COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

MOTION NO. 19

MOTION: Councillor B. Bonner

That this committee supports the establishment of a men's shed type group in the Clondalkin village area and calls on the council to assist the interested parties with finding a premises for their activities.

REPORT:

 

The Community Department has previously and will continue going forward to support the development of men’s sheds / groups throughout the County including within this Committee's administrative area. In the case of the group referred to in the Motion, the Council's Community Development Worker has already met the with them on a number of occasions. He has organised and facilitated meetings between this group and groups from Quarryvale and other areas. He has also arranged for consideration to be given by the Public Realm (Parks) Department to examine and discuss the opportunities and possibilities that may be open in relation to the usage of facilities with parks.

It is noted that the Village group have an offer of a portocabin and are seeking a site to locate it. Like all such offers the identification of such a site is proving difficult.

Members should also be aware that the original men’s shed idea was to utilise a humble venue, primarily to facilitate social interaction and an exchange of ideas and skills but that this has now evolved into the establishment of what can be described more accurately as craft groups, whose needs are much more difficult to address. In many cases due to the need to provide a premises suitable for locating and operating powered tools the identification of a premises for a base is particularly demanding. This aspect of the process, as I have already indicated, is the subject of further examination at present. The members of the Committee will be kept informed of progress.