Residents are working together to highlight issues with substance misuse in communities

THE close bond of residents working together to improve problems affecting their communities is a key benefit in a new project piloted by Clondalkin Drug and Alcohol Task Force (CDATF).

The CDATF Community Representatives Forum is a group of local women who have come together over the last two years to highlight issues associated with substance misuse which impacts their families and communities.

At the Mansion House on Friday, the group launched their work, which trains local people as community representatives.

The women have developed a training handbook and video in what is thought to be a first across the 24 taskforces nationally.

The group believe that these tools could be used effectively in other drug task force communities, a view shared by Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy, who said she would “like to see it replicated in other areas”.

Speaking at the event, Fiona O’Brien, from Balgaddy, Lucan, said she wanted to get involved because of her son and “be a voice for the community”.

“We are here to represent people who have no voice but they do now,” said Fiona.

Anna Quigley, joint co-ordinator of the City Wide Drugs Crisis Campaign, said it is “crucial” the community are involved in decision making with regard to the approach to drug abuse.

“If you don’t have knowledge of what is going-on on the ground, you don’t have the expertise,” said Ms Quigley.

“It affects your daily life and our children. It is not an issue you can leave behind.”

Also speaking at the event was the group’s resident artist Sadhbh Lawlor, who facilitated much of the creative aspects of the project.

The video illustrates a Clondalkin community from an aerial vantage point, and the viewer hears residents from different parts of the estate in their conversations and meetings they have held to make a change.

The narrator ‘Maeve’ represents all of the women involved in the project.

Some of the local women CDTAF has trained will participate on the taskforce.

They will be hosting a similar event towards the end of May in the North Clondalkin Library and hope to take the event on the road to other communites.