FIANNA Fáil councillor Catherine Slattery has requested that Limerick City and County Council find the necessary funding for The Factory youth space in Galvone until an alternative space can be found.
Cllr Slattery wants the local authority to purchase the building across from VPK Packaging in the Galvone Industrial Estate to house the youth space so it can continue its work in the area.
The City East representative also urged the Council’s new directly-elected Mayor, John Moran, to come up with a solution to have a facility exactly like The Factory located somewhere in the Southside.
“There is currently no other youth space in Limerick of its kind. Secondly, 37,000 people walked through the doors in 2023 and only last weekend 400 people attended an event at the youth space.
“Even though I have been told €11millon will be put into St Enda’s for a top of the art sports facility I feel this will be used by the GAA, not the community,” Cllr Slattery told the council executive.
“Newly elected Mayor John Moran called to see the workers at The Factory and he advised then on the day that if elected he would do what he could to save The Factory. I am now calling on Mayor Moran to keep his promise and help the people of the Southside.”
In response to the Fianna Fáil councillor’s calls, Joe Delaney, the Council’s Director of Regeneration, stated that The Factory is receiving a significant grant each year towards its operation from the Economic and Social Intervention Fund, which is not a long-term funding source.
Mr Delaney also promised to examine the current position with relevant stakeholders and revert to Cllr Slattery and the other elected members for the area.
Cllr Slattery was unsatisfied with the response and took the view that the The Factory is one of a kind and its future should not be based on temporary funding.
“There is a government in place that provides funding for a lot of different sports groups and community centres ,which I am sure if applied for would help with the running of The Factory youth space. The Council in connection with Limerick Youth Service surely can come up with a solution,” she concluded.
