COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

MOTION NO. 14

MOTION: Councillor B. Bonner

This Committee asks the Chief Executive to facilitate Clondalkin Men's Shed group by allowing them to use the Council owned unit in the Watery Lane apartments on Orchard Road, Clondalkin.   The men's group is very happy to share access to this unit with the active retired group or any other voluntary group in the Clondalkin area.   

REPORT:

The Council's Community Services Team based in Clondalkin have held a series of meetings and discussions with the Clondalkin Men’s Shed group. At some of the earlier meetings the discussions explored if it was possible to develop a Clondalkin wide network of such groups and a number of joint meetings took place with groups from Quarryvale and the Village participating.

At a recent meeting the group requested that a viewing of the unit in Orchard Lane (former Kelland development of former Cowans Site in Clondalkin Village) be arranged and this took place with the co-operation of the Management Company for the development. Five members of the group attended and the representative of the Management Company explained the issues from their point of view including matters relating to Noise, Security and who would be using the Unit and how it would be controlled and its overall impact on the adjacent development.

The Community Services Team also explained the history of the development, the cost of fitting out the unit for the intended use and matters related to the Annual Management charge. It was also confirmed that the Council had not taken possession of the unit yet. The group were requested to examine all these issues from a sustainable and operational viewpoint and revert back in due course.

By way of information it should be noted that the Unit is in a shell state and would require a complete fitting out at a cost which which is most likely to exceed €150,000. Members should also note that as the potential for income is very limited any proposal to use this unit would need to factor in the Annual Management Fee and other ongoing running costs. Any group or groups intending to develop a plan for this unit would in addition to the foregoing also need to develop a management structure.

Notwithstanding the considerable challenges outlined above, the Council continues to explore any potential option that may be available and in this regard have recently received a work plan from Clondalkin Men’s Shed group.

There is no specific grant aid available. Although some small funding might be possible through the budget for Active Age Projects, this would not be suffcient to finance the ongoing costs associated with the use of the premises in the Village. There might also be options for occasional grant aid under the Community Grant scheme.