COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

• MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
• Tuesday, May 22, 2018
• QUESTION NO. 6
• QUESTION: Councillor L. O’Toole
• “Following my recent motion and further discussions with Lucan Harriers regarding the deficit in funding for the perimeter needed to secure the newly planned running track which will be of great benefit to the Lucan and surrounding area, this Area Committee asks the Chief Executive to arrange a meeting with the relevant persons to discuss funding. The proposed grants offered will be either too late or result in the club having to provide 50% to cover the costs which is not possible considering the additional unforeseen costs already placed on the club?”
• REPLY:
• South Dublin County Council applied for funding to DTTS under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme for an athletics track at the Council’s Esker Park, Newcastle Road, Lucan. An award of €200,000 was made. The works were tendered for and were returned in the region of €500,000. The shortfall between the cost of the project and the grant is being funded by Lucan Harriers. In exchange for club funding SDCC is entering into an Annual Management Licence with the club so that they can use and enjoy the asset while they honour the terms of the licence.
• The main construction works for the athletics track commenced on site on the 19th of February 2018. On the 18th of April 2018 an administrator was appointed to Crawford Contracts Group Ltd. (The Main Contractor). The Council informed the Funding Department and all other stakeholders of this development.
• Once the main contractor failed to attend on site South Dublin County Council acted to secure the site and prevent unauthorised access and security remains in place on site. South Dublin County Council is now acting to terminate the contract with Crawfords’ Contract Group (in adminstration) and this is being progressed with the law department. Once that process is complete then the works will be re-tendered. The Council are apprising Lucan Harriers of developments as they arise.
• An application for boundary fencing for this project was submitted under the  Council’s Community Department’s Community Infrastructure Fund. The Fund was advertised and open to receive applications until the 13th of April at 4pm. This is a fund of €250,000 which offers Community Groups (including Sports Clubs) the opportunity to apply for funding, to assist with the costs of either constructing new Community Facilities or for the modernisation and/or expansion of existing premises. The fund is considering funding requests from a minimum of €5,000 up to a maximum of €30,000, and groups applying must demonstrate proof of match funding of up to at least 50% of the total amount of funding being sought. A decision is still awaited on these grants.