This article is from page 27 of the 2008-03-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
A DECISION by the Shannon town manager to recommend funding for a skateboard area in the town has prompted two sports groups to also make submissions.
Ger Dollard told town councillors at a meeting in February that he would recommend the provision of €50,000 towards the project, which will open near the leisure centre.
Over the past few years, money has been set aside for community ini- tiatives. €100,000 had accumulated and he said he would be suggesting that €50,000 of this be considered for the leisure centre.
The Wolfe Tones camogie club and Newtown FC both made submissions for funding, in letters to the town clerk ‘Tomas MacCormaic.
In its letter, Wolfe Tones said it
was applying for €34,000 from the €100,000 fund, towards the develop- ment of a new car park and associ- ated civil works.
In his letter, Brendan Wall of New- town FC applied for €12,000.
“Our facilities in Ballycasey have been vastly underfunded by any grant schemes and despite having spent over €400,000, only approxi- mately €50,000 has been grant aid- ed,” he said.
“The facility currently caters for all age groups from seven years of age to 18 and also facilitates two men’s teams and a women’s team. We cur- rently field seven teams in the under- age bracket for an eight-month play- ing season,” said Mr Wall.
Councillor Gerry Flynn (Ind) pro- posed that a special meeting take place, to decide how the letters should be dealt with.
Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) said it was important to give both applications “courtesy and deal with them prop- erly”.
Labour councillor Tony McMahon said some mechanism should be put in place, to decide how the money was going to be distributed.
Councillor Geraldine Lambert (FF) said the development fund was established several years ago.
“Vd support having a meeting to decide on the terms of reference,” she said. Cllr Sean Hillery (FF) agreed with this.
Mr Dollard said the community fund was set up initially with the aim of contributing to projects for the community.
He said that money was put aside every year and every five years, the town council could contribute to projects.
“Td still fully stand behind that (€50,000 for the skateboard area). A lot has been made from the fact the money is going for the centre. It’s not funding towards the development of the leisure centre. It’s towards a skate park,” he said.
Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said the leisure centre “has no intention of getting involved in any contro- versy. We put a request in for money. The town council has agreed. The leisure centre is concerned about the amount of damage and ill feeling. The leisure centre is quite content to withdraw the application and let the town council provide a skateboard park.”
A suggestion by Councillor Geral- dine Lambert, that the applications be deferred until a private meeting of councillors at a later stage, was or eu loee