COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

MOTION NO. 19

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

Cathaoirlach's Business

"That this Committee notes that a Capital Sports Grant of 300 000 Euro has been awarded to South Dublin Sports and Leisure Company, understands that this grant has been awarded following an application for funding for an All Weather Pitch in Tallaght and requests the Manager to advise the Committee if any application was made, by the Council or South Dublin Sports and Leisure, for a Sports Capital Grant for any project in the Lucan Electoral Area and to advise the Committee on the processes used by the Council to decide on its applications for Sports Capital Grants."

REPORT:

 The Community Services Department is unaware of any application made by this Council for a grant under the Sports Capital Grant Programme announced earlier this year. Any grants awarded under the Programme required a funding contribution from the applicant. For a project located in a RAPID area, the self-funding requirement was 5%, for a Clar area, it was 10%, and it was 15% for all other areas.

South Dublin Leisure Services is the company that runs the Council's three leisure centres based at Tallaght, Lucan and Clondalkin. There are already all-weather pitches located at the Clondalkin Leisure Centre, and they have proven to be a very popular facility and also a welcome and substantial income stream for the company. The company decided to apply for a grant towards the construction of all weather pitches at Tallaght for several reasons. These reasons included the fact that there is already the necessary complementary infrastructure in place at TLC, such as a car park and a double set (4) of changing rooms, and also because the necessary planning application had been processed and approved. Because the TLC is located in a RAPID area, it meant that the company only had to come up with 5% of the overall cost of the project.

The grant will allow the company to provide more facilities for the local community and at the same time, the income generated will ensure that the company remains viable in these difficult economic times. It is hoped that this financial stability will allow the company and the Council to examine their options at Lucan Leisure Centre and to make decisions in the best interests of the people of Lucan.