COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

MOTION NO 15.

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

That this Committee, noting that in the period 2007-2011 only 0.18% of the total capital expenditure by the Community Services Department was invested in Lucan, and further noting that according to the latest census the population increase in Lucan in the same period was more than twice that in the remainder of the county; requests the Manager to prepare and present a detailed report on the options available to the Council, including raising of a loan, for the purpose of funding capital investment in community facilities in Lucan, including the re-costed proposals for a much-needed swimming pool for Lucan.

REPORT:

Section 135 of the Local Government Act 2001 requires the manager to prepare and submit a report on the programme of capital projects for the forthcoming and the following two local financial years having regard to the availability of resources.   The most recent 3 year Rolling Capital Programme 2011-2013 was presented to the Council at the October 2011 Council meeting.

As previously reported and referred to in this motion the vast majority of capital spending in the period 2007-2011 by Community Services Department on community facilities was incurred in areas of the county which were designated as socially/economically disadvantaged. The funding source for these capital projects was one or a combination of Government grants, development levies and receipts from the disposal of capital assets. It should be noted that in addition to direct provision by the council community facilities were also procured through the planning process.

Due to the economic and financial downturn receipts from these sources of funding have collapsed. In the medium term the outlook is negative for improvement of these funding sources. The Lucan Sports and Leisure Centre is included in the Council’s 3 year Rolling Capital Programme 2011-2013 under the category “projects planned” but subject to availability of funding, but it is not envisaged that the council will be in a position to progress the project. 

The Council is committed to providing this facility for the people of Lucan and surrounding areas and will do so in conjunction with receiving the necessary support from the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport and subject also to the necessary capital funding being sourced. The estimated budget cost for the Lucan Swimming Pool / Leisure Centre now stands at €10.8million.The repayment costs of borrowing over a 30 year period are unsustainable and would have an adverse impact on revenue budgets over the long term. This option is not recommended.

The alternative possibility of the provision of a Sports and Aquatic Centre at Adamstown as part of the Adamstown SDZ is also stalled due to the changed economic environment.

Decisions on priorities for capital spending across all Programme Groups are made by the council having regard to need and availability of funding.