COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, January 11, 2016

MOTION NO.1

MOTION: Councillor B. Leech

That the members of this chamber call on the SDCC to radically reduce the price of their hourly rates in the County's Leisure Centre's to a more affordable level for local football teams who wish to use these facilities.

REPORT:

The Council's Leisure Centres are managed by the independent, external, not for profit company; South County Dublin Leisure Services Ltd (SCDLS). The remit of SCDLS is to deliver a high quality leisure experience to all their customers in a cost neutral model to the Council.  Tallaght Leisure Centre (TLC) under the management and control of SCDLS has recently been awarded a Gold in leisure centre excellence and has now achieved ISO9001 accreditation.

The company have strongly demonstrated over the last 9 years that their pricing policy recognises local market conditions while striving to deliver value and quality in all areas of their areas of operation.  The company have developed a range of programmes and activities for the broad spectrum of their customer base and deliver many of these programmes at reduced rates or subsidised prices.  The company have always strongly and actively engaged in the Council's social inclusion agenda.  

The facilities at the leisure centres are being constantly improved and expended as part of the overall strategic plan for the development of the leisure centres into state of the art sports and leisure hubs.  This strategy aims to continue to provide and develop these state of the art facilities and to deliver them at the lowest possible rates consistent with the business plan for the facilities.  The current rates are in accordance with this policy and the company will keep them under review to ensure that they are achieving their primary objectives.  It should be noted that the Council does not have a direct role in setting any tariffs in these facilities.

Members should note that the recently commenced Late Night Soccer Leagues (in conjunction with the FAI and the Gardaí) will be held (twice) this season at no cost to the participants and where applicable the leisure centres make their facilities available.