A motion seeking funding for a new playground in West Kerry led to heated exchanges at a recent Municipal District meeting.
Sinn Féin councillor Robert Brosnan tabled the motion at the Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne meeting for the development of the amenity in Lispole.
Cllr Brosnan told the meeting that a community group had been rejected twice for Clár funding and don’t want to be made a fool of by applying a third time.
He said it’s vital such a facility is delivered soon, as Lispole will welcome a record number of visitors to the village next year for comortas peile na Gaeltachta.
MD Cathaoirleach Bobby O’Connell quoted Cllr Brosnan from earlier in the meeting, stating West Kerry is being forgotten about and no money is being spent there.
The Fine Gael councillor noted that Cllr Brosnan is the only elected MD member in the chamber, who voted against the council’s budget of almost quarter of a million euro.
Bobby O’Connell stated all these amenities cost money, before asking did Cllr Brosnan not think it was duplicitous to come to the council looking for this funding, and then voting against the budget over plastic bags.
He added the other Corca Dhubhne councillors backed the budget - which would allow such amenities be built - but Cllr Brosnan opposed it.
Responding, Cllr Brosnan said if he has an issue with a budget he won’t back away from it or be a sheep, adding he objected to the budget on principle over the cost of eco-sense bags.
He added that he’s here to represent a community which feels it has been ignored for two years by Clár funding.
Cllr O’Connell said he accepted this, but councillors can’t abdicate responsibility because they don’t like an answer over plastic bags.
The Cathaoirleach said all councillors want facilities for their local areas, but this money has has to be sourced from somewhere, and Cllr Brosnan can’t have it both ways.
Fine Gael councillor Tommy Griffin said to describe people who voted for the budget as sheep isn’t appreciated; noting that people in Sinn Féin also voted in favour of the budget.
Independent councillor Jackie Healy-Rae said he took exception with the inferring that other councillors are sheep.
He added if they had all followed Cllr Brosnan’s example, there would be no budget, and Kerry County Council would be like the United States - and would be in shut down.
Responding to the motion, MD manager Angela McAllen, encouraged Lispole community group to reapply for the funding.
Cllr Brosnan responded saying the group don’t have the time as they need it for this year, adding there will be no Comortas without the playground.
