Relevant information: Doughiska, Roscam & Ardaun Community
Geographic boundaries of the Community: Doughiska, Roscam and Ardaun Community (DRA in abbreviated form):
·
DRA is on the outskirts of the eastside of
Galway city.
·
Has a number of older established older
communities on its borders
·
(Ballybaan, Renmore, Oranmore )
Length of time the community has been in existence:
·
DRA has a long history dating back to the 7th
century .
·
Until late 90’s was a rural community
General history of the community:
·
2001 saw first housing development built in
Doughiska.
·
Rapidly building growth and style in housing to
cater for diverse and changing family structure.
·
Housing units stand at Doughiska in Galway.
Demographics of DRA community:
·
33 different nationalities.
·
DRA has a large multicultural diversity,
·
The population of children and youth stands at
just under 29% this is far higher than the rest of Ireland.
·
Lone parents highest in state which is16.8%.
·
Unemployment is higher than the national average
standing at 10.8% as of late 2008.
·
Community has a high level of education more
than 2\5 of the population have a degree or higher education 4 times greater
than the national average.
Issues of most concern for the community:
·
Lack of facilities.
·
Anti-Social Behaviour.
·
Lack of community services.
On contrast only 4.3 not happy with living in DRA area.
Support for community activity, involvement levels:
The community have worked together with the DRA Community
Development Company LTD to achieve the following
·
Open ARD Family Resource Centre.
·
Building of Primary and Post Primary is now in
progress.
·
Play Park.
·
Sport Clubs.
·
Allotments (2013).
·
Community Garden (2013).
·
Primary Care Unit.
From living in the DRA community since 2005 and Working in
the ARD Family Resource Centre for 1 year. I have found the community is
evolving at an accelerated rate. I have come to this conclusion from my own
opinion and at a more grass root level from talking with people and children in
the DRA community from all ethnic, cultural and belief background. People feel they are part of the DRA
community. So therefore less people are been socially excluded. Unfortunately
as with all communities social exclusion will exist even with intervention. With
more Resource been added into the community one can hope that the percentage of
social exclusion will decrease.
(ARD in ARD Family Resourse Centre means Ardaun, Roscam, Doughiska are residential areas in the east side of Galway city.)
