'People's savings should be used to fund recreation and sports facilities in Kildare'

Much needed land to provide places for sport and recreation across Kildare could be funded by the money people save.

Independent councillor Seamie Moore won overwhelming support for the idea, at a Kildare county Council meeting.

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He wants the Minister for Finance to request him to introduce a government savings investment scheme “for ordinary savings investors.”

He said this scheme would be used to build a fund which would pay for the acquisition of land and “the provision of community infrastructure.”

He said the present funding methods are inadequate and it would offer an attractive alternative for people earning little interest on money they have saved.

He said the population of County Kildare is expected to increase from 250,000 at present to 350,000 by 2034 and to 400,000 by 2040.

He said the county’s population doubled in the last 30 years and towns like Newbridge, Naas and Sallins have seen the population treble.

He said KCC cannot come up with the money needed for these facilities and nationally there is €165 billion in savings.

“People would support this to fund community and sporting development,” he added.