Initiatives to help tackle deprivation

DEPRIVATION in Mac Uilliam estate is being tackled through an enhanced estate management programme and community-centric initiatives.

Over the years, issues of anti-social behaviour and littering have continued to crop up in Mac Uilliam and an interagency approach has been taken to give the estate a new lease of life.

South Dublin County Council identified environmental, social exclusion, and representation challenges in the estate and formulated several interventions.

Following a question from Cllr Kieran Mahon (Solidarity) at the Tallaght Area Committee Meeting, the council offered an update on the “work of the high-level task force” developed for the estate.

Part of the measures for Mac Uilliam include prioritisation under the planned maintenance programme for window and door replacement, painting, upkeep and repair works.

59 properties have already had external painting completed with the second phase of works due to be tendered in March and April.

Capacity building with local residents to foster the development of a local resident’s group, enhanced cleaning, ring-fencing estate management funds for priority works and a review of tenancy allocations is part of the measures.

Other measures include a targeted campaign to address anti-social behavioural issues, a review of repeated repair works to the playground, waste collection assessment, and engagement with other agencies to deliver support programmes in sports and arts.

Through the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, funding was secured for a circular walking route on the open space at the rear of the estate.

This programme aims to deliver a ‘Trim Trail’ with distance, time, steps signage on what is an “underutilised open space in the heart of Mac Uilliam estate”.

In addition, €100k funding was agreed in the Council’s adopted 2022 revenue budget to support the improvement and upgrade of the public realm at the entrance to the estate.

These works included physical improvement works, removal of a disused children’s play area and landscaping including mature tree planting and bulbs.

Looking ahead, there are four key initiatives being tabled by the coundil.

Firstly, a walking group will be set up in conjunction with the local sports partnership following the completion of the Trim Trail.

Over the Easter, events are set to be organised with Barnardos and Connect 4 street workers organising a football tournament.

Connect 4 is a youth project covering Killinarden, MacUilliam, Glenshane and Jobstown with the aim of supporting at-risk young people between the ages of 10 and 24.

Tallaght Community Arts is also running an Easter camp for young people in St Aidan’s school and workshops in Mac Uilliam through the Creative Places initiative.

In the summer, there is provisional plans for a family day on July 1, 2023, as well as a family day out which will see buses being organised to bring residents on a trip out of the area.

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