COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

QUESTION NO.8

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive that SDCC Libraries look at what additional supports they could provide in way of English classes, summer kids programmes and education around Irish systems etc they could deliver for BOTPs and IPs Staying in our Clondalkin area?

REPLY:

Clondalkin library staff have visited to local centres that refugees and asylum are residing.  Bringing information on the library and council services.  The library provides an information sheet on local and government services and how to apply etc. The forms have been translated to the various languages needed.  Clondalkin library does not currently host English classes to this cohort as facilitators are hard to find, however we do signpost to the local Adult Education Centre who do provide the service.  We also signpost to our sister library in Tallaght where volounteers run English conversation classes Monday - Thursday 11:30 to 13:30 daily, these are very well attended and provide a social aspect also.  We have purchased a range of books and printed materials in the identified languages for both children and adults.  We are fortunate to have a member of staff who speaks Ukranian, Polish and Russian and this has proved invaluable in our outreach programmes and in our translation requirements.  A small group of children  in the Direct Provision centre in Clondalkin have worked directly with a member of the Clondalkin staff on a Philosophy project and this culminated with group visiting UCD.