News
DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THROWN A LIFE-LINE BY DUBLIN
CITY COUNCIL
- Friday, 1st December 2006
The Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said that local authorities around the country should replicate Dublin City Council’s decision to allocate a substantial budget to fund measures to end child literacy problems.
Cllr Ó Ríordáin made the call in light of this week’s decision by the City Council to allocate €1 million to fund homework clubs and facilitate longer library opening times.
Since assuming the office of Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ó Ríordáin, has campaigned for interventions to improve literacy among children, particularly in disadvantaged areas. In October, he launched the Right to Read campaign which identified the need for improvements in library services, homework clubs and social housing.
Cllr Ó Ríordáin is a primary school resource teacher in the North Inner City and has first-hand experience of the problems which result in poor literacy levels.
“This week’s endorsement of the Right to Read Campaign by my colleagues on Dublin City Council presents a real life-line for disadvantaged children in this City who lack the support and facilities to study and enjoy reading.
“The allocation of €1 million will ensure that homework clubs will be properly resourced, allowing for the recruitment of specially trained staff. Library services now have extended opening hours so that children can access their services after school and at weekends. While these are not ground-breaking interventions, they will have a significant impact on the education attainment levels of children who are disadvantaged,” said Cllr O’Riordain.
The Right to Read Campaign is also seeking changes in housing policy to ensure that all local authority and social housing includes sufficient space for children to undertake homework in their bedroom or another quite area in their home.
“Over the next year, I look forward to seeing major improvements in the environment in which children study, read and write. I hope at this point that other local authorities around the country take a leaf out of Dublin City Council’s book by supporting the Right to Read Campaign,” he added.