FINGAL County Council has defended its decision to
develop a new golf course in one of its public parks.
Questions had been raised in relation to the council’s
spend of
?¬60,000 on preparing, providing and installing a three-par golf course
in St Catherine’s Park in Lucan, which is on the border of South County Dublin
but falls under Fingal’s remit.
Dublin 15 councillor Kieran Dennison (FG) believes the
amenity is unnecessary and that the money would be better spent elsewhere.
“There are a numerous golf courses in the general area
struggling to survive and pay their rates,
? he stated.
“These courses have to compete with the three council
courses at Elmgreen, Corballis and Malahide Desmene, all of which are losing
money and being subsidised by the taxpayer.
“Last year
?¬120,000 of capital funding went into
Elmgreen and Corballis golf courses and a further
?¬80,000 is to be spent this
year.
?
Cllr Dennison called on the council to justify the
expenditure when local sports clubs in less well off areas are in need of
investment.
“In many cases all the council does is cut the grass for
them while they [sports club members] change in the hedges,
? he claimed.
“In Tyrrelstown local residents and clubs are still
waiting for the development of a park in the lands taken over by the council
last year.
?
However, the council hit back at the criticism by
emphasising its commitment to the provision of a diverse range of accessible
sports and leisure amenities in its catchment area.
“With a population of over 273,000 in Fingal and over
100 different nationalities resident in the county, the council’s ethos is to
encourage and enable sport as much as possible as it is internationally
recognised as promoting social cohesion and inclusion, and better public
health,
? a council spokesperson told Northside People.
“The council co-funds a number of sports development
officers who work with schools and clubs throughout the county.
“This amenity will allow adults and children to try
out the sport and develop their skills before moving on to more professional
facilities. In addition, it adds to the variety of public sports amenities in
the south west of the county.
“During any economic downturn, free and low cost
public amenities such as libraries and public parks facilities are in greater
demand than ever before, and Fingal County Council will continue to endeavour
to provide as wide a range of public amenities as possible in the future.
?
Fingal County Council manages in total 200 sports
pitches, 40 tennis courts, 40 playgrounds, five all-weather pitches, nine
multi-use games areas, five outdoor fitness trails and two full-size golf
courses.