Implementation & Updates 

Report 

Actions 

Community Development and Inclusion  

The Community Development Team continues to strengthen inclusion and participation across Fingal by putting our values into action—promoting community well-being, advancing equality, fostering social cohesion, and empowering residents.  

 In 2025, this was demonstrated through major engagement, funding, and integration initiatives, alongside significant use and investment in community centres. All of this reflects our core commitment to supporting connected, resilient, and empowered communities:  

2.9 million visitors to our community centres. 

38 centres supported.

350 Board of Management meetings held.

4 new community centres were delivered representing a €23 million investment. 

 153 groups were funded through our Community Activities funding of €340k.

 41 Summer projects were funded.

 26 Safer Halloween Events.

 12 Festival in a Van events. 

 80 Fingal Inclusion events.

 3 Africa Day events. 

19 Keen to be Green Climate action events. 

 In 2026, the focus remains on upgrading facilities, expanding digital and climate action initiatives, delivering a full programme of community, inclusion, and capacity building supports to empower diverse communities countywide.

Future SPC Updates will be provided under the LECP agenda item.

Strengthen communities through participation, connectivity, inclusion and building capacity of community leaders  

The Corduff Place Standards Tool and the Our Fabric project in Churchfields both demonstrate how community led processes can strengthen participation, inclusion, and local leadership. The Place Standards Tool supports residents in shaping their environment through structured dialogue and shared priorities, fostering stronger connectivity and community voice. Similarly, the Our Fabric project cultivates local engagement in a developing neighbourhood, building the capacity of emerging community leaders and creating a foundation for long-term inclusion and resilience. 

 The Corduff Place Standard Research Plan launched 10^th March 2026. 

 Our Fabric, Churchfields Neighbourhood Network, mid pilot interim report has been issued with strong community engagement and outputs. 

The success of the Corduff Place Standards Tool was noted and it was agreed to examine providing similar in other locations in the County.

Gender Equality   Inclusion  

Each year the Community Development Office deliver and fund International Women’s Day (IWD) events, creating spaces that celebrate women, promote equality, and strengthen women’s participation in community life. 

 In 2026, a bursary of €18,000 has been provided across 63 groups for IWD. 

Supporting Men’s Sheds also plays an important role in promoting gender equality and well-being in communities. Men’s Sheds provide a complementary space that supports men’s mental health, social connection, and skill building and is supported through funding, engagement structures, and community development assistance. 

Presentation to be provided to SPC on “She Leads” Project

Creative Ireland Programme 

In 2025, Creative Fingal delivered 81 creative projects across Fingal. A total of €276,000 funded 294 creatives from core Creative Ireland funding. 

 A total attendance of 40,000 was recorded for Creative Ireland events in 2025. 

Funding of €87,000 for Cruinniú enabled a full day of Creativity for children and young people. Cruinniú will take place on the 6 June in 2026 and a youth music festival & spoken word event is planned for Swords Castle. 

There will also be a full library programme and a programme in Draoicht and the Seamus Ennis centre.  

Festival in a Van took music and performance into many underserved communities and the joint project with the community section will be repeated in July 2026. 

Creative Fingal will continue to support artists and programmes to develop capacity, audiences and content for Culture House including residency programmes. 

Funding has been applied for 2 projects under Creative Health and well-being and for 0ne Creative Communities on a Shared Island project.  

Promotion of Irish Language 

Compliance with, and education regarding, the requirements of Irish Language legislation is continuing with regard to Signage, Advertising, Correspondence etc including reporting on our compliance with the bilingual Advertising requirements.   

We continue to promote the language within the Council and the County with all Press releases available in Irish and the language prominent on social media and in internal communications.   

Under the Fingal County Council Gaeltacht Scholarship Scheme 2026, 15 partial scholarships of €500 each were awarded to 2^nd level students attending courses in the Gaeltacht. 

Staff Irish language training continues in 2026 with the Certificate in Professional Irish and evening Gaelchultur courses.   

An Irish language episode of Inside Fingal podcast recorded during Heritage week 2025 has become a quarterly broadcast.  

Many events took place during Seachtain na Gaeilge including a bilingual walk in Ardgillan and a County Hall Celebration on 11^th March and Logainmneacha and Seanfhocail were promoted on social media and internally.     

Lanyards with Labhair Gaeilge Liom have been introduced to identify staff who are happy to use Irish.  

Fingal Staff continue to take part in the  An Comhairle Craiceáilte programme as part of Gaeilge 365 and were part of the Fís event in the Convention Centre during Seachtain na Gaeilge 

Our Libraries are active promoting Irish language initiatives  

An Leabharlann Fhailteach pilot, Donabate library.  

The “Welcome Library programme is part of the Gaeilge 365 initiative which aims to make the Irish language more accessible on an everyday basis.  

“An Leabharlann Fhailteach” aims to make libraries hubs for the Irish language by encouraging Irish speaking librarians to use the language in their day to day interactions with families. There is also an increased emphasis on events as Gaeilge and Irish/bi-lingual stock. Donabate library held 5 Irish language events in Q1 2026. 

An annual Irish language festival “Bronntanas” took place in September of 2025 with events across the four local authorities in Dublin. Fingal had 12 events. This is planned for 2026 also. 

Seachtain na Gaeilge will run across library branches from 1-17^th March. 7 events will be held including a schools event in Draoicht that will be open to 250 local school children. 

Sports Strategy 

Under the ‘Improving Opportunities and Choices For Everyone’ strand, schools in 7 Electoral areas with emphasis on DEIS schools have been given access to subsidised swimming for 6 weeks.  

The Area-Based programmes are a continued success with numbers exceeding 600 participants across 7 locations per week aligning with the ‘Making Physical Activity a Priority’ strand of the Sports Strategy.   

4 projects are now complete as part of the Governments Sports Capital Grants alongside financial contributions from FCC: 

·       Rush Athletic – New artificial training pitch 

·       Rivervalley Rangers – Replace all weather pitch surface 

·       Hartstown Sports & Leisure – Upgrade of All Weather Pitch 

·       Lucan BMX – safety gate replacement  

All completed Sports Capital Grants projects with part funding from FCC enter into a Memorandum of Agreement for shared use of those new facilities. As part of our strategy will “Enhance our access to quality Sport and Physical Activity facilities”  

A new social media strategy across the sports channels coupled with a new payment system for programmes has seen a marked increase in attendance and commitment to programmes. It has also increased our online visibility due to our growing number of followers and engaging content published on our channels. 

Public Participation and Resident Engagement  

Total number of organisations included in the County Register (maintained in accordance with section 128 of the Local Government Act 2001) for the local authority area as at 31/12/2025.  930   

Total number of those organisations that registered for the first time in 2025.  68  

Number of organisations that opted to join the Social Inclusion Electoral College on whatever date they registered for the PPN. 147   

Our work strengthens participation and resident engagement by providing structured supports that help communities organise, connect, and influence local decision?making.  

In 2025, this included 10,424 engagements with community participants and 164 residents and tenants’ associations registered on our database, demonstrating strong, ongoing collaboration with local groups.  

The 2026 plan builds on this through targeted capacity?building, tenant inductions, Residents’ Association Networks, and initiatives such as the Place Standards Tool and local development groups, all designed to empower residents, enhance their participation, and strengthen their role in shaping their communities. 

Updates to be provided going forward under the LECP Agenda item.

Focus on capabilities rather than disabilities. 

The Community Development and Inclusion Dept designs our community development work around people’s strengths, interests, and contributions rather than their limitations.   

Our programmes—such as Inclusion Week, Age Friendly initiatives, and community capacity training—create opportunities for everyone to participate meaningfully and on their own terms, celebrating abilities and encouraging leadership across all groups.  

 This approach is reflected in the wide range of accessible, inclusive events and supports delivered in 2025, including 80+ inclusion events and extensive engagement with diverse community participants. 

Access Strategy Presentation to be provided at the June 2026 SPC meeting

Active Citizenship 

We continue to provide supports for groups engaging with democratic structures like the PPN and Comhairle na nÓg, all of which empower individuals to become active contributors to community life and local decision?making. 

In 2025, the annual meeting of Comhairle had attendance from 27 secondary schools in Fingal.  

In 2026 Foroige has received a new two-year contract for the coordination of Fingal Comhairle na nÓg with oversight by the Community Development & Inclusion Dept. 

To be covered under the LECP update agenda item at future SPC meetings 

Community Not For Profit Early Childhood Education & Childcare  

·       National policy on childcare in planning is set by the Childcare Facilities Guidelines (2001), which cover land?use only, not operating models. 

·       The Fingal County Development Plan 2023–2029 supports childcare provision in line with these Guidelines. 

·       Fingal County Council does not operate or establish childcare services; its role is limited to planning facilitation. 

·       The Council collaborates with sector partners through the County Childcare Committee, CYPSC, and LCDC. Childcare is on the 2026 Community SPC Work Programme. 

·       Support is provided to volunteer community centre boards, where childcare is delivered to -800 children. Quality of service depends on delivery standards, not provider type. 

·       The national childcare sector is under review by the Minister for Children. 

·       Once national direction is clarified, the position in Fingal will be reviewed through the Community SPC. ? 

 Invite Fingal County Childcare Committee to the September SPC meeting

Fingal Age Friendly Strategy 

Our work within the Age Friendly programme strengthens active citizenship, inclusion, and community participation by ensuring that older people are meaningfully involved in shaping local services and community life. 

In 2025 Positive Ageing Week was supported by 23 activity events.  

There were 700 attendees at the Vintage Picnic.  

The Korale project (addressing loneliness in older people) held a conference last October with 150 people attending from across the county, with consortium partners attending from 5 European countries.  

9 Older Peoples Council meetings and 4 Age Friendly Alliance meetings took place.   

In January 2026 the new 5-year Fingal Age Friendly Strategy was launched with an action plan.  

Work is continuing in the development of the Pavillion Shopping Centre as the first major Age Friendly retail centre.  

An information expo for older people will take place in Castleknock on 31^st March with a second expo planned for the North County in Sept.