Towards a Better City for All: A seminar for frontline services

This seminar will feature presentation and discussion about the social, health and economic challenges facing the city.

Details

Date: 6th May 2015

Venue: Wynns Hotel, Abbey Street, Dublin

Background

The issue of public substance misuse and anti-social behaviour, actual or perceived, has for a long time been a source of media focus and public concern in Dublin. In 2011 a partnership of stakeholders with particular concerns about the issue was formed with the objective of developing sustainable responses to the many factors that contribute to the issue. In June 2012, following research and in depth discussion, the report A better city for all: a partnership approach to address public substance misuse and perceived anti-social behaviour in Dublin city centre, (click here to view)  was launched in the Mansion House by the then Lord Mayor. The report made almost 60 recommendations across the pillars of treatment, rehabilitation, homelessness, alcohol supply, policing, planning and urban design, legislation and partnership. The members of the A better city for all agree that the issue of substance-related anti-social behaviour is primarily a public health issue and any sustainable long term solution can only be delivered in that context.

Throughout 2013, a Better city for all: Implementation committee, chaired by the Area manager for Dublin City Council progressed the recommendations. Following an evaluation of the process in January 2014, it was agreed that the group had advanced the recommendations as far as possible. It was agreed that further progress in the area would require the establishment of a stronger statutory involvement including senior budget holders across key agencies working in tandem.  The group also agreed a number of key further recommendations, including the establishment of a focussed street outreach team to respond to the needs of some of the most marginalised individuals in the city centre. In 2014, a Higher Level Statutory Group, comprising representatives of Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochána, the HSE and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive was established. Also, since September 2014 a street level outreach team, including community Gardaí, HSE workers and the Ana Liffey drug project, has been formed to operate on a case management basis with individuals in need of particular social supports.

The Better City For All process has been seen as an extremely positive initiative by those involved. Consequently, it was agreed that there remained a need for those frontline services that are responding to the ongoing social, health and economic issues and challenges in the city, to maintain a continuous partnership network. The Towards A Better City For All seminar on May 6th is the inaugural seminar in what it is hoped will be the formation of a continuous process of dialogue and partnership.

Speakers

Introduction and seminar overview
Dr Johnny Connolly, Health Research Board
Dr Johnny Connolly is a criminologist with the Alcohol and Drug Research Unit of the Health Research Board. He has conducted extensive research on drug issues in Ireland particularly, in recent years, focusing on drug related crime, illicit drug markets and policing. He is Ireland's legal correspondent to the European Legal Data Base on Drugs of the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction and also Ireland's representative to the recently established EMCDDA Reference Group on drug supply, established to develop monitoring indicators in the areas of drug markets, drug-related crime and supply reduction. He is on the Advisory Group of the Dublin Drug Treatment Court. He is also a member of the board of the Irish Penal Reform Trust. His latest publication: Illicit drug markets in Ireland, was published by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol in October 2014.

‘Doing the right thing for all’
Richard Guiney, CEO of DublinTown (formerly Dublin City Business Improvement District)
Richard Guiney is the CEO of Dublin Town, the Business Improvement District in Dublin city centre. Richard is seen as an authority on town centre development and has been invited to speak in various locations in Ireland, UK and Australia. Dublin Town’s work has been recognized by peer groups, receiving awards and accolades from the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM), International Downtown Association (IDA) and British BIDs. He has spoken and written extensively on the need to reconsider how we plan our towns and cities to meet new challenges.  In 2014, he was invited by the ATCM to chair Purple Flag Ireland.  Purple Flag is an accreditation that recognizes excellence in management of the evening and night time economy.  An Accountant and Professional Tax Advisor by profession Richard has a keen interest in the arts and has served on the boards of a number of prominent national arts organisations. He is treasurer of the Ana Liffey Drug Project.  He currently serves on Dublin City Council’s Transport Committee and the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee having previously served on the City’s Environmental Committee.

‘Challenging homelessness - Housing First’
Brian Friel, Head of Services, Peter McVerry trust
Brian Friel was appointed as Head of Services of the Peter McVerry Trust in 2008 and is responsible for delivering, through and with frontline managers, the best possible service to the individual.  Central to this role is working closely with the CEO to ensure the implementation of PMVT strategy in service provision in line with the ethos and values of the organisation. He has degrees in Philosophy and Psychology and 13 years experience of working in the Community and Voluntary sector.

‘Targeting Harm -Responding to Public Drug Use in Dublin’
Dawn Russell, Ana Liffey Drug Project and Merchants Quay Ireland.
Dawn Russell is Head of Services at Ana Liffey Drug Project, she has worked with the Ana Liffey since 2007. Beginning her career as a Project Worker in their Dublin project, she now oversees the service operations for all of the Ana Liffey. This includes frontline services across three regions, all services provided in the online environment and the Ana Liffey’s volunteer programme. Ana Liffey is a national addiction service focused on providing frontline harm reduction services to people affected by substance use and marginalisation. The organisation also provides sectoral supports, and takes an active role in lobbying for innovative service provision to address the unmet needs of hard to reach, marginalised substance users. Her address is also on behalf of MQI.

Addressing challenges, Building Partnership, Finding solutions’
Feedback from the floor.
Chaired by Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke

More info

To find out more about A Better City For All and it's background, please visit http://abettercityforall.ieabettercityforall.ie

If you would like to attend please RSVP to Maggie McEntee email: info@abettercityforall.ie