COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
QUESTION NO. 8
Item No: 47273
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
"To ask the Chief Executive to present a report on the recent Social Inclusion Week, to compliment the staff involved on its success and to confirm that funding is in place for such activities in 2016?"
REPLY:
Mayor Sarah Holland officially launched South Dublin County Council Social Inclusion Week on Monday 16 November 2015 at 12.00 noon in County Hall, Tallaght. Our special guest was Ruth Scott, 2 FM Radio Presenter. There was over 200 people in attendance at the launch. At the launch Ruth Scott, 2FM Radio Presenter said:
“I want to congratulate South Dublin County Council because this is their 10th year of running a Social Inclusion Week. That is 10 years of commitment to creating a better community and lifestyle for everybody and striving for social fairness and a more inclusive society.
That’s 10 years of continually exploring Social Inclusion (with great success) commitment to Social Inclusion Week, of expanding the week to be bigger and bigger each year. Very wisely, South Dublin County Council realised that a rising tide doesn’t lift all boats and created the week to help communities that may be left behind. It recognised that disadvantage isn’t just measured by your income alone. Now it’s known that it can be observed through looking at who is socially excluded through lack of access to education, healthcare, housing, transport, social benefits that create opportunities for inclusion.”
This week has proven to be a great opportunity to highlight and promote the positive work that South Dublin County Council is involved in to reduce social exclusion and poverty in the County. It created opportunities for people to learn new skills, share ideas and participate in their community. Over 300 people attended the annual Tea Dance in the Red Cow Inn, Clondalkin. The programme also featured a Seminar on South Dublin Traveller Culture Schools Programme, IT Classes for Older People, Art Workshops for People with Disabilities, Photographic Exhibition of ten years of Social Inclusion, Social Inclusion Competition for Primary School Children, Social Inclusion Programme with youth based projects and workshops in the Tallaght and Clondalkin Intercultural Centres.
All the events were booked out in record time which gives us a great indicator the interest that people have in social inclusion and participating in their community. One of the highlights of the week was the Celebration of Social Inclusion through the performing arts in the Civic Theatre, Tallaght which showcased all Tallaght and creativity in the South Dublin County. The winners were as follows:
First: World Malayalee Council (Indian Community) Classical Fusion Dance
Second: Tower Hip-Hop Dance Stars
Third: Unique Dance Gymnastics
Runner Up: Got2Dance Stage Show
Social Inclusion Week has proven to be the platform for the establishment of ongoing activities in response to the needs articulated by our communities. The funding is in place for Social Inclusion Week 2016.