Call for East Wall to be included in taskforce

A CALL has been made for a local area to receive funding as part of the North Inner City Taskforce.

Mary Fitzpatrick, a Fianna Fáil candidate in Dublin Central for the next general election, believes East Wall, and particularly the Sean O’Casey Community Centre, should form a part of the area covered by the taskforce.

“In fact it makes no sense that it (East Wall) was excluded in the first instance,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. “This error must be rectified so that the people of East Wall facing adverse difficulties can benefit from the taskforce.

“East Wall is a vibrant community with huge potential if properly invested in by the State. 

“By including it as part of the strategy for improvement adopted by the taskforce, it will quickly become a neighbourhood on the rise.”

Ms Fitzpatrick added: “There is a no consistent stream of funding being provided to the Sean O’Casey Community Centre despite the fact it provides some of the most important services in a neglected community and that are heavily relied upon by locals.” 

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin raised the issue directly with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Dáil last Tuesday (October 16) where he urged Government to bring East Wall, and in particular, the community centre, under the remit of the taskforce.

The previous week Deputy Martin joined Ms Fitzpatrick on a visit  to the community centre where he was given the opportunity to see first-hand the facilities that are available for people living locally. 

Speaking following that meeting, Ms Fitzpatrick said: “In the eight years that Sean O'Casey Community Centre has been open, it has provided a wide variety of top-class sports and educational activities to our whole community both young and old.

“The centre has engaged countless residents in arts and culture while day services have transformed the quality of life for senior citizens in our area. 

“Given the immense value of the centre, it’s deeply frustrating that because of its postal address and where the boundary was drawn, it’s not included under the State’s North Inner City Taskforce.”

A spokesperson for the Department of An Taoiseach told Northside People: "The North East Inner City Programme Implementation Board, chaired by Michael Stone, continues to oversee the implementation of the 24 actions set out in the Mulvey Report to make progress with work on the Dublin North East Inner City Initiative. 

“The Government remains committed to the Initiative to help the area and its people achieve their full potential. 

“The Department of the Taoiseach is closely involved with the work of the board and the local programme office. 

“Funding to support the regeneration of Dublin’s North Inner City will be increased by €2 million to €5.5 million in 2019. 

“This funding will provide infrastructure and supports for local community development initiatives in areas such as Childcare, Youth Services, support for the elderly and environmental improvements.”

The spokesperson said the hard work of the local community and the Initiative must be acknowledged and their example is one they can be proud of. 

“The Taoiseach has said in the Dáil the inclusion of the Sean O’Casey Community Centre can be examined, in conjunction with the advice of Mr Stone and the Implementation Board," the spokesperson added.

The North Inner City Taskforce was launched amid much fanfare in 2016 by the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny.