Funds approved for Clare attractions

A FUNDING scheme for the music centre Glór and other loss-making leisure attractions has been approved by Clare County Council.

The multi-annual “rescue package” was supported yesterday by councillors, who were told at the authority’s adjourned October meeting of the financial challenges facing visitor attractions.

The council approved the multi-annual, index-linked funding scheme for Glór, Lahinch Seaworld, Kilkee Waterworld, Shannon Swimming and Leisure Centre along with the Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre in Kilrush. Fine Gael councillor Joe Arkins told the meeting he did not think the arts should automatically suffer “like it has done in the past when times are bad”.

He was responding to concerns by Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) that essential services would suffer if the council committed itself to a multi-annual funding programme for the facilities.

Mayor of Clare independent councillor Christy Curtin said the programme was aimed at getting rid of the “ad-hockery” that surrounded the funding.“The bottom line is that this is laying down parameters for the good planning of these facilities,” he said.

In return for financial support, the facilities were to submit a multi-annual business plan and annual accounts to the council.

A condition was also being imposed to ensure the council was represented at both executive and elected-member level on the board of each facility. In a report to the meeting, council director Bernadette Kinsella said a number of the facilities had been operating “ in a precarious situation over the last number of years”.

“None of the trading facilities operates on a break-even basis. Given the current economic climate, it is unlikely this situation will change in the medium term,” she said.

“In addition, a number of the facilities have accumulated capital debt and are facing a further requirement for essential capital investment in the immediate future.” Ms Kinsella said the facilities are considered essential elements of the county’s social, cultural, recreational and tourism resources. Pointing out they were dependent on council support, she said: “There is no great likelihood . . . the level of activity will increase to an extent that will make them viable commercial propositions in the future.”

The facilities receive annual funding from the council, but it is decided upon on a year-by-year basis.

Last year, the council cut Glór’s funding and it is also underwriting Glór’s accumulated debt. Originally conceived as an Irish music centre aimed at tourists, Glór opened in Ennis in 2001. The model of aiming its music towards tourists failed and the centre now focuses on local audiences.