A war of words is brewing between Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea and Fine Gael city councillor Olivia O’Sullivan over a €100,000 allocation for local improvement works including a playground at Caverdavin Community Park.
Deputy O’Dea told the Limerick Post that the funding had been secured as a result of representations made by himself and local community activist Pat O’Neill.
He said that he had been assured that the local community would be consulted on all aspects of the proposed enhancement works.
Mr O’Neill also welcomed confirmation of the funding which he said would change the lives of the local community.
He said that Deputy O’Dea helped drive the project forward and they arranged for council officials to visit the park and they agreed that It needed an enhancement. “We applied for a grant but were told it would take a year or so before a decision was made on the application,” Mr O’Neill claimed.
“I’m so proud that all our hard work on keeping focused on the end result of getting that grant has now paid off and now the real work begins to bring Caherdavin Park up to the standard of being one of the best in Limerick,” he added.
However, Fine Gael councillor Olivia O’Sullivan had a very different take on the matter.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, she said she wanted to “offer clarification around misinformation circulating in relation to the park at Caherdavin Community Centre”.
“No Council grants have been awarded for a park or playground here and directors in Limerick Council have categorically confirmed this to me,” she said.
“The only funding of €100,000 for a Caherdavin playground being discussed is under the GMA fund, for a project I proposed with the support of elected councillors of Limerick City North. We are hoping to finalise this at our June 15 meeting.
“While this funding has been agreed – the location for a playground in the Caherdavin area is still under discussion with no clear location identified at present.
“As we progress, public consultation will take place to ensure residents of the area will get to share their views.
”The need for a playground in the Caherdavin area is well documented for years now, but nothing has been delivered. I have not forgotten every conversation I had before my election last year, from young families to grandparents, about the lack of facilities in the Caherdavin and Ennis Road areas, and I have highlighted it repeatedly.
“Having secured funding, I will continue to do my utmost to progress the playground project and deliver the long-awaited amenity for the area,” she added.
