As Chairperson of the DATAS I am delighted that I have been successful on behalf of the committee in securing committments for funding of 30000 approx for the refurbishment of a unit in St. Patricks Woollen Mills. This funding will allow us to make the unit habitable for those in our community who belong to the Douglas Young at Heart Group and the Foroige Douglas Youth Action Group and many more. We have to insulated stud partitions , Internal Finishes to kitchen and office, suspended Ceilings and to install the necessary electrical and Mechanical work.

The Young at Heart Group wonderfully managed by my good friend Phil Goodman have lots of activities including Bowling, dancing, Knitting for the Maternity Unit at Cork University Hospital, Cards, Go for Life ,Silver Surfers and much more.

The Douglas Youth Action managed by Sonya Coakley and her group under the auspices of Foroige have Games Consoles,Film Club, Youth Club ,Basketball, Crafts Fair, Make up classes, Games and lots of fun and have ambitions for many other fun filled times.

I am really delighted to see this dream of mine come to fruition since I first got elected I resolved to try and ensure that some facilities were provided in the community. The DATAS Study conducted by UCC Bev Cotton and funded by the Dept of Health some years ago highlights the deficit in community facilities (viewers may read the study on my web site next week.)