Speaking in the Seanad today Green Party Senator Pauline O’Reilly raised the matter of local authorities failure to spend funds allocated to them by government.
O’Reilly stated “I would like to see that we invest more in outdoor recreation facilities for young people – older young people. I was in Spanish Arch on Friday, passing through, I might just let everybody know, and I could see how difficult it was for the Gardaí to manage”.
She continued “I don’t believe however, that closing off Spanish Arch and then funnelling people into some other part of the city or into houses is the right approach. O’Reilly added “The July stimulus funding has still not been spent by Galway City Council, and funding for bins has still not been spent. Let’s really see that the funding that the government is putting in place is being spent by these local authorities and that we are following up. If it’s not, why is it not?”
Senator Pauline O’Reilly is looking for clarity on how the allocated funds have been spent by Galway City Council.
On top of the July Stimulus funding last year Minster Eamon Ryan announced €5million extra funding for litter prevention and cleaning as Ireland prepares for an outdoor summer in May 2021. In April the Minister announced a new €15 million Additional Outdoor Infrastructure Fund to help ensure a safe outdoor summer. The funding was allocated to support local authorities enhance outdoor urban space and improve walking and cycling infrastructure.
Minister Catherine Martin in March announced a new €17 million scheme for developing outdoor dining capacity nationwide and enable Local Authorities to develop permanent outdoor public dining spaces in towns and urban centres, similar to those that exist in various European cities.