Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise this matter. Before I go into it, I am also aware of somebody in the National Rehabilitation Hospital who is awaiting the provision of funding for a homecare package. It is very frustrating, to say the least. We will return to this issue at a later date.

An application has been made via Cork County Council on behalf of Kanturk and District Community Council under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme which is run by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the leadership of the Minister, Deputy Ring. I raise this issue because an application for CLÁR funding for the regeneration of the town park in Kanturk was made by Cork County Council earlier this year. The local authority was under the impression that if it prioritised its CLÁR applications, they would be guaranteed to be funded. Only three of its 16 applications were funded and they were all outside the north Cork region.

I am looking for funding under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme for the regeneration of Kanturk town park which has been developed by local people over many decades. It has been kept up to date and improved during the years, but there is now a need for massive redevelopment. It is a fantastic park in the middle of the town on the banks of the river. Great credit is due to those who spearheaded its development in decades gone by. We are at a juncture when there is a need for massive redevelopment. In recent weeks we have finally seen funding come through for the construction of the relief road in Kanturk. The local authority will move very quickly to try to make sure boots will be on the ground and the project developed.

The total cost of the town park project is €140,000 and under measure 2 of the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme funding of €112,000 is sought. I hope the Minister of State will take back to the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the importance of the scheme and making sure Kanturk will be successful in its application. We need to make sure we will have a vibrant town park. It is picturesque, but the replacement of the old pathways and landscaping is needed. Many people speak about the benefits of sensory gardens. The park will include one. There will be biodiversity, in the context of climate change, into which all communities are buying.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the voluntary work that has been done by the Tidy Towns committee and the community council in recent months, particularly the voluntary efforts made on Saturdays and Tuesdays by the Tidy Towns committee which has done fantastic work in the community. Kanturk is a vibrant town and has a unique status in the country.

I ask the Minister of State to make sure the contents of this debate are carried back to the Department; I am not raising the issue just for the purposes of speaking about it. I ask the Department to look seriously at it. The park ticks many boxes with reference to environmental issues. Kanturk will be enhancedby having a sensory garden, a picnic area, seating and benches in the park. An awful lot of work at local authority level has been put into putting the application together. The local LEADER company, all vested interests and partnership groups have bought into the scheme. I ask the Minister of State to outline the Department's thinking on the application.

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