Clare’s longest serving councillor has called on his colleagues to stop pumping money into urban developments over rural equivalents.
Cllr PJ Kelly at the December meeting of Clare County Council asked “that a report be made available on how the figure of €3.2 million planning contributions were spent in the years ending 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016” with a breakdown of the total cost per year plus the total for recreation, community and road along with the location and amount spent.
In 2014, the Council only invested planning contributions on roads in the county. Funds went towards phase two of the N18/N19 between Ballycasey and Carrigoran, works were completed in Kilkee on the L2008 and L6034 while repairs to footpaths in the Mountivers estate in Sixmilebridge completed the bill.
2015 saw €130,923 spent on improvements at Lees Road in Ennis with Tim Smythe Park and the Liscannor Pier Master Plan & Works receiving €2,352 and €4,030 respectively. In relation to the roads the bridges on the Tulla and Quin Rd left a combined bill of €107,895 with €31,449 also dished out for the installation of a pedestrian cross and footpath on the Quin Rd. Public lighting improvements across Clare cost €50,550 in 2015.
Funds allocated for roads in Clare this year saw €200,000 left aside for the Ennis Northern Relief Road, €90,423 for the Quin Road Pedestrian Cross & Footpath and €80,000 went towards the Oakleigh Wood Roundabout & Associated Work with all three situated in Ennis. €300,000 has been left aside for the O’Sullivan Park Astro Turf facility and €200,000 is to be given to the Lahinch Promenade project, including public toilets.
Director of Economic Development with the council, Ger Dollard in his reply stated “The €3.2m represents planning contributions collected in the period September 2013 to September 2016. In the corresponding years, development contributions were allocated against capital works in progress or completed. Of the €3.2m collected, €1.2m relates to monies collected in 2016 and these contributions will be considered for allocation as part of the Annual Financial Statement 2016”.
Upon getting Dollard’s response, Cllr Kelly stated that the figures confirmed the suspicions he had for some time. “There is nothing in it for rural villages, most of the money is invested in a small number of areas urban by nature”. He urged his fellow elected members to show “fair play” going forward.
“As often happens when a document is put forward we give it the ok, now we’re paying the price, we’ve been negligent. Go through the document and it’s scary” the Fianna Fáil Cllr said. “There is more money in the same direction in the few areas and it’s our fault”.
The Lissycasey man who has sat on Clare County Council since 1974 stressed that there is a “risk of a social revolution” and that councillors could be accused of being “anti-rural”. He felt the “next proposals are equally alarming”. He wants to see “fair play and integrity for every part of the county”. PJ told all elected members they “must act or resign”.
Noticeably no councillor spoke in the aftermath of Kelly’s comments except his party colleague Cathal Crowe who seconded what was said.