Lack of local representation excludes community

LACK of local representation on the board of the newly established Cherry Orchard Integration Group excludes the community, according to two local councillors.

The board has been established to liaise between Dublin City Council and a number of stakeholders – including An Garda Síochána, Tusla, the HSE, the Probation Service St Ultan’s primary school and Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership.

It was formed in response to a number of high profile anti-social incidents in the area which attracted national media attention.

Speaking at the Dublin South Central area meeting, Cllr Daithi Doolan (SF) asked if it was possible to ensure there are residents on the board, along with community service reps and elected reps.

“The plan needs to be drafted in full consultation with the community not on behalf of the community,” he said.

Cllr Hazel de Nortúin (PBP) said they were calling for local representation in connection with outreach workers and people on the ground.

“Cherry Orchard is bespoke and it has particular needs,” said Cllr de Nortúin.

“There is supposed to be three pillars and what is represented there is just the first pillar which is the people who can make decisions around the table.”

She cited the input of local services during the consultation phase prior to setting up the group, who are then told they can “feed into this through a sub-group”.

“Is that the ultimate smack of disrespect.

“I wish the group the best but it is ging to be nothing without the feedback from people on the ground.

“We have broke our back for a decade working with services on this, the fourth plan for the local area plan.

“If it’s not going to be delivered right I am stepping away from it.” Derek Kelly, Executive Manager DCC, a member of the board, said the intention is to “have resident representation on that group” made up of senior decision makers, but there is a level of “capacity building that needs to be done in advance of inviting somebody on.”

Mr Kelly said it would be hard to pick one representative from the many community groups, hence the sub-group, and he would report back to the Department of Justice members concerns.