Newly elected Social Democrats councillors on Dublin City Council have welcomed the new five-year work plan agreed for the council, which includes strong actions put forward by the party on disabilities, climate change, public transport and family and youth homelessness.
“The plan agreed by all councillors incorporates some of the key commitments the Social Democrats made in our local government manifesto, which was about building sustainable communities and ensuring that our councils drive long-term planning and new energy solutions.”
Newly elected Social Democrats councillors on Dublin City Council have welcomed the new five-year work plan agreed for the council, which includes strong actions put forward by the party on disabilities, climate change, public transport and family and youth homelessness.
As Councils around the country held their inaugural meetings, the Social Democrats’ 19 newly elected councillors formally took up their new positions.
Dublin City Council has agreed an ambitious work plan which includes key actions and commitments proposed by the Social Democrats’ five councillors.
Clontarf Councillor Catherine Stocker said:
“We are very pleased that our influence has ensured that important actions across a range of areas are part of the Council’s five-year action plan. The plan agreed by all councillors incorporates some of the key commitments the Social Democrats made in our local government manifesto, which was about building sustainable communities and ensuring that our councils drive long-term planning and new energy solutions.
The commitments and actions the Social Democrats secured in the plan include:
- Ensuring that a minimum of 7% of Dublin City Council housing is fully accessible for people with disabilities. The Council will also conduct an audit of current housing stock, its level of accessibility and level of occupancy.
- A new Council sub-committee to develop an implementation plan for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) by 2020. This will lay vital groundwork for ensuring that people with disabilities are at the heart of all council policies and actions.
- A comprehensive Council strategy to tackle youth homelessness as well as guidelines to make sure the Council handles family homelessness with a focus on the rights of children.
- A commitment to the More Power to You Siptu/Forsa/Connect local power pledge.
- Funding for arts and cultural engagement for young people.
- The development of a multi-purpose Site of Conscience at the location of the former Magdalene laundry on Sean McDermott Street.
- Development of hang-out spaces in consultation with young people aged between12-18.
- Actively seek to engage young people in cultural and artistic activities through provision of a targeted funding stream.
Artane-Whitehall Councillor Patricia Roe said:
“Many of the actions and commitments we fought to have included in the plan have the strong backing of non-governmental organisations including the Disability Federation of Ireland, Focus Ireland, the Children’s Rights Alliance and the Irish Wheelchair Association.
“Delivering on these actions is crucial if we are to build sustainable and fair communities – and as councillors we will work hard to ensure that this happens.”
Cabra-Glasnevin Councillor Gary Gannon, who has campaigned for years for a proper memorial to the women incarcerated in Magdalene Laundries added:
“The development of a Site of Conscience at the location of the former Magdalene laundry on Sean McDermott Street is a long-overdue tribute to the survivors and their families. We will make every effort to ensure that a suitable memorial is built on this site that is designed in consultation with the survivors themselves and the various different representative groups who have fought alongside them for many years.”
The Social Democrats trebled the party’s number of councillors to 19 in the recent local elections. This includes five Dublin City Councillors, four in Kildare County Council, two in Fingal County Council and one each on: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown; Offaly; Limerick; Cork County; Galway City; Meath; Wicklow; and South Dublin. Ten of the new councillors are women.
ENDS
7th June 2019