300k Have Your Say Winners Announced
300K Have Your Say Winners Announced
9:31 AM | Posted by Emer Higgins |
€300,000 has been awarded to fund 15 projects in Clondalkin and Rathcoole, all nominated and voted on by the local communities.
The 2018 Community Participation Budget of €300,000 was awarded to the Clondalkin electoral area after it was drawn at random from a hat by the County’s Mayor. The initiative offered members of the public the opportunity to have their say on how this money should be spent within their community. 230 nominations were made and nominations were shortlisted into 24 projects which were then put out to public vote.
"On a sunny evening Bru Chronain, the Clondalkin Round Tower, hosted an exceptionally positive event for our area. Fifteen projects put forward by the people, and voted on by the people, were awarded a total of €300,000 to transform those ideas into reality. It’s been a fantastic way of engaging the public and a great opportunity for local groups to win the hearts of their community. With over 230 nominations made and over a 1,000 votes cast this 300K Have Your Say initiative really captured the attention of the public,” said Cllr. Emer Higgins at the event.
“There were some really innovative ideas submitted and it was brilliant to see groups like the Clondalkin Mens Shed win public support. A really interesting idea championed by students at Coláiste Bride was amongst the projects funded and will help make Clondalkin more tourist friendly. It was great to see so many sustainable ideas supporting cyclists, encouraging walking and recycling, planting of flowers and signage to bring to life our Irish heritage, amongst the winning projects. Funding was also awarded to provide Christmas lights for the village. Rathcoole had three successful nominations and will receive an acoustic piano and gym equipment for the Community Centre as well as a playground at Forest Hills,” continued Cllr. Emer Higgins.
“My only regret is that no ideas from Newcastle were shortlisted. Unfortunately, none of the proposals made in relation to Newcastle were eligible under the criteria of nominations. The good news for Newcastle is that we’ll shortly be progressing to public consultation for a playspace which I know was one of the most popular ideas put forward there,” said Cllr. Emer Higgins.
“A huge congrats to the fifteen people who put forward their idea and to all those who voted. Proposers now have until the end of next year to collaborate with the Council and utilise their funding to make those ideas community amenities; and they do so knowing they’ve got the backing of our communities,” concluded Cllr. Emer Higgins.
The fifteen successful projects funded are for the renovation of porta-cabin for the Clondalkin Men’s Shed, the establishment of a pedestrian link between the Round Tower and Corkagh Park, restoration of the Old Nangor Road Water Pump, new Christmas Lights for Clondalkin Village, a Community Orchard, flower planting in Bawnogue, Irish signs for Clondalkin village, safety and inclusivity study of Clondalkin public spaces, on-street bicycle pump for Clondalkin village, bottle banks and recycling facilities at Cherrywood, an acoustic piano for the Rathcoole Community Centre, a new playground for Forrest Hills in Rathcoole, WiFi activated self-guided walk of historical trail in Clondalkin, gym equipment for Rathcoole Community Centre and a welcome to Clondalkin hedge sign.