This article is from page 23 of the 2012-04-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 23 JPG
A NEW application for funding to create state-of-the-art sports facilities in Kilrush will be made by Kilrush Town Council within the next month, amid renewed hope that the project earmarked for Gallery Park on the Cooraclare Road area of the town will receive grant aid under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme.
Town Manager, Nora Kaye, told the monthly meeting of Kilrush Town Council that a new deadline of May 11 has been set by the Department of Sport for grant applications for sports capital projects and that work was already underway putting the application together.
“There are very tight rules and regulations,” revealed Ms Kaye. “Last year we made two applications – one for the astro-turf and one for the grass pitches, so that two contractors could work side by side and get the project finished early. This year we have to cost each separate element of the project.
“The maximum grant is € 300,000 so we have to break them up into packages of less than € 300,000 and to prioritise them. There is a bit of work to go into them yet,” she added.
The first phase of the € 1.3m development is set to include an artificial surface facility, grassed pitches (to include a full size playing pitch and two full size training pitches), fencing, lighting and associated works. The second phase of the project will include the development of dressing rooms, car parking, footpaths and associated works.
Plans for the ambitious project were unveiled were unveiled last summer when it was revealed that Clare County Council had reached an agreement with Gallery Park landowners Department of Education and the ESB to develop the site, but the initial application for funding for inclusion in the 2011 Sports Capital Programme made last September wasn’t successful.
“The maximum grant for the whole project is 90 per cent,” revealed the Town Manager, “but in awarding the grant and the monies, one of the terms of the scheme is that if you put more money towards it, you might jump the queue.
“We’ll have to look at matching funding. If we get funding we will have two years to complete the works,” Ms Kaye added.
“I would urge that every effort be made to ensure that we get this grant,” said Cllr Liam Williams (FG) who has tabled a number of motions on the need for developing sports facilities at the Gallery Road site.
“We have to keep the pressure on,” he added.