THE CONTROVERSY over a €16 million leisure centre in Co Kerry, which is on the verge of closing down after less than a year in business, intensified yesterday when the Labour Party described the development as a vanity project for local Fianna Fáil TD John O’Donoghue.
Labour spokeswoman on arts, sport and tourism Mary Upton TD said building the Killarney Sports and Leisure Project, which was heavily backed by Ceann Comhairle and former minister for sport Mr O’Donoghue, was a waste of taxpayers’ money. News that the leisure centre was to close highlighted the urgent need to prevent “excessive spending” by politicians on local “vanity projects”.
“This is parish-pump politics at its worst, with the taxpayers at local and national level having to foot the bill for foolish profligacy.
“When this proposal was first mooted its viability was called into question, particularly in the light of the fact that when it comes to swimming pools the town is already relatively well served.”
Mr O’Donoghue helped to deliver more than €5 million in grant aid for the project. Some €4 million was secured by the sale of a town council site as a location for the new headquarters of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the council borrowed a further €3.5 million to cover costs.
Last week the company which runs the project, Aura, said it could not afford to continue with the loss-making centre after failing to negotiate financial support from the council. It cited the downturn in tourism in Killarney and competition from other pools as the reasons for its decision.
Killarney Town Council last week said it was its “full intention to keep the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre open and operating” and it was examining all options in order to achieve this.
Ms Upton said the local authority was going to be left “holding a very expensive baby which will cost millions more” over the coming years.
“This is in sharp contrast to communities in towns and cities around the country who in recent months have been told by the current Minister Martin Cullen that there is no further money available for any new swimming pools.”
Mr O’Donoghue, who opened the pool in January, was unavailable for comment yesterday.
His spokesman said he would be on holidays until next week.
