This article is from page 20 of the 2012-10-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
THE Department of Education and Skills has raised a number of queries regarding the possible lease of land from a Killaloe school to a local community development group.
The Ballina Killaloe Sports and Community Development Company Ltd are seeking to lease land from Clare VEC at St Anne’s Community College for the development of new sports facilities.
The September meeting of Clare VEC heard that the Department has now written back to the group with a “significant” number of queries.
CEO George O’Callaghan told the meeting that the Department had concerns over a number of aspects of the proposed agreement, including the length of the lease and the amount of land being sought by the company.
Mr O’Callaghan said the Department also has concerns over the impact any arrangement might have on the future development of the school.
Mr O’Callaghan told the meeting that the company had requested some time to consider the Department’s requests. He said the company had also requested time to look at “other options”.
The meeting heard that the VEC must first receive the approval of the minister before entering into any agreement.
Mr O’Callaghan said the Department had indicated a desire to work with the Ballina Killaloe Sports Development Company.
Committee member Cllr Peter Considine (FF) urged the company to work with the Department on the project.
Mr O’Callaghan said the VEC expect to reach agreement with a Kildysart-based community group about the lease of lands at St John Bosco Community College in the next few weeks.
He said that the heads of agreement had been sent to the Department of Education and Skills.
He said the group had been able to address the queries raised by the Department.
Mr O’Callaghan added, “We would expect to be able to sort it out in the next couple of weeks.”