Dublin City Council to define ‘social inclusion’ amid rising community division
Dublin City Council are endeavouring to define what actually constitutes ‘social inclusion’ during a time when representatives say division, distress, and racism in Ireland have never been more prevalent.
At Thursday’s meeting of the Housing and Social Inclusion SPC, councillors met to discuss what aspects of social inclusion they need to prioritise into the future. Based on topics like senior citizen support, Traveller accommodation, and reducing homelessness, they wish to define a clear set of criteria for social inclusion in housing and beyond.
With issues related to social inclusion only added to SPC’s agenda last year, it was felt that more clarity was needed in terms of how they could address this topic. As discussions around housing demand already took up the majority of the group’s time, many felt this dimension of the SPC’s purpose was being left behind.
Oisin O’Reilly from the Outhouse LGBTQ Centre said he’s been disappointed by the narrow lens framing placed on social inclusion within the SPC. He said the fact that it's taken a full year for the committee to even address this topic “sits very uncomfortable against the backdrop of society we’re currently living in.”
“ Dublin is under real pressure and social cohesion has frayed. Three weeks ago we saw massive civil disobedience at Citywest and waves of hate and extremism are moving through our communities every day,” he said.
He added the fact that social inclusion has been lumped together with housing means it’s rarely discussed by “an already stretched committee.” Mr O’Reilly stated their narrow scope creates blind spots that means migrants, LGBTQ people, lone parents, those in poverty, sufferers of domestic violence, and so many more are left behind.
“When whole communities feel unseen and unheard, we leave space for division and hate to grow. We need a broad approach that coordinates with other SPCs and is a response to the social reality we are living in that doesn’t sit through one prism alone.”
Sinn Fein Councillor Daithi Doolan said that funding initiatives that promote diversity and understanding within communities should be a vital part of their social inclusion efforts. He claimed that tackling the increased prevalence of “dangerous far-right” attitudes within the city should be prioritised.
“In my own area of Ballyfermot-Drimnagh some discretionary funding was used to promote festivals that in turn support anti-racism, social inclusion, and diversity, we need to use our funding as a tool for good,” he said. “We also need to promote facts and evidence based info in tackling the fake news around housing that causes huge distress and division."
People Before Profit Cllr Hazel De Nortuin stressed the importance of including sufferings of domestic violence in their understanding of social inclusion. “There are vulnerable women without our housing stock” she said, highlighting the urgent need to ensure everyone’s safety within communities.
Cllr Doolan stressed the importance of properly communicating housing changes, allocations, and transfers to residents and ensuring they are kept informed by local government rather than drawn into divisive attitudes. “We need safe spaces for people to meet and connect to break down the barriers being falsely grown by dangerous actors,” he said.
Issues of social inclusion go far beyond the topic of housing, according to Green Party Cllr Donna Cooney, who said it’s important that their group provide an opportunity for disenfranchised people to speak for themselves. She suggested the development of a focus or working group that would ensure “we’re being inclusive about who we are listening to and not making assumptions.”
Chairperson Cllr Deirdre Heney agreed that more engagement was needed from the community and that a workshop involving concerned parties could be arranged for the new year. “I look forward to us all having that conversation at a workshop,” she said.
As a person from a minority background, Green Party Cllr Hazel Chu said it's clear “there has been an increase in racism” in Irish society and that part of the group’s efforts should be being proactive in addressing its prevalence before violence breaks out.
“When the riot happened all our managers and staff bounded together trying to fix the problem, but it shouldn’t come to that,” she said. “We haven’t been talking about these issues enough, we need to be more reactive even before the workshop. This is an issue that’s causing real harm.”
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