This article is from page 29 of the 2007-05-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 29 JPG
MOUNTSHANNON ands Scariff are in for a funding boost to help to- wards creating a playground for each area.
At a meeting of the Scariff area committee last week, local council- lors approved the equal division of the €83,000 in available funds under the Community Playground Grant Scheme between the two areas.
Members heard that committees in both east Clare areas have already put in considerable ground-work in terms of fundraising and both have secured sites where the facilities can be built.
Administrative Officer with the
council’s community and enterprise Section, Catherine O’ Hara, said that looking at population growth in both areas, “they both have a need of these facilities and they have already done a lot of fundraising and planning be- fore their applications came in”.
She told the meeting that a third ap- plication, which had previously been approved in Tulla for funding under the scheme, can’t progress at the mo- ment as the local committee have yet to find a site.
Councillor Colm Wiley suggested that the Tulla committee could be given extra time to come up with a site before the money allocated to WeJOOMKMRerrEse oem
Councillors queried whether it
would be more effective to give the entire sum to one of the areas and earmark next years funding for the Oo) ister
The members said they were con- cerned that both schemes would end up being half finished.
But Ms O’Hara said that as both committees already have sites, di- viding funds would be of benefit.
“The grants are not intended to cov- er the entire cost of providing these facilities. The residents committees still have to fundraise, take charge of the area when it is finished and come up with money every year for insur- ance and maintenance and while we can’t guarantee top up funding, they are free to come back and put in an-
other application in the future.”
Cllr Pat Hayes said that “both ar- eas could probably do with being al- located the full amount. They have both put together very impressive proposals”.
Senior Executive Engineer, Sean Lenihan, said that the cost of equip- ment for playgrounds is very high.
“One of those carousels, for in- Stance, costs €9,/00,” he said.
He added that council staff have spoken to both committees “and they are both ready to get started. This would give them the impetus to get on to the next stage.”
The councillors voted to allocate the money equally to both schemes in Mountshannon and Scariff.