Tyrrelstown Youth Services

Councillor David McGuinness attended a briefing session tonight regarding the provision of youth services for children in the Tyrrelstown region. A combination of County Dublin Vocational Education Committee (VEC), Blanchardstown Youth Services, and Fingal County County including Cllr David McGuinness were shown a display of what is offered in the region and we were also offered an opportunity to ask questions that have been raised within the community.

The bulk of the presentation outlined the following services that are being offered for Tyrrelstown youth:

• Youth Information Centre
• WEB GYDP Project and Family Support Project
• Early School Leavers Programme
• Peer Drug Prevention Programme
• Mulhuddart Community Youth Project
• Corduff Community Youth Project
• Computer Clubhouse
• Youth Health Cafe
• BBBS (Big Brother Big Sister)
• Young Men’s Teenage Health Initiative Programme

It is important to note that plenty of work still remains to ensure Tyrrelstown receives the best possible services that are available. In response to some questions by David relating to the need for permanent community facilities and the issue of a sole youth worker for the Tyrrelstown area, David was told that a lease secured on one of the commercial units in the village area would be ideal. Currently, a unit is being used for Youth Services. However, no permanent lease exists so it is currently operated under the passive agreement of Twinlight (Tyrrelstown Developer). Cllr McGuinness believes that securing a more permanent lease agreement on this unit would facilitate the development of a youth cafe for Tyrrelstown and help promote volunteerism and increased youth participation in Tyrrelstown.

Also, with regard to the provision of a single youth worker for Tyrrelstown similar to Julie’s former role, it is clear from listening to the relevant bodies that favour is shown to catering for a wider range of activities and projects. The sole Tyrrelstown youth-worker position was scheduled to change to facilitate a wider use of services on offer. The initial use of a youth worker in Tyrrelstown was to expose the community to the initiatives that were available to them and to entice volunteers into helping out in their communities. This was practically rolled out by door knocking and meeting with residents and youth in Tyrrelstown.

County Dublin VEC fund Blanchardstown Youth Services to the tune of 1,350,914.50 million euro per annum. However, it has been suggested to David that our grant system has not caught up with current realities. We have an issue with funding for services in private housing estates. Private housing estates are being catered for through prudent use of resources. However, David believes it is timely to tackle this issue head on and bring many of the issues we face in our communities to fruition as soon as possible.

David will be addressing these issues through Fingal County County, County Dublin VEC and directly with interest groups in the Tyrrelstown area.

Visit Blanchardstown Youth Services

Visit Tyrrelstown Residents Association

Visit County Dublin VEC