September 25th, 2009Speakers: Pat Teehan Rapid Co-ordinator
Kerry Dorrian Student, St. Dominic’s Secondary School
Monica Giles Ballyfermot/Inchicore Playgroup Federation
Joan Connaughton Ballyfermot I.T. Forum
Philip Hickey Ballyfermot I.T. Centre
Mary Daly Principal, St. Dominic’s Secondary School
Catherine Lane St. John of God’s Services
W.D.A.R.
Minister Eamonn Ó Cuív Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. View the picture gallery here
Attendees: Local Community groups, Voluntary groups, Residents and Tenants associations
Minutes: Paula Boylan Dublin City Council
(1) Pat Teehan RAPID Co-Ordinator for the Ballyfermot Area welcomed everyone to the meeting.
(2) Kerry Dorrian introduced (as Gailge) IT Forum members to explain how the Ballyfermot RAPID Programme has helped their organisation.
(3) Monica Giles reports on V-Tech laptop computers received by 18 community playgroups in Ballyfermot and Inchicore outlining positive benefits for children of this initiative, including:
• Over 300 children aged 2 – 5 years now have access to IT equipment.
• Increase in communication skills and IT skills at a young age.
• Learning through play.
• Increase in one to one interaction and group play
• Reduction in language barriers for non-national and special needs children.
Monica also expressed a need for further funding to continue with IT training for teachers and parents to further advance skills in their children.
(4) Joan Connaughton recently appointed It Facilitator for older people in the Ballyfermot Area through funding received through the Ballyfermot RAPID Programme outlined the positive effects of this funding:
• Two year project
• Help older people e-mail etc. to keep up with family abroad.
• Over 400 people trained and more welcome.
(5) Philip Hickey described the website ballyfermot.ie and it’s recent takeover by the Ballyfermot IT Forum Association from Urban. Included on this site are the following:
• Community Directory.
• RAPID Webpage
• Local and National news and much more.
• Nearly 1,000,000 hits this year so far.
Ballyfermot IT Forum have 500 free e-mail accounts to give away in October with all those receiving one entered in a draw for a weekend away with Best Western Hotels in November.
(6) Mary Daly principal of St. Dominic’s Secondary School detailed the White Board initiative that received funding through the RAPID programme.
• 7 schools received interactive whiteboards.
• Advancing IT skills for students and teachers.
Mary also requested funding for Interactive whiteboards for the other 7 schools in the Ballyfermot area.
Prizes were also presented to Orla Lambe and Kerry Dorrian fifth year students of St. Dominic’s Secondary School who came first and second respectively in the competition to design a logo for the Ballyfermot IT Forum. Orla received top prize of a laptop computer and Kerry received an Ipod MP3 player.
(7) Catherine Lane from St. John of God Services explained the leisure activities and garden for retired people with special needs.
• Outdoor garden helps build self-esteem in the participants.
• Encourages mixing with the local playgroup and school children.
• Received funds through RAPID programme for indoor garden to make this a year round activity.
(8) West Dublin Access Radio representative outlined the work done in the local community, and detailed the projects that have received funding through the RAPID programme.
• Located on 96fm, covering Ballyfermot, Inchicore, Clondalkin, Chapelizod and Bluebell.
• 6 fulltime and 2 part-time staff.
• Funding of €31k received to soundproof studio and extend hours (12.45pm to 8.15pm at moment)
• Funding of €49k received to purchase and equip an outside broadcasting unit.
• Providing access to those who don’t get covered by mainstream radio such as teenagers, older people, people with special needs etc.
• Over 100 volunteers from 7years of age to over 80 years.
• Irish language promotion.
(9) Pat Teehan gave a brief presentation on RAPID programme – Revitalising the Area through Planning, Investment and Development along with a rundown of projects for 2006 and projects planned in 2007. Over 50 community projects in the Ballyfermot Area have been the beneficiaries of more than €4 million in departmental funding streams to date with the assistance of the Ballyfermot RAPID Area Programme.
(10) Minister Ó Cuív thanked all who attended and congratulated competition winners. Acknowledged the huge progress made in the Ballyfermot Area since RAPID status received. Acknowledge questions received previously regarding funding and discussed the increase in the quality of life RAPID funding had brought people using the projects concerned. Thanked Co-Ordinator and Interim Area Implementation Team for work done and emphasised the importance of community involvement in development and in expanding the range of services that will facilitate change into the future. Requested community participation for new ideas to move forward and to interact to mould the RAPID programme to the needs of the community.
(11) Question and Answer session.
Question 1:
Teresa McGouran – Ballyfermot Partnership Board member
Why if a member of the Oireachtas can run as many times as they want can a member of partnership board only serve three years and then must step down for one year?
Minister reply – After consultation and discussion with PLANET the governing body for Partnership it was agreed and signed off to implement this change – The matter will be noted and looked into.
Question 2:
Réalta Beag at Ballyfermot Star as part of the Ballyfermot Childcare Network raised question regarding the new subvention scheme for Childcare facilities and the level of impact this will have on working parents on low income. Also raised was the situation were a new child care facility is ready to open but cannot be due to lack of funding for staff meaning 30 child places are missing from the community.
Minister Reply – Theses changes are from 1st January 2008 and there will be a six month adjustment phase. The funding has not changed, only the method it is distributed meaning that it will work in favour of the more disadvantaged. Minister Brendan Smith has been looking at this and will take points on board.
Question 3:
Patrick Akboveta from Generation Next Youth group asked whether a scheme for financial assistance for smaller projects without a large support network or Ethos could be made accessible.
Minister Reply – Under the RAPID programme grant procedures for requests under €10,000 have changed significantly and have been made easier to attain by smaller groups. He also stated that change was underway to make the application process equivalent to the amounts requested but stressed the importance of accountability in all of these schemes.
Question 4:
Sean Ardagh TD – Are there any opportunities that are not being explored to the same extent in Ballyfermot as in other areas?
Minister Reply – Nothing came to mind that hasn’t been accessed but did state that planning ahead is important and to presume that money will be coming for projects and to keep pushing forward.
Sean Ardagh TD also offered to arrange a meeting between the Childcare Network and Brendan Smith to address their concerns.
The meeting concluded with Pat Teehan thanking Minister Ó Cuív for his time and support for the Ballyfermot RAPID Area Programme. He then invited the Minister and all present to avail of light refreshments. The Minister used this opportunity to meet with individual members of the community including the Ballyfermot Heritage Group who presented him with a book on the history of Ballyfermot written by local Ken Larkin and presented by Henry Harding and members of the group. He also received an assessment of the REALT BEAG project run by the Ballyfermot STAR with a request for funding to open the project.
