Funding delays are holding up Kildare recreation projects

Concern has been expressed over delays in securing money for amenity and recreation facilities.

A group of Fianna Fáil councillors have called on Kildare County Council come up with a bridging finance provision, covered by policy, to support community and voluntary groups with grant applications.

These applications are for recreation and amenity facilities, that require financing which is not available as the work is being done.

They want it possible to leverage significant amounts of capital investment to advance much needed community supports and allow many projects to proceed.

KCC believes these projects  are to be supported and commended but it’s a concern that even projects that attract 100% funding can have to wait until significant costs have been incurred and paid out prior to being able to draw down grant funding.

Read more Kildare news

This issue has been raised at government department level and clarification is being sought from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for clarification “as to whether a local authority is legally empowered to create such a provision and to advance such finance.”

KCC has also urged councillors to write to the key funding departments and ministers to change the actual grant schemes - to allow some level of advance grant/seed funding where a project is approved and contracts are in place. 

If this was achieved, it could work to kick start the project and cashflow could then be managed through well timed grant claims for the duration of the project. For large projects a monthly recoupment schedule would also improve cash flow and would support groups in project delivery.