Community action group gets its premises back after fire

THE ST Aengus Community Action Group was recently able to return to its dedicated premises in the St Aengus Centre in Castletymon, after a fire caused them to temporarily change locations.

The community-run drug-treatment and rehabilitation service had to temporarily vacate its premises after it sustained damage in a fire in 2018.

For the last few years, the service has operated out of the St Aengus Community Centre, but staff and service users were delighted to return to the permanent home of the service in recent weeks.

This was also marked by the Tallaght Drug and Alcohol Task Force deciding to hold the launch of their Strategic Plan there last week.

Mick Duff, manager of the St Aengus Community Action Group, told The Echo: “We were delighted to host the launch of the Tallaght Drug and Alcohol Task Force Strategic Plan and it was great to welcome so many people to our centre again, including members of our board.

“It was a long way back from the fire that destroyed the St Aengus Centre and we are grateful to all who assisted us on our journey home, especially South Dublin County Council for the rebuild and the staff of St Aengus Community Centre who gave us a temporary home.

“We are delighted to be back delivering full services from the St Aengus Centre and continuing to help deliver community services with the Tallaght Drug and Alcohol Task Force and our funding partners.”

The group was founded in 1996, and provides a drug-treatment service, counselling and drop-in services, a Recover and Rebuild programme, and a needle exchange.