RESIDENTIAL estates in Limerick should be provided with a new source of funding over the next five years to tackle local issues.
A scheme, proposed by City North local election candidate Christy McInerney, would see up to 10 per cent of the total local property tax paid in each estate “ring-fenced” for essential works that are required in each area.
The Fianna Fáil hopeful believes this funding would help tackle key issues such as poor lighting, removal of graffiti, road maintenance and the upkeep of green areas.
“The scheme would enable local resident committees apply for funding to tackle the key issues in their area. It would include the likely cost, the proposed suppliers subject to a tender process and the feedback from local residents on why they want these issues tackled,” he explained.
He also envisages a localised capital programme for residential estates similar to the Sports Capital Grant Scheme to address problems that resident associations do not have funding from the local authority to tackle.
“The basic premise of the plan is that the substantial property tax, which these estates will be paying in 2014, should be used to service the very areas it is collected from. I believe that we need to look at politics at every level from a new perspective and approach what we as public representatives want to achieve in a different way,” he said.
