The life of the city is in its people and the communities they create.

The Community Department section of Dublin City Council was established in 1973 to work with communities towards improving the quality of life in their areas.

What services do we provide locally?

The Community Development Team in the Finglas area provides support, advice and assistance to enable people to take an active role in the development and improvement of their community.

• On a daily basis the Finglas Community Development Team:
• Provides support and encouragement where a new group is setting up
• Supports existing community groups in their objectives
• Assists community groups in identifying appropriate funding
• Networks with local statutory and voluntary agencies in the Finglas area
• Supports local activities organised by residents groups including clean ups, fun days, summer activities etc.

The Community Development Team also works closely with the community to organise and promote the following throughout the year:

• Fairtrade Fortnight
• International Women’s Day
• European Neighbours’ Day
• Summer Projects
• Senior Citizens’ Celebration
• Halloween Festival
• Comhairle na nÓg (Youth Council)

National Tree Week 2011

In support of National Tree Week, we arranged a successful tree planting session in Tolka Valley Park by 3rd and 4th Class students from St. Finian's National School in Finglas South on Monday 7th March. Over 60 children joined in the fun. The event got underway with the Lord Mayor Gerry Breen planting a tree. A number of other local Elected Representatives also attended this event and participated in some planting. We intend to extend this initiative to other schools in the future.

Community Growers Fund: A fund established by the Mount Street Club Trust at The Community Foundation for Ireland

Do you have a green space in Dublin lying idle? No money to do anything with it? Why not turn it into a community garden?

A new fund entitled ‘The Community Growers Fund’ established at The Community Foundation for Ireland is set to assist unemployed people by getting them involved in the development of community allotments or gardens in County Dublin.
The fund which is being created by The Mount Street Club Trust (MSCT) will provide grants to groups who have the capacity to work with the unemployed and can provide space for the development of a garden. The Community Foundation which is an experienced philanthropic and grant making organisation is assisting in this part of the fund.
 

Ballygall Celebrates Community Activity

Dublin City Council and community organisations in Ballygall held an evening of celebration in the Father Maloney Hall, Drapier Road, Finglas East. The evening brought over 25 community organisations together, to promote and celebrate the voluntary work that they do.

Over 60 people attended, representing all manner of groups from Sports to Horticulture, Breast Feeding to Environmental Groups. There was great information sharing and awareness raised of the level of local activity and the range of groups active in the area. The night provided people with the chance to reconnect with other volunteers in the neighbourhood and celebrate the huge amount of volunteers in the community.

This event is part of a neighbourhood building programme which aims to encourage more people to become active in their neighbourhood. Community organisations are very enthusiastic about the programme and more people are getting involved as it develops.