Community Representatives

Community Representatives are an integral component of the partnership process to successfully respond to the drug issue from a community perspective. At present there are places for nine community representatives on the DLR LDTF. Of those nine places, five are currently occupied. These nine places also include a Family Representative who is due to be nominated onto the DLR LDTF in July representing the East Coast Family Support Network. The DLR LDTF is currently implementing a plan to nominate additional community representatives onto the Task Force.

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About the role of community representatives

There are two key elements in the role of the community representative. Firstly, bringing the benefit of his or her own local knowledge and experience of the drugs issue to the Task Force and secondly, acting as a representative on behalf of the local community at the Task Force.

People who are selected as community representatives should be active within their communities, have some experience of local drugs issues and have a commitment to dealing with the problem.

The extent of that experience will vary from area to area, as different communities are at different stages of development in responding to the drugs issue. However as the work of the Task Force continues, it is likely that the experience of newer members will increase, especially through their involvement with various projects and initiatives.

The community representatives are not members of the Task Force as individuals, nor are they there to represent the interests of any particular organisation. Rather, they are nominated as persons who can represent the interests of the wider community. Their role therefore is to bring the view of these sectors to the Task Force and keep their sectors informed on the Task Force’s work.

There are three key processes involved in carrying out that role:

  • Providing information to the local community sector
  • Organising and facilitating discussion and debate in the local community.
  • Providing feedback to the Task Force.

The existence of well-developed community structure facilitates the effective performance of this role. However, community representatives are, in some instances, acting for communities where no such structures exist. In representing the views of the local community, representatives will often have to deal with strongly divergent views.

In order to represent the views of the local community sector, representatives need to be able to feed information back to Task force meetings in an effective way. This involves their active participation not only in full Task Force meeting but also on any sub committees or working groups of the Task force. Community Representatives should also be part of any delegations to meet the drug strategy team and other relevant bodies.

Supports needed for the role:

  • Structures in the community
  • Shared Responsibility with other community people
  • Shared responsibility with other Task Force members
  • Administration and office facilities
  • Technical assistance and training
  • Expenses

Current representatives

Below are the names of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown geographic areas and their community representatives:

Geographic Area Community Representative
Farrenboley, Columbanus, Mulvey, Rosemount Vacant
Nutgrove, Loretto, Mountainview, Tarahill, St. Patrick’s, Hillview Vacant
Sandyford, Kilcross, Moreen Vacant
Ballyogan, Carrickmines Colette Farrington
Blackrock, Dun Laoghaire, Mounttown, Sallynoggin, Glasthule Lorraine Doyle
Ballybrack, Loughlinstown Theresa Waters
Shankill, Cois Cairn Jenny Storey
Family Representative from the East

Coast Family Support Network

 Alison Kelly
Traveller representative Geraldine Dunne

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