equality within the community

(1)

(2)

Strategic Theme 6:

Equality within the Community

Any society that fails to address social disadvantage is likely to see a significant reduction in its quality of life. In other words, a community that tolerates social disadvantage is a community which is not sustainable. Ultimately all will feel the effects of not having equality of opportunity, regardless of economic or social standing. There is clear local and national recognition that, notwithstanding the progress of recent years, the gaps within our city have become more obvious. We need, as a community, to focus on and radically address this issue if we are to gain our vision. We see that we can achieve success if we:

(i) Apply equal rights to opportunity across all communities. (ii) Embed the ethos of equality into all our public services.

(iii) Focus on resolving issues of social disadvantage rather than an institutional passing on of responsibility.

(iv) Ensure that the people of Cork are aware of their service entitlements and responsibility.

(v) Ensure that parity of esteem is a given for all of our citizens.

(vi) Ensure that one’s address is not a barrier to life’s opportunities and that every voice can be heard

(3)

objective 76

Action

Output

Leader

Each agency to assess current situation by end of 2002

Prepare submission by mid 2003

The induction process will be in place by end of 2005

Information will be provided on an ongoing basis through newsletters, training seminars, etc.

Awareness of equality legislation will be put into place through all public agencies

G O A L

➤

There will be no barriers to any member

of the community in terms of job opportunities

objective 77

Action

Output

Leader

Prepare submission by end of 2003

FÁS courses will be delivered with flexible hours of attendance for those who otherwise could not avail of them Information will be made available and promoted through newsletters, seminars, reports, surveys etc.

Increase the number of firms attaining a quality requirement i.e. ISO

9002/Excellence in people status Submission to be prepared by end of 2002

Submission to be prepared by mid 2002

Identify how many Travellers would be interested in participating in

apprenticeship programmes and promote the concept amongst the Travelling

City Development Board

FÁS

Chamber of Commerce and IBEC

Chamber of Commerce

FÁS

A The Board will lobby to extend the retention of secondary benefits for people on social welfare payments, in order to facilitate greater participation in the workplace

B Training courses will be designed to ensure they are accessible to all groups, to promote the participation of all sections of society in every discipline

C Employers will be encouraged to adopt flexible work practices such as tele-working, part-time work etc., to facilitate access to the workplace

D More on the job training will be included in training courses

E The Board will lobby Government to have the current system, which sees work visas for economic migrants assigned to the employer rather than the employee, reversed

F The Board will lobby government to change policy in order to give refugees and asylum seekers the entitlement to work while they are awaiting decisions on asylum

applications.

G Employers will be identified and supported, to improve Travellers’ access to

apprenticeship programmes

Action will be taken to overcome identified barriers to entering the jobs market A There will be full implementation of the

statutory approved 3% employment quota of persons with a disability in all public agencies

B The board will lobby to have the 3% employment quota of persons with a disability extended to private organisations

C Equality awareness training will be included as part of the induction process for new public sector employees (see objective 51)

D Employer and business organisations will promote the economic benefits of adopting equality friendly policies in the workplace to their members

Cork City Council,

Cork City Partnership, FÁS, VEC, DSCFA, Southern Health Board City Development Board

Cork City Council, Cork City Partnership, FÁS, VEC, DSCFA, Southern Health Board, Garda Síochána

Chamber of Commerce IBEC

(4)

objective 78

Action

Output

Leader

Information needed will be identified

A reporting structure put in place by end of 2003

City Development Board and Garda Síochána Garda Síochána

A The need for information on safety and security issues to be collected on a city-wide basis will be formally identified

B A structure will be put in place to collect and disseminate this information

Gardaí in Cork, with the co-operation of local communities and the support of Board members, will ensure that a quality police service is delivered

G O A L

➤

Public agencies will be unbiased in their dealings

with all inhabitants of the City

objective 79

Action

Output

Leader

The charter will be in place by end of 005

Officers to be nominated by end of 2002

Audit of buildings within OPW remit to be completed by end of 2003 Access template to be made available to other agencies by end of 2003 Develop a strategy to address the deficiencies highlighted in the audit by end of 2005

Submission to be prepared by end of 2003

Cork City Council, Cork City Partnership, FÁS, VEC, DSCFA, Garda Síochána, Southern Health Board

Office of Public Works

A A public service users charter will be developed in consultation with the public service users forums (see also objective 49)

B All public agencies will nominate a senior officer locally with responsibility for equality issues

C An access audit on all existing state owned buildings as well as community and voluntary facilities, which receive funding from state agencies will be conducted

D All social, cultural and leisure/recreational outlets supported by public money will be fully accessible to people with disabilities

E The Board will lobby for a greater number of television programmes to be made available to people with disabilities through subtitling and voiceovers

Public agencies will strive to ensure that social and cultural services are available in equal measures to all

G O A L

➤

There will be equality of opportunity in relation to all public services

and facilities. A citizens’ charter will set this out

(5)

objective 80

Action

Output

Leader

An annual programme of activities (e.g. training, information) will be devised and implemented to support the further development of the Forum Public agencies will identify a series of potential communities of interest by end of 2002.

Public agencies will put mechanisms in place to show how their actions have been influenced by consultation with communities by end of 2003. Capacity building, training and other supports to be provided

Establish panel in 2002

Increased use of PWS premises by community groups The policy of engaging local communities in the management of PWS-funded projects will continue

Cork City Partnership

Probation and Welfare Service

A The Cork City Community Forum will be supported by public agencies as the city-wide representative body for community and voluntary organisations

B Participation of communities in decisions that impact on their lives will be facilitated by the creation of a network of communities of interest – both place-based and issue-based.

C Particular efforts will be made to develop the capacity of the most marginalised groups, to facilitate their participation

D The Probation and Welfare Service in Cork will develop a customer service panel to ensure that service provision and development is responding to identified needs

E New service premises will be designed to promote usage by like-minded community groups outside of service requirements

F Probation and Welfare Service will engage local communities in the development of existing and new services in Cork city

The Board will encourage and promote community participation

objective 81

Action

Output

Leader

Complete implementation by December 2004

This system will be put in place by end of 2004

Cork City Council City Development Board

A The RAPID programme will be implemented in full

B A monitoring system to assess and meet needs of disadvantaged communities outside RAPID areas will be established

There will be a targeted approach to disadvantage

(6)

objective 82

Action

Output

Leader

Group established by end of 2002 City Development Board

A An equality group, with cross sectoral representation, will be established which will support agencies to build their internal capacity to equality proof strategies and programmes

The Board’s own Strategy will be equality-proofed and all public agencies will have their operational strategies similarly addressed

objective 83

Action

Output

Leader

This plan will be implemented by end of 2004

Complete research by 2003

Develop programme by 2004

Promotional measures to be identified and initiated by 2004

Make case to Dept of Environment and Local Government to recruit additional Housing Welfare Officers

A planned programme of meetings to develop an estate management project will be undertaken in 2002-3 and an appropriate training programme will be developed by early 2004

Cork City Council

Cork City Council & Cork County Council

Cork City Council and Cork County Council

Cork City Council,

TVG and Cork County Council Cork City Council

Cork City Council

A Implementation of the Cork Travellers Accommodation plan 2000-2004

B Research will be carried out regarding the numbers and pattern of Traveller movement into and out of the city and will identify the optimum number, size, location, standards and facilities for a transient halting site(s)

C In light of the research findings a programme will be established to develop transient halting sites adjacent to Cork city to accommodate the needs of Cork city and county

D The development of transient halting sites by the private sector will be promoted and facilitated

E The ratio of local authority Housing Welfare Officers to Traveller families will be improved

F Develop further estate management in halting sites

The accommodation choice of the city’s Traveller community will be addressed with the full participation of the community and in a manner that will avoid geographic

concentration

(7)

objective 84

Action

Output

Leader

Prepare submission by end of 2002 Reduce the drop-out level from secondary schools

Increased level of participation in youth activities

Cork City VEC Youth Committee

A Lobby government to introduce

administrative changes which would enable secondary schools to apply in advance for resource teachers to support Traveller children. This would ensure that resource teachers are available in September when children enter secondary school.

B Lobby Dept of Education and Science to introduce pilot scheme which allows primary resource teachers to transfer with Traveller children to secondary school for the first ten weeks

C A Youth Development Worker will be employed to increase Traveller participation in mainstream youth activities

D Lobby Dept of Agriculture to develop an incentive scheme for farmers to encourage them to rent land to Traveller horse owners

The needs of the Traveller community will be addressed with the full participation of the community

objective 85

Action

Output

Leader

NASC, UCC, Cork City Council, Southern Health Board, DSCFA, FÁS, VEC, Garda Síochána, Cork County Council

Cork City Partnership, Cork City Council, Southern Health Board, VEC, Garda Síochána and NASC

NASC

A An integrated research partnership will be developed and undertaken – work will include a community profile of immigrant groups in Cork city, a needs and services analysis for these groups and examination of existing models of best practice in other EU States.

B Establish a local representative organisation to examine and respond to the needs of asylum seekers in direct provision in Cork

C Support education initiatives in Cork for immigrant students

A needs analysis of minority communities will be undertaken based on international best practice

Complete research by end of 2002

Group will be established by end of 2002

Link people to existing schemes and create education and training openings for immigrant students

(8)

objective 86

Action

Output

Leader

Working group set up end of 2002 City Development Board

A A working group will be established to identify major barriers to participation

The gay, lesbian and bisexual communities will be enabled to fully participate in the social, cultural and economic life of Cork city

objective 87

Action

Output

Leader

Increase level of compliance with Part M Building Regulations

Cork City Council

A While the statutory duties for compliance with Part M rests with the owners, designers and constructors of buildings, the building control authority will use its best endeavours, including taking legal proceedings where necessary, to ensure compliance with the building regulations

B The CDB will lobby government to include a requirement in the building regulations that a competent person (who must declare his level of competency) must confirm that the building is designed and constructed in compliance with the building regulations. This person shall also be required to advise the Building Control Authority if he is dissatisfied with any aspect of the development in this regard.

Adequate provision shall be made to enable people with disabilities to safely and independently access and use new buildings

G O A L

➤

The city will strive to make all buildings with a civic or public function

accessible to all persons with a disability

(9)

objective 88

Action

Output

Leader

Bus Eireann and Iarnród Eireann

A All modes of public transport will be fully and safely accessible to people with disabilities, and there will be ongoing monitoring with regard to disabled access

B The current upgrading and development of the railway station and bus station will take account of the needs of people with disabilities and a full access audit on these facilities will be carried out

C The Board will lobby for extension of the mobility allowance to all people with disabilities and abolition of the means test for this payment

D The Board will lobby for policy change at national level to have taxi travel vouchers or subsidised travel made available to people with disabilities

E Disability awareness training will be an integral part of staff training for those working in the public transport system

All modes of transport will be accessible to persons with a disability

90% of city and suburban bus fleet to be fully accessible by 2005, and 100% by 2010

All new rail rolling stock to be fully accessible to wheelchair users All old rail carriages which cannot accommodate wheelchair users to be phased out by 2004

Both new stations will be accessible to people with disabilities

Training for Bus Eireann staff to take place in 2002

New training programme for Iarnród Eireann staff to start June 2002

objective 89

Action

Output

Leader

Cork City Council

Cork City Council Cork City Council

Cork City Council

A Cork City Council’s Public Realm Policy Document will be updated and its standards met in both new schemes and the upgrading of existing areas, including small scale repairs

B All footpaths at defined crossing areas will be dished

C A quality audit of footpaths, based on the needs of people with disabilities, bordering the city’s 410 km of public roads will be carried out

D A planned programme to upgrade footpaths to ensure sufficient quality for ease of movement for people with disabilities to be developed

The public realm (streets, roads, footpaths, public spaces, pedestrian crossings etc.) will meet international (best practice) standards

Document will be revised by mid 2003

50% to be completed by 2010 and 100% within central island area by 2010. Audit will be completed by end of 2002

(10)

objective 90

Action

Output

Leader

Prepare submission by mid 2004

A Lobby for the grant scheme for the refurbishment and adaptation of housing for people with disabilities to be increased

B Government will be lobbied to introduce a grant scheme for people with disabilities who wish to buy their own home

All buildings with a civic or public function will be accessible to persons with a disability

objective 91

Action

Output

Leader

All agencies to give a gender breakdown of staff plus position within organisation in annual reports

A Statistics will be compiled by the various agencies and feedback on progress sought in the context of the National Plan for Women

The National Plan for Women will be supported and implemented by the public agencies when it is finalised

G O A L

➤

Gender equality will be pursued by all public agencies and commitments

fulfilled under existing and future policy plans

objective 92

Action

Output

Leader

Eliminate delays in accessing social welfare payments for those eligible on release

Ensure immediate access to community welfare payments

Dept of Social, Community and Family Affairs and Cork Prison

Southern Health Board

A Examine the possibility of putting mechanisms in place to ensure that PPS numbers are provided prior to release and that the transfer of social welfare records is initiated on notification of prisoner transfer from UK to Cork

B Applications for community welfare services will be available at Prison to enable completion prior to release and quicker access to services on release

Ensure immediate access to the relevant social or community welfare payments on release from prison

G O A L

➤

An integrated, multi-agency approach to pre-release support will be

enhanced and a comprehensive post release support programme

developed to support the re-establishment of ex-offenders

(11)

objective 93

Action

Output

Leader

Ensure a more integrated and targeted approach to meeting the needs of prisoners

Increase access to training for offenders

Official to be nominated by end of 2002

Ensure immediate access to addiction assessment and counselling

Cork City Council, Southern Health Board, Dept of Social, Community and Family Affairs, FÁS,

FÁS, City of Cork VEC and Cork Prison, Probation and Welfare

(Linkage Programme) Cork Prison

A Service providers will develop outreach services within Cork Prison, with regular clinics where appropriate and provision of relevant and accessible information

B Explore the development of access courses on an outreach basis

C Nominate a senior prison official to co-ordinate inter-agency working and develop a more integrated approach to the

reintegration of offenders

D Develop a network of community-based addiction counselling services appropriate to the needs of individual clients and provide a range of services in response to these prevailing needs

Service providers will work closely with Cork Prison and Fort Mitchell to ensure the provision of integrated, prisoner-focused services

(12)

objective 94

Action

Output

Leader

No-one will fall off Council housing lists following committal to prison Reduce time on waiting lists

Increase accommodation opportunities for ex-offenders at risk of homelessness

Cork City Council and Cork Prison

Cork City Council

Cork City Council and Southern Health Board

A Set up procedures to ensure that Housing Dept is notified when individuals on waiting lists are committed to prison

B As part of an outreach service, applications for Council housing can be made and assessed/approved while applicants are in prison

C Develop small sheltered accommodation unit, catering for 4 people, to meet the needs of those ex-offenders who are unable to move directly into private rented accommodation

Ensure all prisoners have access to accommodation on release

objective 95

Action

Output

Leader

Cork Prison, Fort Mitchell, Probation and Welfare Service (Linkage Programme)

Cork Alliance for Justice and Social Care, Cork City Partnership, FÁS, DSCFA

FÁS

A Develop a voluntary mentoring scheme to provide one-to-one post release support. Service would be overseen by a

representative committee, involving service providers and end users

B Seek funding to develop a resource centre to support recovery and confidence through personal development and groupwork, family relationships and peer support, literacy and numeracy, issues of adjustment; and to be a resource for other projects helping offenders

C Adapt innovative special category (offender) Community Employment schemes to provide for higher ratio of staff to participants, mentoring and increased funding

Develop a person-centred post-release support programme for ex-offenders

Support offenders in re-entering everyday life, and reduce level of re-offending

To develop a one stop access to skills training and work, addiction counselling and accommodation for ex-offenders on a voluntary basis.

Increase support available to innovative special category (offender) CE schemes

(13)

objective 96

Action

Output

Leader

Make programmes for offenders available from community-based offices Regular review of provision

Additional needs-based investment in alcohol/addiction treatment provision will occur as necessary

Probation and Welfare Service

A Develop a network of offices throughout communities that experience significant levels of offending behaviour

B There will be ongoing monitoring of the adequacy of alcohol/addiction treatment provision in the city

Rehabilitation centres for first-time offenders will be established in the city

objective 97

Action

Output

Leader

Develop programme for 2004-2006 by end of 2002

On an annual basis

On an ongoing basis

Information on schemes assisting with security will be made available to all older people’s groups by end of 2003

Garda Síochána Southern Health Board

Dept of Social Community and Family Affairs

A Community Gardaí will visit older people’s groups to discuss safety and security issues

B Fall prevention training and initiatives targeting older people in the community will be co-ordinated

C Fire prevention training initiatives targeting older people in the community will be co-ordinated

D A scheme assisting older people with home security will be continued

Cork will be a city in which older people feel safe

G O A L

➤

Cork will be a city in which the full range of older people’s needs,

(14)

objective 98

Action

Output

Leader

Raise awareness of entitlements through information sessions etc. and encourage more older people to avail of their entitlements

Training needs identified end of 2003

Draft City Development Plan by end of 2002

Final City Development Plan by end of 2003

Consultation with older people will inform the design and delivery of services

Cork City Council

A Improve availability of information on entitlements to older people, and provide assistance in the completion of forms when requested

B Awareness training on the needs of older people will be given to relevant people working in public agencies

C In preparing the new City Development Plan appropriate policies and development control standards will be considered, which will promote all new developments to take account of the specific access requirements and needs of older people.

D Older people will be consulted in the design of services aimed at them

Public service providers will ensure that services are accessible by older people

objective 99

Action

Output

Leader

Audit to be completed by mid 2004 Programme developed within two years

The redesign of the City Library will incorporate this space Training to be developed within two years

Courses for older people will be delivered on an outreach basis Develop a pilot social economy project

Submission prepared by end of 2003

Cork City Partnership Southern Health Board

Cork City Council

Southern Health Board, VEC, FÁS City of Cork VEC, FÁS

Cork City Council

A There will be an audit on the needs of older people’s groups

B A pilot programme will be developed using art forms to promote the creativity and self-esteem of older people

C A room will be made available in libraries that will act as a meeting place for older people.

D Information technology training will be developed for older people

E Older people will be encouraged to participate in education and training courses

F Community buses will be made available to older people to enable them to participate in social activities

G Lobby Dept of Education and Science to include visiting older people in their homes as part of transition year curriculum

Older people will have access to a wide range of social, education and training opportunities

(15)

objective 100

Action

Output

Leader

Provide courses on an annual basis Courses to be provided before mid 2004

Training to be provided before end of 2002

Provide courses on an annual basis Submission prepared end of 2004

Improve access to aids and appliances for older people

Southern Health Board Southern Health Board

Southern Health Board City Development Board

A Smoking cessation programmes targeting older people will be provided

B Training courses on ‘Nutrition for Older People’ will be provided for health

professionals working within the community

C Nutrition training will be provided for voluntary groups preparing community meals (meals on wheels), home helps and carers

D ‘Being well’ courses will be delivered to older people’s groups in the community

E Lobby for the review of regulations concerning nursing homes and to take account of the social and psychological needs of older people

F New streamlined procedures and structures for access to aids and appliances will be implemented

Initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles among older people will be developed and implemented

objective 101

Action

Output

Leader

Policy in place by autumn 2002 Southern Health Board

A The Health Board will develop a policy on the provision of counselling services

Funding agencies will recognise the intrinsic value of counselling

G O A L

➤

The people of Cork will have access to a wide range

of fully resourced and supported counselling services

(16)

objective 102

Action

Output

Leader

End of 2007

Preparation of this strategy will commence in 2005

Draft City Development Plan by end of 2002, and final City Development Plan by end of 2003

The review will be presented by end of 2004

City Childcare Committee City Childcare Committee

Cork City Council

City Childcare Committee

A The five principal objectives of the childcare strategy will be achieved

B A new childcare strategy will be developed and put in place on completion of the current programme

C Planning regulations governing the inclusion of childcare facilities in new developments will be incorporated into the City

Development Plan and will be implemented and monitored

D An interim review of the childcare strategy will be presented to the City Development Board

The Cork City Childcare Committee’s strategic programme will be implemented

G O A L

➤

All families will have equal access to high quality, affordable childcare

objective 103

Action

Output

Leader

Review complete by June 2002 Plan in place by end of 2002

A review of needs will take place by end of 2003

Southern Health Board Cork City Council

A Home-based care will be considered in light of the review of the mental health services

B The housing department of Cork City Council will establish a referral system with relevant groups

C Awareness training around mental health issues to meet the needs of community welfare officers will be developed

The housing needs of people with mental health illnesses will be met

objective 104

Action

Output

Leader

A senior Health Promotion Officer will be appointed in 2002 with responsibility for mental health promotion. Initiatives will be delivered in schools in the context of social, personal and health education.

A Resources will be provided to facilitate the delivery of education programmes in schools

A positive image of people with mental health illnesses will be promoted

G O A L

➤

The full range of needs of people with mental health illnesses

will be met

(17)

objective 105

Action

Output

Leader

Review complete by June 2002

A review of existing models will be completed by end of 2004

Current supports being evaluated as part of review of mental health services to be completed by June 2002

Training needs identified by mid 2003

Review complete by June 2002

FÁS

A The establishment of a drop-in centre will be considered in light of the review of the mental health services

B Employment models which facilitate the needs of people with mental health illnesses will be examined to see if they can be applied locally

C The capacity of locally based mental health groups to identify and express the needs of this sector, both individually and through the development of a network will be supported, to facilitate structured consultation exercises with public agencies

D Local Employment Service staff will be designated to deal with people with mental health illnesses.

E The adequacy of community-based psychiatric supports will be reviewed

People with mental health illnesses will have access to a full range of educational, employment and social opportunities

(18)

SWANS AT THE NMRC

Swans glide on the Lee near the Electronics Centre,

their heads bowed

like young engineers, or priests, over the sacred wafer

of microchips.

One breaks the surface with its beak, one adjusts

the wayward printout

of cygnets. Science flows between fax and surplice.