Clash over upgrading of Kilmaine Square

Clash over upgrading of Kilmaine Square


Austin Garvin

The source of funding for improvement works at Kilmaine village caused controversy at the March meeting of the Claremorris Electoral Area meeting on Wednesday last.
The improvement works will be carried out to the village square and will include enhancement works, parking facilities, and resurfacing of the area.
The fact that Cllr Patsy O’Brien contributed €8,000, which was the total amount of the money required to complete the proposed works caused some councillors to take umbrage.
Cllr Damien Ryan said that he was totally behind this project and had committed €2,500 but was denied the opportunity to do so due to the fact that Cllr O’Brien had allocated the full amount to the project.
Cllr Ryan said there was an understanding that each councillor would contribute €2,500 to the project. “This was a project that the Director of Services allowed us to fund from notice of motion funding on a once off basis. I had told the people of Kilmaine that I was doing this and was of the opinion that this would be implemented. Then I heard on local radio that the total amount had been allocated by one councillor (Cllr O’Brien),”
Cllr Michael Burke said that he had also given €2,500 towards the project. Referring to the fact that a notice of motion funding was allowed in this case he said, “If one is allowed to proceed, why not others. I was as committed as the others,” he concluded. 
Cllr Patsy O’Brien said the people of Kilmaine had approached him regarding the village enhancement scheme. He said this was a case of people working for themselves and he was there to support them. “I would never question the upgrading of anything,” he said.
Mr Seamus Granahan, Director of Services, said this was a unique project in a public area. He said that it was allowed to go ahead on the basis that all councillors would be able to provide funding. “I thought all councillors would have an equal chance of providing funding equally. The decision was based on that,” he concluded.
Cllr Ryan requested that the assembled press would record the fact that the work would be carried out on the basis that a number of councillors would be involved.