This article is from page 18 of the 2006-05-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
LAHINCH looks set to receive a double funding boost over the next couple of months with the announcement of almost €1 million of grant aid to improve facilities in the town.
Funding of up to €800,000 has been secured from Clare County Council to facilitate the development of toilets, showers and other touristrelated facilities on the town’s seafront promenade.
This funding has been made available as a result of the decision to double the cost of parking on the promenade and Liscannor Road car parks.
The money will go towards developing toilet and shower facilities for visitors and the town’s expanding surfer population, as well as the redevelopment of lifeguard facilities on the beach.
The cost of parking in both locations will increase from €1 to €2 for a three-hour parking disc and from €2.50 to €4 for an eight-hour disc. With tens of thousands of tourists parking on the promenade each Summer, the increase is likely to bring in more than €100,000 extra for the local authority each year.
In addition, the town could also benefit from €100,000 of funding from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Clare County Council have put forward funding proposals in the name of Lahinch, Kilrush, Ennis and Shannon, with three of the four Clare proposals likely to get the go-ahead.
“I welcome the decision wholeheartily because the council has always had a great interest in Lahinch,” said Lisdoonvarna County Councillor, Martin Lafferty (Ind).
“It is a mighty plan. They gave us a look at it at the last council meeting and it includes new parking, toilet and shower facilities for the surfers.”
Meanwhile, Lahinch will have to wait until 2007 before it can go ahead with plans to develop a children’s playground alongside the promenade.
Community groups in Corofin and Lisdoonvarna were awarded €57,500 each for the development of playground facilities while proposals from Ennistymon and Lahinch have been deferred until January of 2007.
“It is a wonderful initiative from the council and it is long overdue,” continued Cllr Lafferty.
“I know people from Ennistymon who travel all the way to Loughrea just to use the playground there so there is a major interest in it.”