COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

MOTION NO.11

MOTION: Councillor J. Sinnott

This Committee acknowledges the work and community service provided by Tidy Towns groups and voluntary litter picking groups across the area. This Committee notes a number of new groups have been formed and welcomes and supports their community service. In light of this growing movement, this committee proposes that a half day meeting or event for volunteers to come together to share best practice, network and to promote this work across Rathfarnham, Templeogue, Firhouse and Bohernabreena be arranged and to develop a sense of communities coming together.

REPORT:

SDCC extends heartfelt thanks to Tidy Towns groups for their dedication to enhancing their communities through hard work and commitment. In 2024, these groups have achieved improvements in their areas, driven entirely by volunteers and their relentless efforts. Their dedication to creating cleaner, greener and more beautiful spaces has not only transformed SDCC, but also fostered community pride.

We are pleased to announce that Round 3 funding opened on Monday 11th November. Through this funding, committees can apply for support to cover costs linked to their volunteer activities. We encourage all groups to join the National Tidy Towns Competition. The application form can be found here SDCC Tidy Towns Application Form 2024 Round 3 Annual Funding Programme (Prefill). More details at: tidytowns@sdublincoco.ie 

There are a number of new groups that have formed across the county and in particular, in this electoral area. The Environmental Awareness team held an online webinar in May 2023 that was open to all Tidy Towns groups. There were 3 speakers on the day, Gavin Harte, a climate action and sustainable development consultant, Ian Jackson, Community Climate Action Officer, SDCC and Cormac McCarthy a member of a very successful Ennis Tidy Towns group. He is also a Tidy Towns competition adjudicator. This was a very successful webinar.

The Environmental Awareness team are planning to do something similar in 2025. It will be an in person event in 2025. The team here in SDCC will talk to all Tidy Towns groups in advance of this event and will welcome any ideas in the running of this event to ensure groups can come together and share best practise and network with others.  Please contact the Environmental Awareness team by email: tidytowns@sdublincoco.ie