December 2008
Letter sent to Councillors - December 2008
1ST December 2008.
LETTER SENT TO Tullamore Town & Offaly County Council (TULLAMORE AREA) COUNCILLORS
Dear Cllr.
Further to our letter to you on the 6th February 08 regarding an Arts Center for Tullamore and Offaly. We are aware that the budget estimates meeting for 2009 is due shortly. Our group is very concerned that no apparent real progress has been made on this issue in 2008.
The €2M grant under the ACCESS 2 funding scheme which has been allocated to Offaly County Council for the provision of such a facility is now, we believe, in real danger of being lost. This would be an absolute tragedy, as this level of funding may never be available again, particularly in the current economic climate. Under the ACCESS 2 guidelines, projects must be completed before the end of 2009 to qualify. We all are aware of how hard the Tullamore Swimming Pool Committee worked over a period of twenty years to raise approximately half a million euros. The grant we are in danger of losing is four times that amount.
Our group is greatly concerned that there is appears to be a great lack of urgency within the Council, both County and Urban, on progressing this issue. The Council is still ‘considering’ a number of options. This consideration process has now been going on for over eight years. Is it not time for some decision making?
Funding needs to be put aside, and ring fenced, in the 2009 estimates for this important piece of infrastructure. Our community is, we believe, entitled access to visual and performing arts. Almost all other County towns now have a dedicated Arts facility. Why is Tullamore so different?
Yours Faithfully,
___________________
Fionnuala Corrigan
Chairperson.