COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOCIAL, COMMUNITY & EQUALITY SPC

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

HEADED ITEM NO. 6

Integration Strategy Report

The Council's Social Inclusion Strategy 2019-2023 "A More Inclusive County", is centred on five themes supported by a range of targeted actions. The themes of the strategy are:

• Inclusive Communities
• Lifelong Learning
• Enterprise and Employment
• Health and Wellbeing
• Inclusive Service Delivery.

Each of the actions identified in the strategy under these themes, a lead department/agency with clearly defined target outcomes.

An internal monitoring group at a senior level across the Council has been established to oversee implementation of the strategy and progress reports will be presented to the SPC. The monitoring group is led by the Social Inclusion Unit with representatives from Housing, Corporate/HR, LEO and Libraries.  Since the strategy was launched in 2019 a number of initiatives have been taken to support the actions of the strategy and further initiatives will be advanced in 2020 as follows:

Inclusive Communities

• Ongoing support is being provided to community groups to include people from diverse backgrounds in local community events, festivals, family days etc.;
• we are reviewing our application process for event funding in 2020 to capture new initiatives to engage migrant communities
• we have encouraged and supported ethnic representation on residents' associations including with the specific development of new resident's groups in Mac Uilliam estate in Tallaght and Balgaddy in Lucan and we continue to examine the potential to do so in other areas;
• Comhairle na nÓg continue to encourage the involvement of young people from migrant backgrounds in their activities; 
• As part of our support for newtork of community centres in the County, in 2020 the Council is including migrant inclusion awareness work in our engagement with centre regarding Council strategic plans and funding;
• Successful participation by migrant groups in Social Inclusion Festival and Celebration show 2019
• South Dublin Migranmt Integration Forum, supported by the Council, have engaged with a range of new members representing different minority groups across the County;
• European Week Against Racism highlighted and promoted across the County by Social Inclusion Team;

Lifelong Learning

• The Social Inclusion team are currently researching a Migrant Awareness Programme for local schools;
• A review of education bursaries is being undertaken to examine the potential to include migrant specific initiatives in 2020;

Enterprise & Employment

• Our Local Enterprise Office (LEO) continues to support various migrant business promoters through an extensive programme of grants, training, mentoring and advice;
• A presentation on LEO supports is being prepared for the South Dublin Migrant Integration Forum;
• A range of migrant led entreprenuers participated in the Flavours of South Dublin event;

Health & Wellbeing

• An inter-cultural football festival was run as part of the Council's 2019 Health and Wellbeing Week with plans for a similar inclusive event being made for the 2020 programme of events;
• Information provided to migrant groups on applications for Community Endeavour Awards
• Pilot youth football programme for migrants was delivered at Clondalkin Leisure Centre in 2019;

Inclusive Service Delivery

• The South Dublin Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has conducted a review of its membership and will bring forward proposals to diversify representation on the Committee.
• The LCDC is currently planning an "Open Day" engagement with groups, including migrant groups, in the County.  This is alternative method for including diversity on the LCDC. This will be a consultative event where networks /groups in the County are invited to and to agree Memorandum of Understandings as appropriate.
• A migrant integration co-ordination group has been established by the Dublin Local Authorities and held its first meeting in Jan 2020.

Continued Implementation & Monitoring

The Social Inlcusion Unit will continue to implement the actions identified in "A More Inclusive County", supported by a cross departmental  implementation group. It is planned in 2020 to progress the following actions amongst others:

• A Migrant Awareness Programme in Schools
• Promotion with migrant groups of existing oppertunities for participation in sports and recreation, community events and activities for older people
• JPC Work Plan for 2020 will develop specific actions to facilitate minority ethnic groups engaging with JPC structures
• Engagement with Migrant Forum on organising events for Health and Wellbeing Week 2020
• Hosting of an "Africa Day" event.
• Participation in Flavours of South Dublin & Social Inclusion Festival
• Proposals are being developed to produce a video for an online campaign promoting migrant communities and issues around racism as part European Action Week Against Racism.

The implementation group will meet regularly during the lifetime of the strategy.  As the group develops its role there will be further information and data available on the delivery of the actions in "A More Inclusive County" with future progress reports brought to the SPC.