Onus on TDs to secure astro pitches in right location

By JACQUELINE HOGGE A LAST-ditch effort to secure capital funding for sports facilities for Tuam is to be made through Galway East's four TDs who are being tasked with delivering the funding for an alternative location than the Palace Grounds.[private] The controversial proposal to locate two all-weather pitches in the Park has been simmering in recent years, with fierce objections from the local community leading to its collapse back in 2008. It emerged earlier this year that the €180,000 grant was still available, but remained contingent on the development being located in the council-owned park. Clarification was sought from members of Tuam Town Council regarding the ability to transfer the money to a local sports club, Tuam Celtic FC, who applied for the money on the basis it has the facilities to support such a development. However, a letter to members from Director of Services Kevin Kelly says the grant is non-transferable. 'The grant in question is from the Sports Capital Funding Scheme of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, which is now Tourism, Culture and Sport,' said Mr Kelly. 'The grant has been made available to Galway County Council to provide all- weather pitches on lands owned and controlled by Galway County Council. The process would normally involve the Local Authority entering into a Deed of Covenant with the Department, which would provide for the repayment of the grant to the Department if the conditions of the grant were not met. 'The Dept has indicated that it would not be possible to transfer the grant allocated to the Local Authority to a club or other organisation.' Councillors registered their frustration at the lack of transferability of the money available, and said it was now up to the areas' TDs to lobby the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport to reverse its policy. Outgoing Cllr Pete Warren said it was ludicrous that when Tuam Celtic had the facilities to develop the pitches they were excluded from receiving the grant. 'Everything is in place up there, with planning permission already granted and floodlights in place,' he said. 'We are all aware of the level of public objections to these pitches going into the Park, so it's time something was done to change the system so that the money does not have to be used there. Can't lose money again 'All we're asking for is some leniency on where this money can be used as we don't want to lose this facility. We were slated a few years ago for rejecting the money, which we didn't do, but if we're seen to lose it again it will be unacceptable.' Cllr Imelda Kelly said it was time to call on the local TDs to make representations to the Department to get the money for the most suitable location for the pitches. 'We were told a few years ago we had lost the money, and then it magically reappeared and if we're seen to send it back again, we don't know if we'll get another chance at it. It's time to stop this nonsense and have this matter resolved.' 'People are crying out for money and here we are and we don't know what to do with €180,000. The TDs need to be contacted as a matter of urgency and they need to act on it now.' Cllr Owen Ward questioned how Kevin Kelly had been able to come to an arrangement with the Presentation Sisters regarding the inner relief road but couldn't do a similar deal in this case. Town Manager Frank Gilmore replied there were subtle differences in both cases. Cllr Mary Loftus said the issue was a no-brainer and asked what alternative lands the council had to offer in light of the fierce public opposition to the development going into the park. However two councillors suggested that in light of the fact no plans had been presented to the council regarding the Park pitches, it was foolish to discount them entirely. Cllr Shaun Cunniffe said the problem was the general mistrust people had in the council's ability to manage the Palace Grounds without damaging the area. 'If confidence could be instilled to change that view, it would be very helpful in moving this issue forward,' he said. 'But we need to see comprehensive proposals from the council before we can reject anything.' Cllr Eamon Kitt said if lobbying the TDs didn't work, the Town Council needed to have another plan. 'We have to realise that we need a plan B here just in case the TDs can't deliver on this,' he said. 'There is plenty of space in the park if the pitches were done properly whereby the quality of the park can be maintained. 'I don't agree with the plans presented in terms of the school courts, which I realise are separate to the pitches, but there has to be a way of doing this to ensure Tuam gets this much-needed facility.' Town manager Frank Gilmore agreed the plan to lobby TDs on the matter was a good one and said the conditions imposed on the grant had been down to the Department and not Galway County Council. 'We are anxious to see this development in Tuam as we've been trying to provide these facilities for some time,' he said.[/private]