Limerick Council allocate €3m for projects across the county

ALLOCATING €3m for playground upgrades, sensory hubs and new community centres will be among the first things in the new mayor’s in-tray after they are elected.

It comes after councillors failed to agree where millions of euro to fund projects like these will go - with rural members crying foul over the majority of money going to the city.

At the final council meeting of this term, planning director Vincent Murray presented a series of projects that the local authority wants to move forward using money obtained from development contributions.

This is funding made available through the development contribution fund, money made up of payments from developers upon receiving planning permission.

These are spent on funding public infrastructure.

Council bosses are proposing €40,000 to go towards a sensory garden in Adare.

Also in Adare, €25,000 is being proposed to begin planning for a new village hall, while the local heritage centre has been earmarked €80,000. Elsewhere, €100,000 is proposed for an upgrade and extension to Castleconnell playground, with another €30,000 for works at Castleconnell playground.

A West Limerick Tourism Hub is planned at Newcastle West, with €15,000 proposed to be set aside for consultancy fees.

In the city, a planned new food hub has been allocated €200,000 by officials who are also planning upgrades to the parklets, which became popular during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The renewal of festoon lights and cables across some city streets has been earmarked €25,000.