Report of the Piltown Electoral Area Meeting

Date:Tuesday, 2nd May, 2006.

Venue:Newrath Area Office, Newrath, Co. Kilkenny.

The main issues addressed during the course of the meeting were as follows:

Recreation Capital Fund

T. Walsh, Director of Services, Community and Enterprise, outlined the present position with regard to this programme. The programme is designed to aid local community groups and organisations with sporting, recreational and cultural objectives. A number of applications for fundinghave been received from various groups throughout the County under this programme, the closing date for which was 31st March, 2006. A decision regarding funding will be made shortly.

Social & Community Facilities Capital Scheme 2006

T. Walsh, Director of Service, Community and Enterprise, made a presentation to the members on this Scheme, the objective of which is to support and strengthen local authorities’ work in building social capital in line with their expanding role in social inclusion and community development. Local authorities are invited to submit proposals for up to 3 social capital projects in their area by Friday, 19th May, 2006. One project was brought up at the meeting that appeared to qualify under this Scheme.

CLAR Programme

T. Walsh, Director of Services, Community and Enterprise, informed the members that the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs had recently announced the Extended CLAR Programme. Additional funding of 22.95m in total had been provided, with the number of Counties covered under the Programme having been increased to 23. The programme would be co-ordinated by the Community and Enterprise Section.

It was agreed to hold a further meeting on 2nd June, 2006, with T. Walsh, Director of Services, in attendance.

Local Improvement Scheme Funding

F. Stafford advised the members that a substantial increase in funding was provided by the Department of the Environment for local improvement schemes in 2006. He stated that the grant allocation was 493,612, which was an increase of 301,000 on last years funding. The members welcomed this increase in funding.