COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 08, 2025

QUESTION NO. 39

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive what efforts and supports SDCC have made, and give in regards to combatting racism in our communities?

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council (SDCC) is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that racism and discrimination have no place in our communities. To address racism, SDCC has embedded the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty within the Corporate Plan. Through a cross-departmental approach the duty is applied to all Council plans, policies, and strategies, ensuring that an anti-racist and anti-discriminatory approach is proactively integrated into all aspects of our work.  

SDCC supports the objectives of the National Action Plan Against Racism (2023–2027) and the Council's Integration Strategy 2019–2023 outlines actions to promote equality and celebrate diversity and will be updated in due course in line with the national strategy that will be published by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in 2026.  

Through initiatives such as this and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, SDCC grant programmes, and the support of the community development team and the Local Integration Support Team (LAIT), SDCC funds and assists community groups, intercultural projects, and minority communities across the county. Events such as the intercultural celebration in Clondalkin (March), Africa Day in Tymon Park (May), and the Dodder Valley Park and Human Library events during Refugee Week showcase and celebrate diversity while fostering community cohesion. The LAIT also supported the Community Recognition fund 2024-2025 introduced by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland.  

All our community centres are inclusive public amenities, and our community development teams continue to offer practical and financial support where possible to promote opportunities of inclusion, integration and cultural celebration. Examples of this are found through our funding of Africa Day celebrations for local community groups, event funding towards celebrating Black History month, as well as ongoing practical support by providing funding towards English learning classes in Saggart Schoolhouse and social integration support provided through the Global Garden initiative in Corkagh Park. Active South Dublin supports integration opportunities through sports, such as Tallaght Sanctuary Runners.  

SDCC also provides intercultural and anti-racism awareness training to staff and works in partnership with An Garda Síochána, the Public Participation Network, and local Migrant Integration Forums to address racism and discrimination in a coordinated manner. A dedicated ‘How to Report Racism’ page on the SDCC website encourages anyone affected by racism to report incidents to An Garda Síochána and to access the supports and services available.  

SDCC has also supported research projects such as Sustainable Alliances Against Anti-Muslim Hatred and an International Protection Applicants Needs Assessment, which gathered insights and recommendations from those affected by racism. SDCC remains committed to further developing its anti-racism and equality initiatives in line with national policy and the needs of local communities.