The area of South Dublin covers 222.74 SQ kilometres, and lies about 10 miles south west of the Capital. It is bounded by the Dublin mountains to the south and stretches from the River Liffey at Lucan through Palmerstown, Clondalkin, south to Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart. It includes Tallaght West, South and Central and stretches east to Templeogue and Rathfarnham. (see attached map) The population of the County is approximately 234,000.

The headquarters are at County Hall, Tallaght and an extension to the building is currently under construction. The building is designed for the convenience of customers with the departments that accommodate the greater number of enquires located on the ground floor in response to customer demand.

Conveniently located beside the headquarters are the County Library and the Civic Theatre.

The Civic Centre Clondalkin, the Council's 'One Stop Shop' facility has been opened in Clondalkin village for two years. This office provides access to all council services for communities in the general area. Links to Urban, Partnership offices are also available. The Civic Centre accommodates offices of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and a Motor Tax Office.

Staff endeavour to provide high quality services, to work with communities and to assist people not in a position to help themselves.

Day to day workings of the Council is supported by up to date Information Technology and Computer systems.

The Council is the political forum of South Dublin County Council, the equivalent of Dail Eireann at local level.

The County Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the Council and reports to its twenty six elected representatives - These are our Councillors elected by the people of South Dublin County.

The Councillors role is to approve the policies supporting the functions of 'the Council' in the same way that a Board of Directors acts for a private company. The Manager then implements these policies.

The county has five electoral areas - Clondalkin, Lucan, Tallaght Central, Tallaght South and Rathfarnham/Terenure.

The twenty six Councillors of South Dublin are representatives of political parties.

In South Dublin we have

• 6 Fianna Fail
• 3 Fine Gael
• 7 Labour
• 2 Progressive Democrats
• 3 Sinn Fein
• 2 Independents
• 2 Green Party
• 1 Socialist Party

Councillors are provided with the facility of party rooms (political party rooms) in the building. These are afforded to them for office uses and are equipped with computers, printers, faxes, photocopiers etc. There is also an Audio link to the Chamber to keep in touch with business in progress. There are plans for video link in the not too distant future.

The Mayor chairs all Council Meetings and is elected from amongst their number by the other elected members in July of each year at the Council's annual meeting. Since South Dublin County Council came into being in 1994, (when the larger Dublin County Council was divided) there have been nine Cathaoirlaigh ( Old title for Mayor). The portraits of all the Cathaoirlaigh to date hang in County Hall.

The Mayor is the first citizen of the County and is next in line to the President of Ireland in the South Dublin area. He / She chairs all meetings in the Chamber, conducts and directs Council business, controls and maintains order in the same way as the Ceann Comhairle in the Dail. A Deputy mayor (Deputy Chair) is elected as deputy for the Mayor.

Meetings are conducted in line with an Agenda of business compiled in accordance with a book of rules known as Standing Orders. The Agenda is strictly adhered to - except in exceptional circumstances, when with the agreement of the Mayor and Members, Standing Orders are suspended.

All business is recorded in minutes of meetings and the minutes are confirmed by the members at the subsequent meeting and signed by the Mayor when agreed.

The Council is divided into three Committees.

• Lucan/Clondalkin
• Terenure/Rathfarnham
• Tallaght

Councillors of the Electoral areas are members of the relevant Area Committee. All operational matters are discussed at area committee level and decisions on matters within these areas made at these committee meetings are resolved and affirmed at the full Council meeting. This is held on the second Monday of each month.

The Councillors Policy Making Role has recently been enhanced by the setting up of Strategic Policy Committees. The functions and operating role of the Council is reflected in its Strategic Policy Committees. They are as follows:

1. Economic Development (including Planning)
2. Sport, Recreation, Community, Development & Parks
3. Environment
4. Transportation
5. Housing & Social Development
6. Arts, Culture, Education & Libraries

Each Councillor is a member of at least two SPC's and share memberships with new members nominated by Construction/Industrial, Community Groups, Union &

Agricultural. This allows public representation and involvement in issues and discussions.

Strategic Policy Committees meet each quarter and are chaired by elected representatives.

Members of the press are invited to meetings of the Council and sit in the press Gallery, which is at the rear of the Chamber under the public Gallery. The press may report on business of the Council but may not interrupt and may not carry out interviews in the Chamber. ************

Members of the public are also invited to meetings and must sit in the Public Gallery. Usually the public attend to hear proceedings that affect themselves and their own area.