COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 14, 2009

MOTION NO. 20

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

That this Council requests the Manager, in the context of the current state of public finances,  to investigate the options potentially available to the Council, including public/private partnerships, to secure funding to implement a number of capital projects in the area of sports, recreation and community facilities, including swimming pools,  playgrounds and community facilities, and to provide a report for members to facilitate discussion. 

REPORT:

During the past number of years the Council invested heavily in the provision of new infrastructure including projects in the area of sports, recreation and community facilities.The funding of this new infrastructure was mainly from a combination of Government grants, development levy receipts and receipts from the disposal of assets.

As the members are aware the economic downturn has considerably changed the operating environment for both the public and private sectors. Government grant schemes have either been closed and/or considerably reduced. There has also been a major decline in construction activity which has impacted negatively on development levy receipts.

The Council has to adapt to the reality in the above outlined circumstances. We are in a period of retrenchment and the short to medium term outlook is negative growth  followed by a slow pace of recovery with positive GDP growth not expected until 2011. In this context it is considered that there is little or no scope for public/ private partnership agreements for projects in this area.

The immediate and continuing challenge is to ensure the sustainability / viability of the existing infrastructure by generating income through the optimum possible usage of the various existing facilities.

The Council is however receptive to any proposal forthcoming.