Mayor Emma Murphy with Cllr Shirley O'Hara, Cllr Gus O'Connell, Cllr Baby Pereppadan, Cllr Louise Dunne and Cllr Eoin O'Broin at the aunch of the ‘300K Have Your Say’ in March
Claims Saggart ‘underrepresented’ on shortlist of €300k scheme
A LOCAL councillor has claimed that Saggart is “underrepresented” in the tranche of projects that are in the shortlist for South Dublin County Council’s €300k Have Your Say scheme.
The scheme allows members of the public to submit suggestions for projects in their own Local Electoral Area, to a total value of €300k, and then vote on which ones to carry forward.
This year’s area is Tallaght South, which includes Saggart, however as the projects are voted on by the public this could lead to Saggart “losing out” to Tallaght as it has a smaller population.
This is according to Fianna Fáil councillor Trevor Gilligan, who this week expressed concerns about the potential for Saggart projects on the shortlist not being brought forward due to low votes.
“The population of Saggart village is significantly smaller than that of Tallaght South,” said Cllr Gilligan.
“Therefore, Saggart will lose out, as each item is voted on individually.
“A minimum of €100k to €150k of the €300k should be allocated to Saggart and vice versa.
“The way things are at the moment, Saggart (or Tallaght) could get zero funding based on their numbers and this is unfair.
“Alternatively, if 10 projects are decided, then at least three or four should be ring-fenced for Saggart/Tallaght.”
On the shortlist of 22 projects, a total of five are based in Saggart, including a Dean Swift sculpture and the renaming of the plaza in Saggart village at a cost of approximately €45,000.
Other Saggart proposals include Christmas lights for the village (€15,000), a heritage trail app (€12,500), a bicycle repair station at the Luas stop (€5,000), and a public drinking water pump (€25,000).
“Of the shortlist of 22, only five are Saggart based,” added Cllr Gilligan.
“I encourage residents to make sure to vote online or in person in the Saggart Heritage Centre.”
Votes on the projects will be accepted either in the heritage centre on Wednesday, May 24, from 6pm to 9pm, or online at haveyoursay.southdublin.ie until May 28.
The winning projects will be announced by South Dublin County Council on June 7.
