COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 14, 2009
QUESTION NO.7
QUESTION: Councillor R. Dowds
To ask the Manager
(a) To lay out a table giving the charges for the use of football pitches currently and before the prices were increased?
(b) To provide an explanation as to why charges have increased so much?
(c) To give an explanation as to why councillors were not even informed of these changes?
(d) To indicate how and when these charges might be decreased?
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council allocates temporary lettings of its playing pitches every year to various clubs and sporting organisations within the County. The allocation is carried out by way of a 9 month seasonal letting subject to specified conditions including the payment of a fee. The current fees have been reviewed with effect from August 2009 and covers the period 2009-2010; 2010-2011; and 2011-2012. The fees are applied to the l40 pitches provided and maintained by South Dublin County Council. The fees for playing pitches were last reviewed in 2006.
For purpose of clarification, set out hereunder is the schedule of fees that applied to the period 2006-2009 and the fees applying under the current scheme 2009-20l2 inclusive.
(a)
2006-2009 GAA
Clubs with one adult team - €550.
Each adult team in excess of one - €100 per team.
Clubs fielding no adult teams – no fee.
Soccer
Clubs with one adult team - €450.00
Each adult team in excess of one - €100.00 per team.
Clubs fielding no adult team – no fee.
Summer Lettings
Clubs with one adult team - €100.00
Each adult team in excess of one - €50.00 per team
2009-2012 GAA
Clubs fee - €550.
All adult team - €50 per team.
All teams from 12 to 18 inclusive - €30 per team
All teams from age 8 to 11 inclusive - €10 per team
Soccer
Clubs fee - €450.
All adult teams - €50 per team.
All teams from 12 to 18 inclusive - €30 per team
All teams from age 8 to 11 inclusive - €10 per team
Summer Lettings
Club/team fee - €120.00
Each additional team - €50.00 per team
(b)
The current scheme is deemed to be more equitable than previous schemes as all clubs contribute equally depending on the number of teams registered. It should be noted that under previous schemes a number of clubs were exempt from the fee and consequently made no contribution to the maintenance and management of the pitches allocated to them.
It should also be noted that the average increase per team, of which there are approximately 770 teams using the pitches on a regular basis, is €0.65 per team per week. The average weekly rate per team for the use of a pitch is approximately €2.30.
The fees charged to the clubs are considered reasonable and contribute only in part to the annual specific cost incurred by the Council in the maintenance and management of the pitches developed and allocated throughout the County.
(c)
The Members were notified of the revised fee schedule by email dated 12th August 09 and also through the Memebersnet system.
(d)
The revised fee schedule came into effect on the lst August 2009 and covers the period 2009-2010 2010-2011 and 2011-2112 .