Teach na nDaoine progress report

The Teach na nDaoine project has so far raised around a third of the anticipated €190,000 cost of converting the old Dispensary into a Community and Senior Citizens Centre, writes Brian Byrne.

The funds gathered so far total €65,000, including €45,000 from the National Lottery. The balance raised has come from a range of small and large events organised in the community, as well as private donations.

Among these, the recent New Year's Eve Gala raised €1,210, last year's Monster Auction netted €3,460, a Tea Party organised by Kilcullen Lions brought in €800, and a Kilcullen Drama Group Gala Night at 'The Quare Land' resulted in €1,000 for the project.

The project was initiated in 2015, and is now at the construction stage, including a large extension which will allow a range of facilities to be provided, such as activity areas, kitchen facilities, a lounge, coffee dock and dining room, and a community garden.

Planning permission was granted in late 2016, and statutory certifications from various organisations including the county Fire Service were completed last August.

In December last, the organising committee of the project produced a booklet detailing the progress so far and the plans for the facility, with a detailed breakdown of costs under 13 headings. A copy of this can be had from any member of the committee, which comprises Martin Heydon TD, Albert Keenan, Liz Maloney, Noel Clare, Steve Kinneavy, Jacinta Sully and John Brady. The booklet is also available from Kilcullen Community Library.

In response to a Letter to the Editor in the February Bridge Magazine, the Teach na nDaoine Committee have issued a statement on the organisation's structure.

It is a non-profit, voluntary, unincorporated body, with a constitution, and has tax clearance with Revenue. In November 2017 a decision was made to change the structure to a company limited by guarantee, a process which is currently under way.

"Since the beginning, we have been registered with The Wheel, the support and representative body connecting community and voluntary organisations and charities across Ireland," the statement adds. "We are also in the process of registering with the Charity Regulator."

The Committee say they will be making no further comment on the matter pending the completion of these structural changes.