COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 13, 2014

MOTION NO. 6

MOTION: Councillor K. Mahon

As part of Health and Well Being Week 2014 this Council calls on the relevant Department (Community Services) to initiate an open forum, in Tallaght, on the Direct Provision Programme and invite occupants from Direct Provision Centres in the county and beyond to speak on their experience of said programme. Invitations should be extended in advance of the scheduled event in Tallaght Stadium on September 29th

REPORT:

The Council's inaugural Health and Well Being Week which ran from 29th September to 5th October 2014 and proved to be very successful. An extensive programme of events was developed in partnership with a host of organisations and agencies throughout the County. Health and wellbeing is one of the major challenges faced by all who live work or visit our County and healthy minds and bodies are essential to enjoying complete physical, mental and social wellbeing.

One of the primary objectives of the weeklong activities is to give those at risk of exclusion the opportunity to get out and get involved. During the development of the programme the opportunity to invite representatives of Direct Provision Centres to take part arose following discussions with the organisers of the Oireachtas Soccer Team and the Minister of State with special responsibility for Equality, New Communities and Culture. Accordingly invitations were extended to  the Direct Provision Centres in Clondalkin and Dublin City to enter teams in a soccer tournament which took place on Monday 29th September 2014 in Tallaght Stadium. The Direct Provision Centre in Clondalkin participated in the competition which also included teams from the elected Members of South Dublin and the staff of the Council.

As all resources have been fully allocated for the current year consideration will be given to the suggestion made in the motion being part of the programme in future years.