About Roundwood > About the RDCC

Roundwood.ie has been developed and is maintained by the Roundwood District and Community Council.

The Roundwood District and Community Council (RDCC) is one of over 1500 local community development groups nationwide, sponsored by Muintir na Tíre.  Muintir na Tíre is a voluntary organisation that promotes community development by "[enhancing] the capacities of people in communities, rural and urban, to become involved in local social, economic, cultural and environmental development."

The principal aim of the RDCC is to involve Roundwood residents in promoting the social, educational, cultural and economic welfare of the whole community. The RDCC also represents the community in dealings with local government (i.e., the Wicklow County Council), statutory bodies and other agencies to promote the common good.

Newsletter (February 2009)  [Word]

Members

The RDCC members were originally chosen through an election system devised by Muintir na Tire. Some members represent particular areas of the Roundwood district and others are nominated representatives from active organisations. People also may be co-opted to the Council.

The Committee of RDCC for 2008 is:

Chairman:  Jody Ferguson

Assistant Chair: Graeme Mulvey

Secretary: Monica Byrne

Treasurer: Tony McKenna

PRO:  Julie O'Gorman

Area Representatives:

There are many areas and active organisations not represented on the Community Council at the moment. If you are interested in becoming a representative, please contact any member listed above, email roundwooddistrictcc@eircom.net or call Monica Byrne at 086 8055040.

Initiatives

Strategic tasks completed:

• Established a regular newsletter to keep the community informed;
• Set up the Roundwood website to provide information on the village for both visitors and residents;
• Conducted a survey to prioritise project work;
• Conducted a forum to consult with the community on establishing their views about the future development of the area; and
• Made submissions to Wicklow County Council for the County Development Plan and the Town Plan based on the forum discussions. The Roundwood Town Plan was adopted by Wicklow County Council in late 2007.

Adopted Plan [PDF]

Land Use Map [PDF]

Heritage Map [PDF]

Other projects successfully undertaken:

• Formed an Active Retirement Group. This is now a very successful organisation with activities that include monthly lunches, day trips and weekends away, Go for life activities, fun bingo and plenty more.

• Initiated a pilot project between Abergwyngregyn (Aber for short!) in Wales and Roundwood/Lough Dan. The exchange (funded by the European Union) allowed each community share their experiences, insights and suggestions with community and statutory bodies in each area. The project helped both communities develop meaningful partnerships with state agencies so they can work together, solve problems and discover future methods of funding for identified local needs/projects.

The Aber project inspired the RDCC to apply for a grant from the Heritage Council and:

• Establish a number of heritage walkways in consultation with Dublin City Council, Wicklow County Council, and Coillte (The Irish Heart Foundation selected two of the walks as Slí Na Sláinte routes);
• Erect details of the walks on an information board in the village;
• Produce information leaflets for the two Slí Na Sláinte walks;
• Organize a World Heart Day walk in association with the Irish Heart Foundation.
• Produce a CD entitled “Glimpses of Yester Year” that features interviews with older Roundwood residents interwoven with musical interludes from local musicians and vocalists.  The CD is available for sale through the RDCC web site on or from any RDCC member.

• Secured the Wicklow County Council mobile library service to the area on a fortnightly basis;

• Formed a local Foroige Youth Club;

• Actively worked to secure Broadband for the area;

• Worked with Coillte to establish the Mountain Bike Track in Ballinastoe Woods;

• Convened a public meeting to discuss Traffic Calming and Crime Prevention, and Security/Community Alert;

• Made representations to the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner regarding reduced Garda numbers and policing in general in the Roundwood area;

• Actively campaigned to Wicklow County Council to improve the infrastructure in the area including water, sewage, traffic calming, etc.;

• Met regularly with our local Wicklow County Council Councillors who are also fighting our case in the County Council from within the Council chamber;

• Made a submission made to the Joint Policing Committee on reduced Garda resources and crime in the Roundwood District;

• Made a submission to the National Roads Authority on traffic issues in Roundwood;

• Applied to the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs for funding for computer training and equipment.  The RDCC used this monry (over €3,000) to buy a laptop, printer, digital camera, software and IT consumables. This equipment is available to RDCC members and subcommittees, and also to members of the community; and

• Named as a Wicklow finalist in the 2005 Pride of Place Awards in Belfast.

Current RDCC Projects

• Actively consulting with Wicklow County Council, in association with the Board of Management and Parents Association of Roundwood NS, to improve road safety for school children and pedestrians;

• Continuing to meet regularly with our local Wicklow County Council Councillors who are also fighting our case in the County Council from within the Council chamber;

• Considering ways to support our youth by providing advice and support services as well as additional recreational facilities in the area;

• Working with our Tidy Towns Committee to improve the appearance of the village;

• Investigating the possibility of creating a car park at the Roundwood Health Centre with the Public Health Nurse and the Health Service Executive;

• Following up on the Aber/Roundwood exchange by holding meetings with interested parties from Aber in Roundwood in September 2007. Possible future exchanges will revolve around the Roundwood & District Historical Society, traditional music, gardening and cooking themes. Members of the Roundwood community are working to advance these ideas;

• Actively working to reinstate Community Alert in the area;

• Coordinating with the Wicklow Uplands Council (RDCC has a representative on the Council); and

• Working with the Wicklow Rural Partnership.

Minutes

Note: Minutes are not posted online until they have been approved by the Council at the following meeting. 

March 2009   [Word version]

Minutes of the Roundwood & District Community Council meeting of the 9th of March 2009 held in the Old School, Roundwood at 8pm

Present: Terry Kavanagh, Sarah Wray (Fine Gael local election candidate), Lenka Mulligan, Tony McKenna, Arthur Hall, Liam Doona, Monica Byrne, Claire Chambers and Jody Ferguson

Interpretative Board

Lenka circulated a copy of the draft map board. Lenka made note of suggested amendments and comments to be brought back to the graphic artist. The RDCC will apply to Wicklow Co. Council under the heritage grant scheme to hopefully acquire the match funding required of €1500.

Website

Liam Doona responded to the plea for help in the recent RDCC newsletter. Liam suggested a blog for the website. He will do a mock up for the next meeting. Monica will forward Liam's email to Cheryl Donahue (our current webmaster).

Tidy Towns

The AGM will take place soon & the date will be advertised. The group are applying for a Wicklow County Council community grant for possible projects including bulb planting with the school and re-invigorating the Village garden/hanging basket competition. Tony offered to help out with the maintenance of planted area at Sinnotts' Corner. More volunteer help would be appreciated.

Sarah Wray

Sarah introduced herself to the group. She is a Fine Gael candidate for the Bray Town and Wicklow Co Council elections in June. She agreed to research and offered assistance with the following:

• Chase up the progress of the proposed remedial works for the houses in Vartry Heights

• Will renewable energy options be incorporated into the new Council houses or the remedial works proposed?

• As the price of houses has come down nationally will the Council be reducing the price of their affordable houses?

• Election posters – How do we forego the onslaught of election posters within the 30 mile zone of the village?

• The new wheelchair parking space beside the pedestrian crossing in Roundwood has a barrier inhibiting the access & egress of a disabled person to a car. Where's the logic? Terry also to discuss with Declan Murnane, WCC Area Engineer.

AOB

Arthur Hall was recently advised that if Community Alert operates in an area you will get a 5% discount in your house insurance. It is a known fact that petty crime increases in time of recession. These are good reasons to try and revitalise community alert. The local Gardaí are happy to attend meetings if so requested.

Training & Development for the unemployed

The RDCC should come up with ideas for training and development projects for the unemployed in the area. Some suggestions were cooking, IT and a serviced office in the Parish Hall. There may be funding available through County Wicklow Partnership (formerly Leader).

Next meeting

Tuesday the 14th of April 2009 at 8pm in the Old School, Roundwood.