Desperately needed Services are Hindered by Physical Space
•Families and children who are in desperate need of the services provided by Deansrath Family Centre are clogging up stagnant waiting lists due to a lack of physical space.
•Services provided are fragmented, occurring in various different buildings, thus ensuring that managing these services adequately is next to impossible.
•Children who are receiving a specialised pre-school curriculum in a small group are frequently left with nowhere to go as there simply are no rooms available.
•The seriously cramped conditions present real difficulties for staff and the quality of efficacy-based programmes is seriously compromised due to lack of physical space.
•The entire family support team carries out all admin and planning work in a portacabin that fits two desks; there are often 8 people attempting to write various reports and make challenging, fragile and confidential phone calls.
•The entire Family Support Service inclusive of the Up to 2 Service & 8x Parenting Programmes per week have no secure base to deliver from.

Significant and pernicious levels of deprivaton
Families with major issues that need addressing
About our area
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Associated Crime and Drugs Misuse above the norm; Referrals to the juvenile justice system five times higher than regional norm.
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Non-working adults and teens and single parents: male unemployment at 52%; lone parents at 53% (three times greater than the national norm of 21.6%).
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Housing policy and shifting demographics
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More than half of households live on benefits, or have a disability or a long-term health condition.
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§expectancy is 74.9 years, four years less than the national average life expectancy of 78.3 years.
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Persistence of social class inequalities in education within the area.
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32% of children do not transfer to secondary school; 30% of children are absent for 30 days or more annually; some 31% of 6th class primary school and first year secondary school students experience serious literacy difficulties.
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Number of child welfare and protection cases in the area above the national norm.
•Deansrath Family Centre is an innovative and holistic Family support/Welfare Service and a ‘one-stop-shop’ for child and family support.
•We are committed to the delivery of evidence-based programmes supported by evidence informed practice.
•We are committed to Family Support/ Welfare Service in the Area, the Commitment to delivery of key integrated Services (Tusla Service Agreement), all through a Centre of Excellence Model, using evidence based outcome driven programmes, in the main Incredible Years, You Make the Difference (Hanen) Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time ( University of Pennsylvania).
•Many trends impact on the quality of life of children and families living in the greater Clondalkin area including:
•socio economic deprivation
•Lack of education/negative educational experiences
•Ongoing and continual increase in population
•Addiction issues
•Domestic violence

What we do
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A recognised Incredible Years Centre of Excellence for the provision of early year’s and family services for children and their carers
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An open door policy delivering a range of family and child focused programmes within a transparent and inclusive ethos.
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Up to 400 new referrals a year, 85% of which are referred by professionals.
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Over 100 families receive a wraparound service annually with approximately 95 children receiving direct in- service time.
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A core principle of progressive universalism underpinning complimentary service provision.
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A range of services including
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child therapeutic interventions;
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family support
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provision for children with special educational needs;
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day care and preschool as a welfare response;
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parenting programmes with scaffolding supports;
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voluntary work;
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participation in Research;
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maintenance of children in the school system etc.
“As the Centre has outgrown its original footprint the overriding impression was that of a demand for space and staff stressed from working in a physically restricted environment. Consideration should be given to moving to a bigger location if available” – (Ashby Food Safety H& S Audit 2010) Please note that in the intervening period the Centre has expanded its service provision due to demand therefore the situation has exacerbated.
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Associated Crime and Drugs Misuse above the norm; Referrals to the juvenile justice system five times higher than regional norm.
-
Non-working adults and teens and single parents: male unemployment at 52%; lone parents at 53% (three times greater than the national norm of 21.6%).
-
Housing policy and shifting demographics
-
More than half of households live on benefits, or have a disability or a long-term health condition.
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Life expectancy is 74.9 years, four years less than the national average life expectancy of 78.3 years.
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Persistence of social class inequalities in education within the area.
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32% of children do not transfer to secondary school; 30% of children are absent for 30 days or more annually; some 31% of 6th class primary school and first year secondary school students experience serious literacy difficulties.
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Number of child welfare and protection cases in the area above the national norm.
Specific Programmes Include
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0-5 years Pre- School based Early Intervention service as a welfare response;
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the Range of Incredible Years Parenting Programmes (Centre, Community & School based);
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Home based Family Welfare Support;
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Weekly Facilitated Family Morning underpinned by the concept of PACT (Parent and Child Together Time);
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Small Group Dina Programme (Centre & School based);
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You Make the Difference (Hanen) (speech & language);
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Community Coderdojo (as a move- on for Small group Dina graduates);
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Learn To Play the Aistear way, etc.
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Supported Family Access sessions & space allocation
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The Service is the Southwest Clondalkin Hub for Meitheal and holds the Child and Family Support Co-ordinator Responsibility.
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All staff are accredited practitioners in their field of Incredible Years Expertise with a number of staff leading peer support..
​We aspire to provide the best facility for the children and families served by Deansrath.
Our vision and hopes





Why we need our new building
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The building in which the Centre is housed is part of the Deansrath Health Centre. The space available is a building of approx. 72 sq metres for the preschool, three very small rooms for offices and meetings and a portacabin outside which is used as an office. Other than the port cabin the space is that which a small stand-alone preschool operated from until 2002.
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Parenting Programmes Service, Incredible Years Therapeutic Small Group Dina & Rainbows have no stable base form where to deliver
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Three recent Audits, Q-Mark Excellence Ireland, Ashby Food Safety (Health & Safety Audit), HSE Dublin West (Health & Safety Audit) have noted the difficulties around space and the inappropriateness of both staff and the public managing the space.
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At times there are up to 60+ people (children and adults including staff) using 72 sq m of space. Staff may have nowhere to have a break; there is no designated private space to meet families.
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All service provision operates during pre-school operational time in premises originally designed for pre-school only. An average working day must in the last few years accommodate, Therapists, External CFA/HSE/NGO’s, attending for Case Reviews with both families and children, Supported Access Visits, Assessment of Need Assessments, Students on Placement, in addition to Staff and Children.
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Office Space, or rather lack of, is impinging on staff mental health at this stage .A staff complement of 18 salaried employees, the Manager and 4 CE Participants share 3 offices, one of which is a portocabin located in the Health Centre car park. In general staff have no workspace and use whatever they can, whenever they can e.g. working at children’s tables in the Pre-School space during a half hour when the room is not being used or working on knees/laps in the Library Room on the rare occasions when it is available. All staff including myself experience time during the day, when you have to leave your desk to e.g. go to the bathroom, speak to another member of staff, use photocopier etc. and somebody is in your seat upon return or a family meeting is taking place.. Staff are constantly stating that the lack of space and volume of people with whom they must share the space has a negative effect on their mental health i.e. increases stress levels, and render it at times impossible to “do their job”.
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Storage of programme equipment, administration space and meeting space has become a major issue. At this point it is becoming a prohibitive point in relation to the consolidation of service provision, and in relation to our ethos of innovative development and ability to respond to the ever – increasing needs of the Community. Space issues are compounded by constant footfall from parents, staff queries, interagency meetings, etc.
-
The building in which the Centre is housed is part of the Deansrath Health Centre. The space available is a building of approx. 72 sq metres for the preschool, three very small rooms for offices and meetings and a portacabin outside which is used as an office. Other than the port cabin the space is that which a small stand-alone preschool operated from until 2002.
-
Parenting Programmes Service, Incredible Years Therapeutic Small Group Dina & Rainbows have no stable base form where to deliver
-
Three recent Audits, Q-Mark Excellence Ireland, Ashby Food Safety (Health & Safety Audit), HSE Dublin West (Health & Safety Audit) have noted the difficulties around space and the inappropriateness of both staff and the public managing the space.
-
At times there are up to 60+ people (children and adults including staff) using 72 sq m of space. Staff may have nowhere to have a break; there is no designated private space to meet families.
-
All service provision operates during pre-school operational time in premises originally designed for pre-school only. An average working day must in the last few years accommodate, Therapists, External CFA/HSE/NGO’s, attending for Case Reviews with both families and children, Supported Access Visits, Assessment of Need Assessments, Students on Placement, in addition to Staff and Children.
-
Office Space, or rather lack of, is impinging on staff mental health at this stage .A staff complement of 18 salaried employees, the Manager and 4 CE Participants share 3 offices, one of which is a portocabin located in the Health Centre car park. In general staff have no workspace and use whatever they can, whenever they can e.g. working at children’s tables in the Pre-School space during a half hour when the room is not being used or working on knees/laps in the Library Room on the rare occasions when it is available. All staff including myself experience time during the day, when you have to leave your desk to e.g. go to the bathroom, speak to another member of staff, use photocopier etc. and somebody is in your seat upon return or a family meeting is taking place.. Staff are constantly stating that the lack of space and volume of people with whom they must share the space has a negative effect on their mental health i.e. increases stress levels, and render it at times impossible to “do their job”.
-
Storage of programme equipment, administration space and meeting space has become a major issue. At this point it is becoming a prohibitive point in relation to the consolidation of service provision, and in relation to our ethos of innovative development and ability to respond to the ever – increasing needs of the Community. Space issues are compounded by constant footfall from parents, staff queries, interagency meetings, etc.
-
The building in which the Centre is housed is part of the Deansrath Health Centre. The space available is a building of approx. 72 sq metres for the preschool, three very small rooms for offices and meetings and a portacabin outside which is used as an office. Other than the port cabin the space is that which a small stand-alone preschool operated from until 2002.
-
Parenting Programmes Service, Incredible Years Therapeutic Small Group Dina & Rainbows have no stable base form where to deliver
-
Three recent Audits, Q-Mark Excellence Ireland, Ashby Food Safety (Health & Safety Audit), HSE Dublin West (Health & Safety Audit) have noted the difficulties around space and the inappropriateness of both staff and the public managing the space.
-
At times there are up to 60+ people (children and adults including staff) using 72 sq m of space. Staff may have nowhere to have a break; there is no designated private space to meet families.
-
All service provision operates during pre-school operational time in premises originally designed for pre-school only. An average working day must in the last few years accommodate, Therapists, External CFA/HSE/NGO’s, attending for Case Reviews with both families and children, Supported Access Visits, Assessment of Need Assessments, Students on Placement, in addition to Staff and Children.
-
Office Space, or rather lack of, is impinging on staff mental health at this stage .A staff complement of 18 salaried employees, the Manager and 4 CE Participants share 3 offices, one of which is a portocabin located in the Health Centre car park. In general staff have no workspace and use whatever they can, whenever they can e.g. working at children’s tables in the Pre-School space during a half hour when the room is not being used or working on knees/laps in the Library Room on the rare occasions when it is available. All staff including myself experience time during the day, when you have to leave your desk to e.g. go to the bathroom, speak to another member of staff, use photocopier etc. and somebody is in your seat upon return or a family meeting is taking place.. Staff are constantly stating that the lack of space and volume of people with whom they must share the space has a negative effect on their mental health i.e. increases stress levels, and render it at times impossible to “do their job”.
-
Storage of programme equipment, administration space and meeting space has become a major issue. At this point it is becoming a prohibitive point in relation to the consolidation of service provision, and in relation to our ethos of innovative development and ability to respond to the ever – increasing needs of the Community. Space issues are compounded by constant footfall from parents, staff queries, interagency meetings, etc.
Space requirements
Activity/Space Requirement area sq m
Reception & waiting area 20.0
Buggy area
parent outdoor space
2 public toilets ( wheelchair access) 8.0
Back office, filing 12.0
Early years facility 120.0
Kitchen with view 21.6
coder dojo academy space 125.0
toilet facilities/ kitchenette 18.0
DINA school space 28.0
Sleep areas? Double up with above> - 4.2 sq m per baby
up to 2 Hub accommodation 46.0
General Parent training room 24.0
professional training room. Meetings 26.4
5 consultation rooms 24.0
incl massage therapy 2.0
children's/ parents cooking area 10.0
6 children toilets and baby changing 29.1
laundry area?
external play area
STAFF AREAS
5 offices 45.0
2 staff toilets and cloakroom area 8.0
cooks toilet and changing area 6.0
Recording Review room 5.0
strong room 8.0
Staffroom 40.0
Total space sq m
636.1
circulation
76.3
Total area
712.4

Area
Sq m Cost per sq m Total costs
outside area (9 m per child)
380. €700 €266,000
fit out costs per child
40.0
€3,300 €132,000
fit out costs coder dojo
125.0
€1,200 €150,000
fit out costs other rooms
512.4
€1,200 €614,918
Total basic fit out costs
€1,162,918
add design team fee
€93,033
vat on fees
€21,398
planning contributions ( may be exempt )
€53,432
planning fees ( may be exempt )
€2,351
fire cert
€1,567
DAC
€500
Commencement notice
€30
utility connections
€8,000
Total fit out costs ex-VAT
€1,343,230
•Based on the assumptions set out on previous pages, we estimate a total fit out cost of €1.163m.
•This excludes VAT.
•This figure excludes cost of building and parking/drop-off areas.
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Reception & Waiting area
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Early Years Facility to cater for 40 children aged 0-5 at a session
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Regulation Compliant Catering Kitchen
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Coderdojo Academy Space for age 8 -18 year inclusive of Parent Teenage Space
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Dina School Space for 3-9yrs
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Up to 2 Hub Accommodation
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General Parent Training Room
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Professionals training room (to train others in Incredible Years etc and Showcase Deansrath Model)
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5 Consultation rooms (various sizes) inclusive of Parent drop- in facility and Holistic Therapy room
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Children’s/Parents cooking kitchen
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6 Children’s Toilets & Baby Changing Area
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2 Public toilets
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Buggy Bay
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External Outdoor Play area
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Parent Outdoor space
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5 Offices
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Cooks Toilet &Changing Area
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2 Staff toilets & Cloakroom Area
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Recording-Review room
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Strong room
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Staffroom
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Laundry

National funds (DYCA)
•Early years to school age; Youth Capital; Sports Capital
Private individuals
Local industry sponsorship, particularly those with declared CSR goals:
•E.g. SAP; CityWest; Grange Castle
Fit-out sponsorship (benefit-in-kind) from local trade outlets
Philanthropic sources. E.g.
•Community Foundation Ireland, National Lottery; North-South Ireland Fund
Fundraising Initiatives
Local community
European Funding/Social Investment Bond

€1M