Council told to get a loan and complete Mayo climbing wall project

MAYO County Council has been told to get a loan and complete the climbing wall at the Lannagh complex in Castlebar.

The project remains at a standstill due to a funding shortfall.

Councillor Blackie Gavin has had enough with the delays, calling on the council to get a loan and 'get the job finished'.

The tender process for both the specialist climbing wall installation and the main construction works has been fully completed and evaluated. But the council has been awaiting approval of additional funding before awarding the contract.

Speaking at the monthly municipal meeting, Councillor Gavin said they received money from Minister Jack Chambers and then had to resubmit an application to Minister Thomas Byrne, who gave them money, and now there is a shortfall again.

“I am making a proposal to write to the chief executive, Kevin Kelly, to raise a loan and get the job finished once and for all.”

It's going on too long, since 2014, he lamented, noting that it is shovel-ready project.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, seconding, agreed it is 'dragging on'.

They can raise loans for everything except the things that are needed, it seemed to him, and he supported a loan until such time as the funding comes through.

ATU are also partners in the project and Councillor Donna Sheridan asked for a report on what funding they have put towards it to date.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme