Funding ‘pots’ for local projects and sports clubs in Limerick spark debate

ELECTED members of the Newcastle West Municipal District have questioned how certain local projects should be best-funded.

At their February meeting, councillors questioned whether certain projects, typically funded through the General Municipal Allocation (GMA), could instead be covered by alternative schemes.

Cllr Liam Galvin said members “shouldn't spend GMA on GAA nets and equipment,” with fellow councillor Jerome Scanlan echoing the sentiment.

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Cllr Michael Collins (pictured) agreed, suggesting the funds could be used for other projects and he asked if they “could be funded from other pots.”

Cllr Tom Ruddle said local GAA and girls' camogie teams are doing “great work” within their communities and he noted while they receive council funding, “not everything is covered.”

Cllr Collins said it is “not our responsibility to run a club” while Cllr Jerome Scanlan noted that “a lot of clubs are reliant on church gate collections” but that such funding “has dwindled” in recent years.

Councillors also discussed a number of local initiatives that could potentially be funded from alternative budgets to the discretionary GMA.

These included a request from a local basketball team for funding support for a team trip that was ultimately deemed “invalid” and tree topping works which are to be carried out in a public park.