COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 08, 2014

QUESTION NO. 24

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to outline his plans to assist community centres throughout the county, appreciating the need for our community centres to continue to be available for a wide use of activities?

REPLY:

The council is committed to the continued support and development of the numerous Community Centre's across the county. They form the support structure around which many voluntary community actions are delivered. They are managed in the main, by dedicated voluntary Management Committees, who give of their time and energies 7 days a week.

In recognition of this local commitment this Council assists with the provision of staff, from the Community Services Department, to assist and advise local management committees. The Council also administers 120 JI/CE participants who operate within the Centres. Funding is also provided under several categories in the Community grants scheme to aid management of the Centres and sustainability.

During the recent financial downturn, this Council has both maintained and increased the community centre stock and managed to retain the support funding levels. In addition, through the Capital Programme an investment of €200,000 is proposed for the upgrade of 15 centres.

Provision has been made in the 2015 budget to provide €15,000 towards the cost of the provision of Corporate Governance training for Management Committees and a fund of €150,000 will be provided under ' Community Initiative Fund' which will provide an opportunity for significant community enhancement.

A review of the Community Grants Scheme (2015)  will give further scope to refine the current levels of funding to the support of Community Centres. A report will be generated for discussion at the Community SPC.