DUBLIN City Council has said it is committed to proceeding with long mooted proposals for the refurbishment of dilapidated dressing room facilities in Pearse Park, Crumlin even though there is a substantial shortfall in the funding needed to complete the project.
The local authority recently informed officials at three sports clubs based in the park that it intends to press ahead with plans to refurbish the existing facilities there, which were built in the 1970s.
The redevelopment will consist of a revamp of existing facilities as well as new extensions that will provide changing rooms, a referees’ room, as well as showers and ancillary facilities for storage.
The council estimates the project will cost just over
?¬1 million. It has identified
?¬600,000 for the scheme from its own Capital Budget. The council could also use two outstanding grants, with a total value of
?¬250,000, for facilities at Pearse Park that it received in 2003 and 2004 but has not yet spent.
An application made by the council for
?¬300,000 under the Sports Capital Grant scheme was rejected recently by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The hundreds of members of Crumlin United Football Club, Crumlin GAA Club and Crumlin Boxing Club all use the dressing room facilities at Pearse Park. Officials at the clubs have campaigned for over 10 years to have their current facilities refurbished or replaced.
Jim Browne, chairman of Crumlin GAA Club, described the current condition of the dressing room facilities as
“dickensian
?.
He said the club accepts the council’s proposals for the refurbishment of the facilities, but he added that the plan would still not adequately cater for the club’s 400 plus members.
“We have ladies football, we have camogie, we have juveniles and we have more members now than we have ever had,
? he said.
“Yet we have two little dressing rooms.
“Yes, the proposals will be an improvement and we accept them, but by no stretch of the imagination does this meet our requirements at the rate we are growing.
?
Gerry McGuigan of Crumlin United said the existing facilities at Pearse Park were dilapidated.
“The dressing rooms there at the moment are almost 40 years old at this stage, so they are pretty dilapidated,
? he stated.
“The toilets are blocking up, the showers don’t work and there are no facilities for girls.
?
Cllr Ruairà McGinley (FG) welcomed the indication by the council that it is committed to going ahead with the project.
“I am hoping that we can complete detailed planning work in January and finally get the project off the ground,
? he said.
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said it was committed to improving and redeveloping the facilities at Pearse Park.
The spokesperson said the council hopes to meet with officials from the clubs later this month.
“The council currently has some funding in place and will explore options to meet the shortfall created as a result of the recent unsuccessful capital grant application,
? the spokesperson added.