GAAclubwon’tbegetting €235kboostfornewfacility
ST Colmcilles won’t be getting a €235,000 slice of a €700,000 capital plan project to transform the Seafields in Laytown.
The East Meath GAA club are proposing to build a new clubhouse on part of the site.
Councillor Wayne Harding made the proposal at a recent council meeting, feeling that the club was very progressive for the area - both on and off the pitch - and because they were seeking planning permission, were well advanced with their plans.
However, council officials said that capital funds couldn’t be given out in such circumstances and had to be part of the overall project.
‘We can’t use this funding from amenity levies for non Meath CC projects. We would start a precedent that we couldn’t uphold in the rest of the county,’ Director of Services Fiona Lawless stated.
Cllr Eimear Ferguson highlighted the great work of the Colmcilles, saying they run an excellent outreach programme for the community. She remarked that when the houses were being built in the area, no community infrastructure came with them, but the Colmcilles were doing that.
She said they had an agreement with all the schools to bus students to Piltown to use the facilities.
Cllr Stephen McKee explained that the Colmcilles were not just a GAA club and were the best organisation in the area to deliver a project on the site. ‘ This is the best proposal that the council could get behind,’ he felt.
Cllr Paddy Meade said that if a facility does go on the Seafield site, only two clubs outside of the Colmcilles would be involved, Laytown Utd and EMU.
‘If we gave the Colmcilles the money, they’d be up and running this year,’ he claimed.
Addressing the meeting on behalf of EMU, Sharon Tolan said they would be relinquishing their lease at the Seafield as they don’t have the finance to fund a project there, given that they also have Ministown to consider.
Paddy Meade then said that his perception now was that giving €235,000 to St Colmcilles would get a project up and running and that Laytown Utd would get €465,000 for a project. ‘ That would be the greatest gift any club would get!.’ he admitted. Cllr Tom Kelly felt that other clubs might be involved too.
Director of Services Dara MGowan said the council would have a brief design at the end of January for the site and would then get community groups involved.
The €700,000 funding the budget would help pay for lighting, paths, etc and clubs could then secure funds from their own codes.
‘By the February meeting, we should be able to see what we can get there,’ he added.’ This project is for the community and we can’t give money to clubs under capital funds.’
Cllr Sharon Tolan expressed some concerns about the €700,000 as it was in the capital plan for a community centre. She said there was a great need in the Donacarney/ Laytown and Bettystown area for such a facility. She feared the funding would be ‘eaten up by the Seafield works’ and won’t serve the needs of the rest of the area.
Cllr Tom Kelly felt if there is going to be a major project at the Seafield then emergency access was vital. He said there was a need for a redesign of the bridge to take emergency vehicles, otherwise they’d have to go by Julianstown.
The members then agreed to grant the Colmcilles the €235,000, but Ms Lawless said it couldn’t be implemented.