KILDARE NORTH 12 March 2003: Cllr John McGinley from Maynooth has called on residents of North Kildare 'to make their voices heard' over the provision of money for swimming pools in the north of the county.
He believes that Kildare County Council could raise E15 million through Development Contributions, under Section 24 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Levies under this section shall be used for public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the planning authority, including the provision of open spaces, recreational and community facilities and amenities and landscaping works.
Councillors have been advised that the scheme will be brought before them for approval in due course.
"Levies set in the adjoining counties of Wicklow, Meath and South Dublin County Council are in excess of E10,000 per dwelling," Cllr McGinley notes. "If such Levies were imposed on new buildings in Maynooth alone the Council would raise E15m from the Planning Permissions before the Council at present. This funding would be more than enough to construct a Swimming Pool Complex, Community Centre and Children’s Playgrounds in Maynooth."
Similar levies have been placed before in the Rathcoffey Road area of Maynooth to help fund the new Bond Bridge. The most recent levies here were set at E4,000 per house some three years ago.
