ArchDiocese Resource Allocation
The past decade has witnessed an alarming drop in the number of diocesan priests. In response to this emerging crisis, the Catholic Church recognises that it needs to review its parish structure nationwide in a bid to ease pressure on the country’s shrinking and ageing pool of priests. A number of Ireland’s 26 dioceses rolling parish reviews, with the aim of significantly reducing the workload on clergy and enhancing the community and laity involvement in church operations.
The Dublin Diocesan Boundaries Commission has developed a geographic and demographic database for the 200 parishes that comprise the Archdiocese of Dublin. The number of priests available for service in this Archdiocese is in decline, and the task of the Boundaries Commission is to advise the Archbishop on the optimal allocation of physical and human resources. In addition, the database will be available to each parish for planning and monitoring purposes.
Maps such as the one featured here, enable the organisation to plan and forecast parish services and optimise the deployment of clerical personnel throughout the Archdiocese. The database uses digital maps, Geodirectory addresses, Central Statistics Office data at lowest district level, Department of Education geocodes of school locations and types, as well as data on parish boundaries, diocesan physical assets, clerical personnel deployment and services provided at parish level.
This GIS acts as a decision making support tool to advise the Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on the re-organisation or establishment of parishes. It informs him about the revision of parish boundaries, on the provision of churches, mass centres and pastoral outreach facilities. It’s used to help coordinate planning and development with the Local Authorities that operate within the geographical area of the Archdiocese of Dublin.
For further information visit www.dublindiocese.ie