RECREATION AND AMENITY

The Council’s Recreation, Amenity & Community Facilities Programme 2004 – 2009 continued to be implemented in conjunction with the Multi Annual Capital Programme  2006 – 2010 resulting in a number of important projects being progressed:

REGIONAL FOREST PARK AT OAK PARK

Carlow County Council have developed the Forest Park at Oak Park as a recreational, community and amenity facility.  The Forest Park, on 127 acres of land donated by Teagasc, was officially opened to the public on Friday June 2nd, 2006.  It is open daily and visitors are encouraged to respect and protect the Natural Habitat, Ecology and Wildlife.  The Forest Park is a mature mixed species woodland with an extensive range of ferns, mosses and woodland flora.  The Lakes and their surrounds provide a habitat for swans and ducks, while the Islands shelter many wild and game birds. 
The Woodland Walks extend over 4 kilometres including Butlers Wood Loop (700m), Lake Path (800m), Fox Covert track (1100m) and sally Island Trail (1700m).  The Park also includes informal leisure areas, picnic sites and viewing facilities of the lakes and islands.  A significant and unique feature of the Forest Park is the emphasis on Disabled Access.  The boarded and barked walkways, facilitating disabled and wheelchair access, extend for approximately 3.5 kilometres capturing the amenity of the Lake, Picnic and Butlers Wood beauty spots.

DUCKETTS GROVE HERITAGE HOUSE & GARDENS

Following the successful acquisition of Ducketts Grove by Carlow County Council in 2005,  funding was received from Failte Ireland in the amount of €280,500, under the Tourism Product Development Scheme, towards the restoration and refurbishment of the walled gardens and pleasure grounds at Ducketts Grove.  This funding is being utilised to facilitate works, costing €600,000, including site clearance and tree surgery, remedial works to stone walls and entrances, re-instatement of paths, walks, glasshouses and a variety of planting.  Works on the project were commenced in 2006 and are due for completion in June of 2007. 
In addition this funding received from Failte Ireland, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government awarded funding in the amount of €325,000 during 2006 to continue with restoration and structural upgrading works to the main building and outbuildings. The total sum awarded by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to date is €1,325,000. 

ST. MULLINS ECCLESIASTICAL HERITAGE SITE

St. Mullins, in south Carlow on the east bank of the River Barrow, represents one of the most important ecclesiastical and waterway heritage sites in Ireland.  During 2006 negotiations were ongoing with landowners in order to complete the purchase of lands associated with the development of St. Mullins.  In July of 2006, Carlow County Council were awarded funding in the sum of €74,000 from Failte Ireland towards the provision of a parking area for buses and cars adjacent to the Ecclesiastical Heritage Site.  This funding being utilised to facilitate works costing €148,000, including landscaping, picnic facilities and the provision of a pedestrian footpath and footbridges to connect the visitor to the main Heritage Site.  This project being funded by Failte Ireland forms part of the greater plan for the St. Mullins Ecclesiastical Heritage Site and the proposed works are designed to protect the ambience of the important Heritage Site.

AMENITY AREA AT MOUNT LEINSTER

In 2006 the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism announced the provision of funding in the amount of €74,000 towards the provision of Tourism Improvement Works at Mount Leinster.  This funding being utilised to facilitate works, costing €148,000, including the provision of car park, safe walkways, landscaping, heavy duty timber seating, drainage, local road surfacing and markings.  Information signage is also provided with the objective of informing the visitor/walker in relation to the available views from this well known vantage point.  Also provided is a specialist nature rail solution which sensitively limits access to “Sliabh Ban”.  This barrier rail along with the appropriate signage, limits visitors/walkers to the designated trail, therefore limiting damage to the natural landscape.

CARLOW SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE

Carlow County Council and the Board of Management of Carlow Institute of Technology agreed to progress the development of a leisure centre, including gym, swimming pool and related activities to be constructed at the grounds of Carlow Institute of Technology.  In accordance with public procurement directives, notification was advertised in the Official Journal of the EU, inviting applications from suitable qualified Technical Consultants to provide full design of the project from inception to final completion.  Applicants were shortlisted and following interviews a design team will be appointed in the future.

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY FACILITIES SCHEME

In 2006, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, announced the commencement of the Social & Community Facilities Scheme which targets capital works carried out through local authorities designed to enhance communities, address disadvantage and improve social cohesion.  Under this scheme, Carlow County Council were awarded funding in the sum of €150,000 towards the upgrading of community and  sporting facilities in Rathvilly, Co. Carlow at a total cost of €300,000.

Plans and proposals for the project were placed on display for public consultation, in conjunction with the Planning & Development Act 2000 (Section 4 & 179) and the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 (Part VIII) during 2006 and the approval of the members of Carlow County Council to proceed with the project was granted in October 2006. 

SPORTS HALL AT MUINEBHEAG

Carlow County Council in conjunction with Carlow Vocational Education Committee received approval from the Department of Education to provide a Sports Hall adjacent to the Muinebheag Vocational School.  It is proposed that Carlow County Council will provide this facility in exchange for lands owned by County Carlow VEC. 

The proposal provides for a state of the art gymnasium with changing, canteen and related leisure facilities.  The public consultation process, in accordance with the Planning & Development Act 2000 (Section 4 & 179) and the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 (Part VIII), was carried out during November and December 2006. 

PLAYGROUND GRANTS

In 2005 Carlow County Council approved two separate proposals for playgrounds at Hacketstown and Borris.  Funding was received in the sum of €60,000 for these projects and two separate playgrounds were completed in Hacketstown in 2006.  The development of the proposed playground at Borris was postponed until 2006 and the funding was used to provide playground facilities at Myshall, Co. Carlow.

In 2006, Carlow County Council received further funding of €120,000 to provide playgrounds at the Borris, Ballon and Fenagh.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS