Capital projects in Westport ‘ring-fenced’

Capital projects in Westport ‘ring-fenced’ despite council abolition


Neill O’Neill

FEARS that money Westport Town Council had committed for capital projects in the town would be lost when the council is abolished later this month have been allayed. At a town council meeting last week, Town Manager Martin Keating told councillors that he had received a commitment at county level that the money is ‘ring-fenced’ for the projects.
He also revealed that the council has made a bid to the Department of Defence to buy the old FCA premises at the entrance to Pinewoods for community use, while a contribution is being considered for a ‘new project’ at Westport House.
The council has also pledged €75,000 towards the new sports-facility development planned for Rice College.
Funding has also been put in place for a new market building, the town hall redevelopment, new civic offices at the old Convent of Mercy site, an extension at Sharkey Hill Community Centre, the council’s own contribution to the ongoing Smarter Travel scheme and the CCTV project, amongst other projects.
Commenting on the Rice College development, Mr Keating said it would have multiple benefits. “Rice College has always shared its facilities with the community and the proposed new facilities – an Astroturf to the front and a grass pitch to the rear – will be similarly made available for community use,” he said.
“This will be a gain for the town’s secondary schools, who will have an extensive range of sporting facilities on their doorstep, and it will save them considerable expense on travel. It also adds a dimension to our Smarter Travel project, as it is connected to the Greenway network, and makes a positive statement that the council is concerned and doing something about mental wellness and our young people, and the contribution that sports facilities can make in that regard.”
Mr Keating reiterated that the funding was in place for all the projects outlined, adding that they should be developed in the short term. This news was welcomed by all the councillors.
The Westport Town Manager extended his thanks to the council for their ‘commitment to developing strategically important infrastructure for the town’ and for their cooperation and foresight in adopting ‘balanced and realistic budgets that deliver to Westport.’
He also singled out his staff who work specifically on finance, particularly Town Clerk Ann Moore, Breda Ginley and Edwina McCann, whom he described as the backbone of the finance team. He also wished Breda Ginley well for the future, as she will soon be leaving the staff of the council.
In presenting the financial statement for the year-ended December 31, 2013, Mr Keating explained that there was a deficit in the revenue account (everyday expenses for the council and town) of €162,322, due to the deferred payment of rates under arrangements with ratepayers experiencing cash-flow difficulties.
“No business will go out of business because of rates,” he stated. “This deficit is because of those actions we took to aid ratepayers, but a lot of the rates deficits have since been brought up to date. He said it was a little bit disappointing to show a deficit, but that ‘businesses have to be given flexibility and that is more important’.
The capital account, from which money for the special projects discussed will come, has a balance of €4.1 million.