Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are trying to get the money for the feasibility study. This group is currently doing that but it is taking years to access any funding. Maybe it is different with the funding for shovel-ready projects but this site is not shovel-ready and will not be until the feasibility study is carried out.

The question is whose responsibility it is to deliver a community centre. Is it always on the volunteers? These are people with their own families who are working their own jobs. What do we want them to do? Do we want them filling in forms and have that as their job, or do we want them out helping young people? They have a summer camp that children from all over Cork city come to join.

All I am saying is that community groups might not have the resources or skills to get these projects over the line. They need to be supported. Along with the funding the Minister is providing, is this something she can do to help them work with the local authorities? Fair Hill has been part of Cork for hundreds of years and this community has been there for decades. All they are looking for is a community centre for their children and their community.

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