AN application for funding of more than €100.000 for the provision of a children’s playground in the Lackagh area is set to be approved next week, according to two local Fine Gael representatives.
Planning permission for the 940 square-metre playground was granted by Galway County Council last month and the project should get the green light shortly when government funding of €105,000 is expected to be sanctioned.
Councillor Jarlath McDonagh said the application for a grant through Galway Rural Development had been referred to the government intermediary body, Pobal, last week and that he was hopeful the funding would be approved within ten days.
“This is the culmination of much hard work at both national and local level and I wish to acknowledge the support I received from Deputy Brian Walsh, who has made representations to the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government on a number of occasions in relation to the project,” said Cllr McDonagh.
“The playground will be an extremely important facility for an area with a thriving, young population that has rapidly expanded in recent years.”
The long-awaited amenity will be located on a site donated by Turloughmore Hurling Club at Knockdoemore, which is in close proximity to a number of primary schools in the surrounding area.
Deputy Walsh paid tribute to the local community, which has raised 25% of the total cost of the development through a fundraising initiative in order to bring the project to fruition.
“This approval of this funding for the playground project would be an appropriate award for the hard work and community spirit exhibited by the local community in making the project a reality,” he said.
Funding of €105,000 to cover 75% of the total cost of the development is expected to be sanctioned by Pobal next week after it was referred by Galway Rural Development for approval last Thursday.
A local committee based in Lackagh has run a fundraising campaign dubbed Playground4Lackagh as part of their effort to cover the remaining 25% of the cost of the amenity.
