations for St Patricks Day, the Council's Community Team are aware of a number of groups examining the possibility of such celebrations for next year. The Community Team will of course make themselves available to meet with these interested groups / organisations to examine the feasibility of these proposed events.

There is no specific budget allocated to these events in the current year but the matter will be reviewed as the work on developing the budget strategy for 2015 continues.