Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

1.0       Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to make members aware of a request from Clonard Residents Association to name a playground in Springfield Avenue in the Clonard Area Cluain Ard which is the Irish translation of Clonard.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        consider the request and, if in agreement with the proposal in principle, a consultation process will be undertaken.

3.0       Main report

3.1       The Council has received a request from the Clonard Residents Association asking that it consent to re-name the Springfield Ave Playground located in the Clonard area, to Cluain Ard Playground which is the Irish form for Clonard. A copy of the request is attached as Appendix 1.

3.2       The Association points out that the name reflects the status of Clonard as part of the Gaeltacht Quarter, and remains consistent with the history and geography of the area. The Association points out that the area has always been known as “Clonard” and has since the late 1890s been dominated with the Monastery as its focal point, having started life as a tin church within the grounds of Clonard House.

3.3       The existing Playground, which has recently been completed to include a floodlit MUGA, is a valuable community resource and offers recreational opportunities for children and young people in an area with few leisure alternatives.

3.4       The Committee is asked to consider the naming of the playground as Cluain Ard to reflect the wider area and to provide continued support to the development of the Gaeltacht Quarter.

3.5       There is currently no overarching policy context either supporting or against the proposed naming. Members will be aware that the Council has adopted a linguistic diversity/ language policy which was recently consulted upon. In general terms the policy supports the use, and promotion, of minority languages which must be balanced with, as the consultation responses made clear, the principle of shared space.

3.6       The playground is located within the Gaeltacht Quarter. The Linguistic Diversity policy contains a recommendation to revisit the current dual language street naming policy insofar as it relates to the designated Gaeltacht area. This received no adverse commentary in the consultation responses. The policy on linguistic diversity which was approved by Council in May 2017 and which was subject to consultation supports the proposition on the use of Irish in the context of it being seen primarily by users of Irish and this relates to signage, buildings and other related contexts.

3.7       The current policy relating to naming of facilities requires consultation to be undertaken.

3.8       Financial and Resource Implications

Cost for any new signage required will be covered from existing budgets.

3.9       Equality and good relations implications

The draft Linguistic Diversity Policy which went out for consultation was screened for equality and good relations impacts.

Appropriate consideration in the context of equality will be given to the consultation response in relation to this particular proposal.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.