An Anti-Racism and Diversity Plan for the County of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown 2007-2010

Action: IN 1

Plain English proofing of at least one key public document per member organisation of Social Inclusion Measures (SIM) Committee.

Lead organisation: DLRCC - SIU

Support organisation: Dun Laoghaire VEC (Adult Learning Centre), County Dublin VEC

Deadline: October 2008

Progress:  ACTION UNDERWAY. A selection of public forms in DLRCC have been plain English proofed and are now in use by the local authority. Several other local organisations have nominated forms they would like to 'proof' for Plain English, and it is hoped to undertake this exercise over the summer months.

Action: IN 2

Develop and disseminate a database of interpreters/contact details for use by local organisations and service providers.

Lead organisation: CIS

Deadline: February 2008

Action: IN 3

Develop and regulary update a webiste that includes the full ARD Plan, as well as supplementary information on local groups with an inter-cultural/diversity remit.

Lead organisation: DLRCC - C & E

Support organisation: ARD Steering Committee Member Organisations

Deadline: October 2007

Progress:  ACTION COMPLETE. This website has been developed and on-line since August 2007, and is updated on a regular basis with information both for members of new communities in the County, as well as resources for service providers working with these groups.

Action: IN 4

Develop links with primary and secondary school resource teachers and collaborate with them to disseminate key information on service provision/learning opportunities/etc. for parents of ethnic minority children.

Lead organisation: CIS

Support organisation: Those who have relevant information/contacts/ structures: HSE, Dun Laoghaire VEC, County Dublin VEC, DLRCC, and Department of Education & Science Regional Office

Deadline: Ongoing

Action: IN 5

Establish a dedicated information and advocacy service to ethnic minorities in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown. This action will build on the experience and learning gained from the Advocacy Worker for Travellers as part of the Interagency Plan to Support the Travelling Community.

Lead organisation: STAG

Support organisation: CIS, DRP, SSP, LES

Deadline: December 2008

Progress:  ACTION UNDERWAY. STAG has recently appointed a part-time Accommodation and Advocacy Worker, Tara Burke, and Tara will have an involvement in the ARD Co-ordination Committee.

Action: HE 1

Implement the HSE Intercultural Strategy at local level.

Lead organisation: HSE

Deadline: Ongoing

Action: HE 2

Run an awareness session focused on the healthcare structure in Ireland.

Lead organisation: Health County Forum

Deadline: May 2009

Action: EM 1

Work with local employers to promote a whole organisation approach to anti-racism by continuing the work of Intercultural sub-group of SIM.

Lead organisation: DLRCC - C & E

Support organisation: FAS, DLRCC, County Dublin VEC, Dun Laoghaire VEC, Southside LES

Deadline: August 2009

Action: EM 2

Dissemination of information in relation to the National Qualifications framework.

Lead organisation: Dun Laoghaire VEC/County Dublin - Adult Guidance Service

Support organisation: CIS, FAS, Southside LES, DLR County Enterprise Board, DSFA

Deadline: March 2008

Action: EM 3

Dissemination of materials on employment rights and ensuring such information is stocked in all key public areas.

Lead organisation: CIS

Support organisation: Southside LES, DLR County Enterprise Board, DSFA

Deadline: Ongoing

Action: ED 1

Organise and provide an awareness-raising programme for Transition Year students in the County which focuses on anti-racism and diversity. Review learning from Action K (Interagency Traveller Plan) and adapt programme, where necessary.

Lead organisation: An Garda Síochána - Community Policing Support organisation: DRP, SSP

Deadline: Ongoing

Action: ED 2

Use appropriately based ESOL classroom materials relevant to learner's context. Build capacity of teachers to work in an intercultural context through training and other supports.

Lead organisation: Dun Laoghaire VEC / County Dublin VEC Support organisation:

CIS Deadline: August 2008

Action: ED 3

Ensure that the intercultural context of learners is adequately reflected within relevant community education plans. Support Intercultural Education within Community Education as appropriate.

Lead organisation: Dun Laoghaire VEC / County Dublin VEC

Support organisation: Community groups, Home School Liaison Cluster, Southside Partnership

Deadline: Ongoing

Action: ED 4

Development of "embedded learning" night- training classes, e.g.: English for Construction, English for the Hopsitality Sector, English for Medical Staff.

Lead organisation: FÁS

Support organisation: Dun Laoghaire VEC, County Dublin VEC, HSE, Failte Ireland

Deadline: August 2008

Action: ED 5

Convene Steering Group to examine and develop responses to local ESOL as appropriate

Lead organisation: Dun Laoghaire VEC, County Dublin VEC 

Support organisation: Dun Laoghaire VEC, Department of Education & Science Regional Office

Deadline: February 2008

Action: CB 1

All front-line staff in DLRCC to be offered training in cultural communications and awareness, with staff in Housing Department given prioirty in view of their frequent interaction with newcomers.

Lead organisation: DLRCC HR (Training)

Deadline: Ongoing, with completion target date of December 2008

Action: CB 2

Organisations involved in carrying out the ARD actions to use the Unite Network of Service Providers as a mechanism for networking, sharing information, co-ordinating responses for the needs of ethnic minority persons, and serve as a referral network for members of new communities to existing services.

Lead organisation: Unite Network

Support organisation: All lead and support organisations, as appropriate

Deadline: Ongoing

Action: CB 3

Develop and provide training programmes which would use creative methods to encourage community leaders and organisations to be more inclusive of ethnic minority persons in their work.

Lead organisation: SSP - Southside Community Training Network Support organisation: DLRCC - CCDA, Unite Network, Resource Centres

Deadline: November 2007 (pilot complete), Ongoing following review of pilot

Progress: Southside Community Training Network provided a course in February 2008 focused on 'Working Within and Across Cultures'. Targeted primarily at communities, the courses aimed to help and support people to build intercultural relationships. A second course focused on 'Diversity in the Workplace' is taking place April 17th.  

Action: AJ 1

Finalise "Get Wise" Training Manual and deliver the programme to relevant groups in the County with the goal of exporting the learning to other An Garda Siochana jurisdictions.

Lead organisation: An Garda Síochána - Community Policing

Support organisation: HSE, DLRCC, SSP SAVE Deadline: Manual planned to be published December 2007, programme ongoing after (target of 3 per annum)

Action: AJ 2

Undertake a minumum of one recruitment event per year in the County.

Lead organisation: An Garda Síochána Support organisation: Cultural Diversity Committee, Unite Network DRP

Deadline: one per annum

Action: AJ 3

Develop an anti-racism / interculturalism module for An Garda Siochana input into the Council's pre-tenancy training programme.

Lead organisation: An Garda Síochána

Support organisation: DLRCC- Housing & CCDA Departments

Deadline: Ongoing

Action: AJ 4

Develop inter-agency inputs into An Síochána's continuous professional development.

Lead organisation: An Garda Síochána

Deadline: Ongoing

Action: AC 1

Develop "Frequently Asked Questions / Explanatory Leaflet" for the RAS and Affordable Housing Schemes using Plain English. This project will be undertaken on a pilot basis, and may be replicated once the new Scheme of Letting Priorities is agreed nationally and at Council level.

Lead organisation: DLRCC - Housing Department

Support organisation: Dun Laoghaire VEC - Adult Learning Centre, County Dublin VEC

Deadline: October 2008

Action: AC 2

Organise a one-day Housing Information Day on Local Authority housing options and private rented options, as part of the Social Inclusion Week 2008 Programme.

Lead organisation: DLRCC - Housing Department

Support organisation: DLRCC- SIU Potential exhibitors include: Threshold, PRTB, Estate Agents, Mortgage Providers

Deadline: June 2008

Action: AC 3

Develop a training module within an existing Estate Management Fora around encouraging anti-racist and inclusive pratices. A pilot will be undertaken in an area in which there are ongoing and / or increasing numbers of complaints of racism, as recorded in the Anti-Social Unit's database.

Lead organisation: DLRCC- CCDA (Estate Management Team)

Support organisation: DLR - Housing (Anti-Social Unit), DLRCC-SIU

Deadline: June 2008

Action: AC 4

Relevant literature regarding legislation around private rented sector to be available in public spaces in the County.

Lead organisation: ARD Co-ordination Committee

Support organisation: Organisations who have developed literature: Threshold, PRTB, Crosscare

Deadline: Ongoing

Action: ME 1

Establish a cultural representative media group focused on highlighting positive local initiatives with a diversity element, developing a "media-friendly" information pack. Group to undergo training to build capacity when engaging with the media.

Lead organisation: Unite Network

Support organisation: Cultural Diversity Committee, DRP, IADT, STAG, SSP - Southside Community Training Network, SSP

Deadline: Estblished by December 2007, ongoing after.

Action: RCD 1

Actively encourage local funding bodies, which have not already done so, to include a diversity element to their funding applications.

Lead organisation: DLRCC - C&E

Deadline: March 2008

Action: RCD 2

Actively recruit ethnic minorities to participate in volunteering activities in the County through the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Volunteer Centre.

Lead organisation: Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown Volunteer Centre

Support organisation: CIS, DLR Community & Voluntary Forum, SSP

Deadline: Ongoing

Progress:  ACTION UNDERWAY. The Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Volunteer Centre has recently launched its website (www.volunteerdlr.ie) in an effort to encourage local residents to register their details with the Centre, and to facilitate businesses or organisations who require volunteers to advertise volunteer opportunities. Further information on the Centre is available from Karen Johnson, Development Manager, on (01) 209 0630 or by email: karen@volunteerdlr.ie

Action: RCD 3

To develop through the Community and Voluntary Forum Networks an information pack / booklet, to assist all persons in the County, and particularly ethnic minorties, to access community and voluntary groups in the County.

Lead organisation: DLR Community & Voluntary Forum

Deadline: June 2008

Action: RCD 4

Carry out the research and publish the report, which will be distributed nationally and used as a best practice model.

Lead organisation: DRP

Support organisation: SSP

Deadline: January 2008

Progress: ACTION COMPLETE. The research has been carried out and report published and disseminated locally and nationally in May 2008. The full report is available to download in the Resources section of this website.

Action: RCD 5

Pilot drop-in programmes in local resource centres and other community facilities for new communities that will include information and advice on relevant issues, cultural education on Ireland, interpreters, language exchanges, English classes, and somewhere to socialise.

Lead organisation: SSP

Support organisation: CIS, Southside LES, DLRCC - Libraries, DLRCC - CCDA, Parish Centres

Deadline: June 2008 (pilot complete)

Progress:  ACTION UNDERWAY. A pilot drop-in programme has been initiated by the Dundrum Citizens Information Centre (CIC) in the Rosemount Resource Centre. The first session was held in May, and will continue on every second Tuesday of the month in the Resource Centre, between 10am - 12 noon.