Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The first time the Department met Westmeath County Council was earlier this year. Prior to that, there had been no interaction. There are community groups using that facility at the moment - the GAA, the youth cafe, the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel - and many more community groups wish to avail of the facility. The simple fact is that the Department cannot expect Westmeath County Council, which already lacks sufficient funding to provide the services it is meant to be providing, to take this on board and open it to a wider community without getting the necessary financial supports from the Department. There is a public meeting this Thursday night, which I have convened to ascertain the level of public interest in the future use of this facility. If a plan were devised, would the Department press the pause button and say it will not put it up for public auction in order to give the community an opportunity to carry out a feasibility study and present the plan? Would the Department look at funding the implementation of that plan into the future?

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