Tapestry in a knot over €10k funding shortfall
AN offer of €5,000 towards the costs of the Ros Tapestry building in New Ross is only one third of what is required, councillors said at Wednesday’s New Ross Municipal District meeting.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Whelan raised the matter, saying: ‘I and other councillors made representations on behalf of the Ros Tapestry to the economic section. They didn’t get all of what they wanted but a substantial amount of money and help in reducing their costs. Unfortunately it has been a tough year for all tourist attractions in the town and in our area.’
Cllr Pat Barden said: ‘€5,000 from the economic department isn’t much when we’re spending €725,000 on our destination towns project and several more major projects are being financed. This project is looking for €15,000 which is absolutely buttons. I cannot see how the offer of €5,000 would be looked at favourably. We need to look after this project which is very important for the town. They are in Kilkenny at the moment. They are going to feature on the Great Irish Interiors on RTE. ‘
Cllr Barden said Kilkenny are going out of their way to house the tapestries in a professional manner.
‘ They have cut their costs by 50 per cent in the tapestry. All they are looking for is money to keep the heating on and to look after the rooms so when the stitchers come back all will be OK. I would not be happy with the way this project is going and with the amount of help this project is getting.’
Cllr Anthony Connick said the funding has dropped from last year, adding that an additional €10,000 is not much.
Area manager Mick McCormack said the centre would normally be funded with €15,000. ‘ This year the decision was taken on the basis of their submission. It’s still a very big allocation. I agree with the councillors on the importance of the tapestries to New Ross. Destination Towns funding is not something we could use. It’s ring-fenced and it’s very specific in terms of what we can use it for.’
A suggestion was made by Cllr Michael Sheehan that some of the €100,000 in festivals funding for 2021 could be used, calling on the council to discuss this option with arts officer Liz Burns.
Mr McCormack said this can be considered at the March meeting of the council when there is more clarity surrounding the government’s Living With Covid plan.
FOLLOWING some public debate and the expression of serious concerns that a site for a new IT Carlow Wexford campus has still not been officially secured, Director of Services at Wexford County Council Tony Larkin has moved to assure people of the college’s commitment to Wexford and that work is continuing behind the scenes.
Cllr George Lawlor expressed concerns at last week’s meeting of Wexford County Council.
‘ The only game in town is a Technological University of the South East with Waterford and Carlow,’ he said.
‘Both presidents seem content to come to the table to formulate a plan, but some seem intent on a University of Waterford rather than a University of the South East.’
‘Wexford needs to be an integral part of this project. Despite having looked at a number of sites, IT Carlow still don’t have a site for the new campus secured.’
‘I think we’re on the third or fourth site now. It’s now eighteen months ago that I first approached the Chief Executive with the current site that’s being looked at. It’s now six years since the money was made available.’
‘I’ve been quite critical of IT Carlow in the past, but I’d like us to ask Dr Patricia Mulcahy (IT Carlow President) to attend our next meeting to give us an updated report. We need to know where we’re at.’
Mr Larkin believed that management of the IT would be happy to attend the next meeting virtually and noted that they had been due to attend a meeting before Christmas in person, but restrictions intervened.
‘I’d like to assure the members that all reasonable efforts are being made to finalise the Wexford campus,’ he said.
‘I meet regularly with the management of the IT. There were some issues with other sites, but now they are focused on one 45 acre site and have made a firm offer for a reasonable valuation. They do seem very serious about it.’
‘It’s worth noting that the current campus is there 25 years and has around 1,000 students and up to 250 graduations each year.’
‘IT Carlow’s plan is, by 2030, to grow this to 2,500 students. We’re looking at a campus of 10,000 sq metres and a project that will cost in the region of €44 million and a 250% increase in student numbers.’
‘ They are committed to Wexford and I think the council should be encouraging them to focus on Wexford.’
While all involved are remaining tightlipped on the location of the proposed site for the campus, it’s previously been reported that the land is located in the Whiterock area, stretching around to the rear of the Loreto Secondary School in Killeens.
Christmas Word Search
€100 for winner 3 x €50 for runners-up €100 Rachel Power, New Ross. €50 Seamus Codd, Wexford Town. €50 Rena Murphy, Wexford Town. €50 Rosemary Haskins, Oulart
New Year Word Search
€100 for winner
3 x €50 for runners-up
€100 Mary Whelan, Borris. €50 Marian Murphy, Wexford Town.
€50 John McDonald, Gorey. €50 Bridget Browne, Ballycullane, New Ross.