COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
MOTION NO. 10
MOTION: Councillor E. O'Brien
That this Area Committee noting this Local Authorities continued commitment to the promotion of health & wellbeing and the unique position of Lucan bordering two other local authorities, asks the Chief Executive to contact our neighbouring local authorities of Fingal and Kildare to discuss the viability of an annual road race passing through all 3 local authorities.
REPORT:
South Dublin County Council through the Sports and Recreation Office and Sports Partnership currently deliver a comprehensive work programme focused on promoting health and wellbeing of our citizens through a variety of different sporting and physical activities all year round. This aims to deliver on the objectives of:
- Increasing participation of sedentary people
- Creating awareness of SDCC facilities and opportunities to participate physical activity
- Improving fitness and lifestyle - promote health and wellbeing
- Community engagement and social inclusion
- Access for all
- Delivering on Objectives of the National Physical Activity Plan
- Deliver on specific strategic actions for health and wellbeing in “A Strategy for a Health South Dublin 2109-2022”
- Deliver objectives of the Council's Corporate Plan
Running, is recognised as an important activity to improve one’s physical health and mental wellbeing. In this regard, some programmes of strategic importance delivered and supported by this Council include:
The Marathan Kids Programme 2019 is ongoing at present with the largest number of athletes & schools in our 3 year partnership with Marathon Kids Ireland. This is also in partnership Fingal Co Co & Dublin City Council. South Dublin have 32 schools countywide with 3037 students participating in this year’s programme.
In 2019, between February and May, 3550 children participated and 73 schools across the county were involved the Council's Schools Cross Country Programme. Preparations are already underway for the 2020 Schools Cross Country.
There are currently 4 Parkruns and 1 Junior parkrun running successfully in the County supported by the Sport Partnership.
In addition, Dublin’s Outdoors supports 10k and ½ marathon events in Grange Castle.
The Sport and Recreation Office and Sports Partnership are currently working on developing a new County wide physical activity challenge incorporating different activities as an addition to our annual work programme for 2020 and beyond, details of which will be announced shortly. In developing this initiative, some preliminary talks were held with Dublin City Council on a joint initiative also involving Fingal. However, for logistical and operational issues, this was not progressed.