boyle local area plan 2012 - 2018 - Roscommon County Council

PART II: DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR 2012 – 2018 & BEYOND Chapter 4: Social & Community Facilities
Photo 20: Abbey Community College – PLC Centre /
Boyle VTOS Centre
4.2.4 Social Inclusion & Disability
Due to inadequate income and other resources people
may be excluded and marginalised from participating in
activities, which are considered the norm for other
people in society. Social inclusion refers to a series of
positive actions to achieve equality of access to services
and goods, to assist all individuals to participate in their
community and society, to encourage the contribution of
all persons to social and cultural life, and to be aware of
and to challenge all forms of discrimination. The
provision of facilities such as childcare, health and social
infrastructure is fundamental to establishing communities
and promoting quality of life, social inclusion and
sustainable settlements. Adequate provision should be
made for sport, recreational and other public amenities in
Boyle.
Roscommon County Council's Social Inclusion Unit
has been developed in partnership with all sections of
the local authority. Its role is to support and facilitate
Social Inclusion activities and policies across the entire
range of local authority activities. By establishing a
Social Inclusion Unit, Roscommon County Council
aims to broaden the role of the Council in tacking social
exclusion and poverty in County Roscommon and to
more fully integrate it into the entire work of the
organisation.
4.2.5 Childcare Provision
Early Childhood Care and Education is an important
service for both parents and their children. It enables
parents to access education, employment and can also
give them opportunities to engage in social activities.
Early Childhood is a key stage in children’s lives. The
need to develop and expand social infrastructure such as
childcare provision which supports the lifecycle needs of
people working and living in the county, is a priority of
Roscommon County Council.
In 2011 there were 1822 children in Early Childhood
Care and Education services throughout the County, in
29 community services and 28 private services which are
categorised into sessional, part-time and full-time day
care in private and community services. There are also
approximately 37 After-school services, 18 Parent and
Toddler groups and 39 childminders known to
Roscommon County Childcare Committee in the county.
Childcare in Boyle is currently provided through 7
Early Childhood Care and Education services. Boyle
Social Services Pre-School and Tangier Tots are
situated within Boyle town. All others are situated
within the wider Electoral District of Boyle. There are a
number of Childminding services in the Boyle Electoral
District. RCC consulted with the Roscommon County
Childcare Committee and the above information is
accurate as per November 2011. Further information on
all of the Early Childhood Care and Education services
can be found in Roscommon County Childcare
Committee’s 2011 publication ‘The Development of the
Early Childhood Care & Education in County
Roscommon, including a Directory of Services’.
4.2.6 Health
Responsibility for the provision of health-care facilities
within County Roscommon lies with a number of public,
voluntary and private agencies. The Health Service
Executive is the primary agency responsible for
delivering health and personal social services. The Health
Centre in Boyle is located on Elphin Street.
Roscommon County Hospital is located in Roscommon
town, 44km from Boyle Town. A medical, surgical,
psychiatric, geriatric and coronary service is available
together with an accident and emergency unit at the
hospital. Sligo Hospital, Swinford Hospital in County
Mayo and St. Patrick’s Hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon
are also situated in relatively close proximity to Boyle.
There are currently two nursing homes situated in Boyle.
The Sacred Heart Home (Elderly Hospital) in
Roscommon Town is 44km from Boyle.
4.2.7 Fire Service
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency
Management is the body primarily charged with the
responsibility of giving advice to the public on fire
safety matters. The protection of life, property and the
environment by the efficient and effective prevention
and control of fires and other emergencies form the main
objectives of the Fire Service. Roscommon County
Council maintains six brigades: Castlerea, Elphin,
Roscommon, Boyle, Ballaghaderreen and Strokestown.
In addition, Athlone Town Council provides the service,
by Agreement, in the Southern part of the County. The
headquarters for the County Fire Service is provided at
Roscommon Fire Station. Boyle fire station was built in
1994 and is situated on Marion Road.
Boyle Local Area Plan 2012-2018 Page 40