New internet safety director appointed

The Government has appointed John Laffan as the director of the Office for Internet Safety (OIS) in Ireland. Mr Laffan will take up his post at the beginning of next month.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan, who made the announcement today, said the OIS will "encourage greater cohesion across state agencies and develop closer relationships with the gardaí on the practicalities for the application of blocking technologies".

The Minister was speaking at the publication of the final booklet in the Government's Get with IT series advising safer internet usage. The booklet is a guide for parents to social networking sites and the practicalities involved in allowing children to use them. It is available free of charge through libraries, community information centres and credit unions, or online at the Department of Justice website.

Award for New Tallaght Library

The new Tallaght Library Building has picked up the Best Public building Award at the recent Lama Awards. Congratulations to all involved. The library building will open in the coming weeks. Further information available on: www.southdublinlibraries.ie

Satellite - showcase of artwork

A showcase of artwork in light-based media by artists from In Context 3, South Dublin County Councils Per Cent for Art programme.

February 13th - 17th 2008
Library Square, Tallaght, Beside Tallaght Luas stop
Best viewed from twilight onwards (after 5.15 pm)

Light, colour and imagination will transform the pavements, windows and walls of Library Square around the new County Library building. Poetry, films and images by artists from In Context 3 will light up this new public space. Satellite is a free event and the artworks will be visible from the outside, particularly during the darkening of early evening. Poetry written in light on the paved areas, films appearing in windows and animations of trees moving across walls are some of the surprises in store for passers-by.

http://incontext.southdublin.ie
Contact: Rachel McAree, tel 01 414 9321

South Dublin County wins LAMA Local Government Awards

South Dublin County Council picked up 4 LAMA Awards on last Saturday night at the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) Awards, which were presented in the presence of Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley

The winning South Dublin County projects were:

The new County Library in Tallaght for Best Public Building
The Adamstown development in South Lucan for Best Private Housing Development
The Adamstown development for Best Affordable Housing Development Project and
The Arena Development in Tallaght for Best Mixed Development Project