Fingal Council backs Men’s Shed Movement

Fingal County Council has expressed its support of the Men’s Shed Movement, stating that it is already working with a number of groups across the region.

A Men’s Shed is a, friendly meeting place where men come together and undertake a variety of mutually agreed activities. Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) had asked the council to work with the Irish Men’s Shed Association in order to get one up and running in the Swords area.

He queried whether a ‘shed’ could be included in any new developments that would be undertaken in the Fingal capital in the future with the aim of ‘ensuring that all have the opportunity to improve and maintain their health and wellbeing by participating in a community Men’s Shed’.

In response, he was informed that a Men’s Shed was already meeting in the Riasc Centre in Kinsealy. which also includes a small workshop.

‘This group is being supported by Community Development staff who are providing them with advice and training in an attempt to ensure their long term sustainability,’ he was told. ‘The training provided is to build the capacity of the group to allow them develop to an extent where they possibly could manage or part manage a facility. ‘

‘Financial support was recently provided to them to purchase equipment,’ the response added.

In response to the query about providing a unit in a new development, the council stated: ‘Community gain is dealt with as part of the planning process but it should be borne in mind that not all groups either want or understand the responsibilities that come with having a premises.

‘It has been the practise of the Community Development Section to build capacity in groups over a period and then try to have multi use of a facility rather than single occupancy.’

Thanks to the Fingal Independent for this article. You can view the original here.