Kerry County Council is to carry out a full assessment of applications for the Community Support Fund.
Listowel Fianna Fáil Cllr Jimmy Moloney raised the issue recently saying groups and festivals allocated money earlier in the year had been sent letters saying they would have to return it, if they hadn’t spent it by the start of lockdown.
The Community Support Fund aims to provide financial support to community groups and local organisations who want to undertake projects that will improve the range or quality of community projects and facilities in their area.
In March it was announced that 287 groups and projects across the five Municipal Districts in Kerry were to receive grant aid worth €485,000 in total.
Listowel Fianna Fáil Cllr Jimmy Moloney says there’s huge concern among community groups such as those carrying out Tidy Towns work, who have already spent the money they were allocated.
He said while it was fair for cancelled festivals to return funding, it wasn’t fair on other groups that carried out work in their communities in good faith.
The Kerry Public Participation Network sent a letter to groups at the start of July, stating they had raised the issue with Kerry County Council as some groups found themselves in financial difficulties, as they had carried out the works.
Speaking at the recent monthly meeting of Kerry County Council, Chief Executive Moira Murrell said they will now review each application.
