COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 13, 2017

QUESTION NO. 18

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive if he has noted the success of the Passport for Leisure Scheme operated by Dublin City Council and if he would confirm that it is a scheme which could be considered for our county.

REPLY:

As part of a Lord Mayor’s Special Initiative for older people “Embracing Ageing” some years ago Dublin City Council introduced a Passport for Leisure Scheme. The Passport is a discount card and directory that includes vouchers and discounts offered by businesses throughout the city. It also includes free / discounted access to Dublin City owned and managed, leisure and recreation facilities though with some restrictions applied recently.

South Dublin County Council does not directly operate and manage the leisure and recreation facilities and any such scheme would have to be negotiated with South Dublin County Leisure Services Limited who operate the management of Tallaght Leisure, Centre, Clondalkin Sports and Leisure Centre and Lucan Sports and Leisure Centre on behalf of the Council.

 Both Clondalkin (Tue & Thurs) and Tallaght (Mon &Wed) currently provide senior (over 55’)discounted swimming sessions.

In the context of the ' Life Cycle' approach  the Council is committed to providing opportunities to improve their quality of life and sense of wellbeing.

Clondalkin (Thurs) and Tallaght (Thurs) currently facilitate the Living the life programme - €3 which is a fitness programme specifically for 55+.

A brief summary of the supports/programmes delivered to older adults is set out;

Ongoing PAL’s Training – Physical Activity Leader Training – we facilitate workshops whereby participants complete training to become a physical activity leader – the skills they acquire enable them to teach sessions to their own group.

Refresher PAL’s Courses: we facilitate refresher sessions for those whom have completed PAL’s training

Senior Games: We host an annual senior games event – older adults will have completed taster sessions and then go on to compete in the senior games tournament to represent their county in the national finals – the programme in run throughout the month of May with National finals held in early June. 

Equipment: We have an extensive equipment library that older adult groups have the opportunity to borrow equipment without the expense of having to purchase their own equipment. We have a number of items specific to older adult games that is available all year round.

We facilitate talks with older adult groups – we speak to them about their activity levels, general health & Wellbeing and link them in to whatever services we can locally – i.e. health promotion, libraries, support networks.

A whole range of events and activities are listed on the Councils new 55+ Daily Activity Booklet 2017 edition now available.