Louth councillors push for update on Carlingford playground

The planned playground in Carlingford, for which the community group was awarded funding through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme was brought up at the Louth County Council January meeting, by two councillors looking for an update on how the project was proceeding.

Cllr John Reilly first brought up the project, seeking an update on it and the planned solar bins for the village. Cllr Andrea McKevitt also enquired about the project and commented on the communication around the project.

Cllr McKevitt said that they had requested a timeline for the project but had been told that the project was going out to tender last November. She added that the community group had received details in December that it had still not gone out to tender and was told that it would be finished by St Patrick's Day.

Cllr McKevitt commented that it was "really unfair" how the group that was awarded the funding was being treated and asked for "a proper update" on the project.

In response, Director of Services, Catherine Duff, said that the application for the funding was made by the community and that she was surprised by the councillor's comments. She said that the Council was "very much working together with the community" on the project and that it was "not always simple working with communities."

Chief Executive Joan Martin, also commented on the matter, saying that it was "regrettable that the Council had to step in and take on the administration and the running of the project" and that "the Department [of Rural and Community Development] would have envisaged that work would have been done by the community". She added that dealing with procurement is "a far from simple process" and that she regretted the comments from the councillor.