Worry raised over playground funds

The Kilcullen Community Playground Project has expressed concern at what could be a 'major problem' over the €200,000 funding promised by Kildare County Council.

Ironically, the possible hitch only became apparent just as the plans for the project went on public display in the Community Centre this week.

The problem is a statement that availability of the funds is dependent on the successful collection of development levies this year 'within the Athy Electoral Area'.

This flies against an understanding which the Playground Committee had that the relevant funding was to be from the totality of levies collected through the county.

If, as Simon Wallace of the Council's Parks department says in a report to the area councillors, the €200,000 provided for the playground is subject to the collection of this money 'within the Athy Electoral Area', it means the pool of such money is very small.

It excludes levies from Athy town itself, which has its own Council, and only leaves developments in a mostly rural part of the electoral area subject to the relevant collection.

And, while €200,000 might seem a small amount even in that context, it has to come from a small portion of the total levies collected in the area, dedicated to Leisure.

The matter is further complicated when it is estimated among councillors themselves that the income from development levies this year will be as low as a fifth of what they were as recently as three years ago.

Equally, while strenuous efforts are being made to collect levies which are due, it is understood that many are uncollectable. Either because developments haven't been commenced, completed, or developers concerned have gone bust.

Orla O'Neill of the Playground Committee contacted Cllr Martin Miley last night after being made aware of the Athy Electoral Area restriction stipulated by Simon Wallace.

"Obviously we have a major problem if we are awaiting collection of development levies in the Athy Electoral Area," she said, "given you have previously said all [local] levies have gone into the swimming pool and there would be nothing left for the playground. I assume this is an error as we have previously made sure to clarify this question. If you recall, we received and got specific clarification that it is the first €200,000 in development levies in the county of Kildare -- we were aware we were behind Monasterevin, Celbridge and St Lawrences."

Ms O'Neill asked for further clarification as soon as possible, 'as I'm sure none of us want to have a riot on our hands!'.

Cllr Miley told the Diary that he has asked for clarification, and has pointed out that because part of Kilcullen is still in the Naas Electoral Area, levies from that area should also be put into the mix. "The Naas Electoral Area has a responsibility to Kilcullen still," he said.

The provision of the €200,000 is also conditional on the local community raising a further €50,000, fundraising for which is under way.

Brian Byrne.