Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

This is a very important issue for the community of Hartstown in the Dublin West constituency, which has a population of more than 7,000. There is a crisis facing Hartstown community centre, which requires emergency works to be done in terms of fire exits, windows and a number of other issues. It was deemed necessary in an audit by the St. Laurence O'Toole trust, the church which owns the land.

This centre is extremely important to the community. It has a range of clubs, including sports and youth clubs and services for elderly people. Religious groups and many ethnic minorities use the centre who do not have other places to worship. Also, two childcare facilities use this community centre every day and 120 children and their families will be very put out if it closes, many of whom are on low pay. Those families rely on the centre.

The issue straddles a number of Departments, not just that of the Minister of State. The community is willing to fundraise but the State has to step in and assist also. This is a community provision so the Departments of Community and Rural Development, Children and Youth Affairs and Transport, Tourism and Sport, and obviously Fingal County Council, are involved. People are busily fundraising but they need State help as well.

I am appealing to the church which owns the land and the building to provide the management committee with a legal agreement and a lease giving them security. The community is willing to raise funds but it has to have security of tenure in that building in the future and in order to access State funds.

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