What is a Residents’ Association?
Residents’ associations are organisations formed by groups of people from a specific community who come together to help make their neighbourhood a better place to live. They act as a voice for their local community and try to find opportunities and solutions to improve where they live.
What does a Residents’ Association do?
A well-organised residents’ association can:
- Organise summer projects, family fun days, planting days and clean-up days
- Address local issues and find solutions
- Apply for grants from funding providers and from South Dublin County Council
- Communicate with residents about local projects and initiatives
- Work with South Dublin County Council to address local issues such as littering, graffiti, parking and environmental issues.
How do we Formalise a Residents’ Association?
Creating a residents' association involves several steps to ensure it is legally recognised and can operate effectively. Below is a quick guide on how to formalise a residents' association. We have also produced a Residents Association Handbook which offers more detail. To download a copy of this handbook, please follow the link:
_SDCC-Residents-Association-Handbook_
Quick Guide
1. Gather Initial Interest and Form a Committee
- Organise an Initial Meeting: Gather interested residents and discuss the idea of forming an association – There are 35 SDCC Community Centres you could meet in. At this meeting, it is important to establish the main goals and objectives of the committee. Secondly, develop an agenda to ensure that you have achieved your desired outcomes at the Open Meeting.
- Organise an Open Meeting: Invite residents of the area to the open meeting. Ensure that you complete the tasks stated on your agenda. Nominate a committee with a minimum of a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.
- Form a Committee: Organise and elect a small group to draft the association’s objectives and Constitution.
2. Draft and Approve the Constitution
- Draft, Review & Approve the Constitution: At the first committee meeting, outline the association’s purpose, meeting schedules, and election procedures. If you seek assistance with this, an SDCC Community Development Officer can aid you with this process.
3. Register the Association
- Apply for a Public Participation Number (PPN): South Dublin Public Participation Network (PPN) is an identification system for voluntary/community groups in the South Dublin Area, including Residents Associations.
Link - Register | South Dublin County Public Participation Network (sdcppn.ie)
- Obtain a Tax Registration Number: The link below can be filled out online OR printed out and written and can be sent in via email or post (email is quicker for response time). This is required even though you are a non-for-profit group.
Link -Registration form for Voluntary non-profit making organisations (pobal.ie)
- Open a Bank Account: Ensure committee members organise and attend a meeting with your local Bank to open an account. A bank account in the name of the group is mandatory to receive funding. Once you setup a bank account (the sooner you start this process, the better), please send on the bank statement showing the name of the association and the bank account details (IBAN & BIC). For future grant applications, please ensure the bank account statement is from the previous 3 months when sending this in.
- Obtain Insurance: Purchase public liability insurance, ensuring that South Dublin County Council are indemnified up to €6.5 million. If you are a new community group, you can apply for the ‘Start Up Grant,’ which will provide enough to cover your initial insurance, up to the value of €500. If you are a returning group, you can avail of the annual ‘Running Costs Grant,’ up to the value of €1,000. Touch base with your local Community Development Officer for further information.
4. Conduct Regular Meetings and Maintain Records
- Schedule Regular Meetings: Hold regular meetings as stipulated in your constitution.
- Maintain Records: Keep accurate records of meetings, financial transactions, and membership details.
- File Annual Reports: Submit annual reports to the relevant authorities to maintain good governance and compliance.
Community Development Grants
The SDCC Community Development Grants can be applied for once you are formalised. Contact your local Community Development Officer for more information - Community Development - SDCC
Contact Us
For more information, please contact the Community Development Office
Telephone: 01 – 414 9270
Email: Community@sdublincoco.ie