COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 14, 2020

MOTION NO.2

MOTION: Councillor Shane Moynihan

That this Council calls for the introduction of electronic booking systems for community centres in the County. 

REPORT:

Community centres in the County, including those built by the Council, are each managed by independent local voluntary management companies that are independent legal companies established as Companies Limited by Guarantee.   However, the Council does retain overall ownership and responsibility for the asset it has provided.

Community centres typically hire out rooms and facilities  to groups/individuals who run classes or activities for which bookings may be made directly with the organiser and not necessarily with the community centre.   Each management company is responsible for managing its own daily bookings, procedures and systems and therefore, theoretically at least, the introduction of electronic booking systems is a matter for each individual management company to consider and the development and installation of such systems may be supported by the Council's Community Grants Scheme.

However, the synergies and efficiencies that could be gained across the network of community centres in the County through adopting a centralised online booking system certainly warrant an assessment of the feasibility of such a system.  This assessment will be undertaken by the Community team, having regard in particular to the pitch booking system that is being implemented by the Parks section.