COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, December 11, 2017
QUESTION NO.5
QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney
To ask the Chief Executive if he has noted the Pobal HP Deprivation Index as recently published; to ask if he has taken particular note of areas noted as disadvantaged due to elderly populations with fixed incomes and age-based dependencies; and to ask what steps he will take to address community supports in all areas noted as disadvantaged.
REPLY:
The Census 2016 HP Deprivation Index identifies the following Electoral Districts as having a deprivation index of greater than minus 15:- Cappaghmore, Rowlagh and Moorfield in Clondalkin, Avonbeg, Fettercairn, Killinarden and Tymon in Tallaght. None of these have a high age dependency ratio which is a measure showing the number of dependents, aged zero to 14 and over the age of 65, to the total population, aged 15 to 64. The Electoral Districts with a score of above 40 in the County are Ballyroan and Butterfield in Rathfarnham, Millbrook, Tallaght; Cypress and Orwell in Templeogue and Greentrees and St James in Terenure (49.8% the highest age dependency ratio in the County).
The above does not show the whole picture as you need to drill down to the Small Area statistics to identify pockets of deprivation and high age dependency ratios. Two examples of this are:
- The Liscarne area of Moorfield ED which has a population of 97, Deprivation Index of minus 32 and an age dependency ratio of 66. The percentage of the population over 55 years old in this small area is 77.3%. (19.6% in the ED and 18.8% for the County). This is the highest deprivation index in the County and the area consists mainly of the Liscarne OPD dwellings which are managed and supported by the Council and the HSE.
- The St Anthony’s Crescent area of Terenure St James ED which has a population of 175, Deprivation Index of minus 24 and an age dependency ratio of 64. The percentage of the population over 55 years old in this small area is 57%. (42% in the ED and 18.8% for the County).
Consideration of the Deprivation Index is a core factor in determining need for supports as relevant particularly in the Local Economic and Community Plan Objectives and actions.
Community supports required differ according to area and need and the two examples above indicate very different needs but do not reflect the supports and inputs into those areas already. In terms of older aged citizens the Council has the Age Friendly County Strategy, which is currently being revised. The existing strategy can be found at: http://www.sdcc.ie/sites/default/files/publications/south-dublin-age-friendly-county-strategy-2012-2015.pdf
In addition the very successful 55+ Daily Activity Planner 2017 has been revised and published:
Also there is the widely supported and successful Bealtaine Festival and Health and Wellbeing provided by the Council annually targeted at residents with various needs.