Scott critical of the lack of investment allocated to Greystones District

Greystones Cathaoirleach Lourda Scott has criticised the lack of investment allocated to the Greystones District in Wicklow County Council’s new Capital Investment Programme, which was on the agenda for noting at May’s Council meeting.

Cllr Scott said it was deeply frustrating that despite the Greystones District experiencing some of the highest population growth in the county, yet councillors have no input into how hundreds of millions of euro of capital investment in County Wicklow is spent.

Speaking after the Council meeting, she said: “For years the Greystones District has done the heavy lifting in the delivery of housing in Co. Wicklow.  Our population has already exceeded growth targets and expected to increase by another 5,000 people over the next five years. The area generates a huge amount of development levy income, yet councillors aren’t provided with a breakdown. Instead we are presented with a predetermined capital spending programme that we have no input into. As an example of the weakness in this process, there is no specific allocation towards an arts facility in the Greystones District within a capital programme worth more than €676 million. This is despite repeated calls from our community for a proper arts and cultural space for the area.

Cllr Scott pointed to the recreation and amenity budget as another example of the disconnect between local needs and spending priorities.

“Out of a 62 million euro recreation and amenity budget for projects across the county, €19 million of which comes from development levies, we find only €170,000 is identified for the Greystones District. This is for a project planned in Dr Ryan Park, which I have requested details on but have yet to receive a response, so we don’t even know what this is being spent on. While Dr. Ryan Pk. is in need of attention, this is a miniscule allocation for a district of our size. I want to be clear that I am not criticising council staff. Officials are simply doing their job within the system.  The real problem here is that democratically elected councillors are being excluded from major decisions about how money is spent for their communities. We are not even adopting this capital budget, simply asked to note it.

“Our communities deserve better than this and should be seeing amenities delivered alongside the development taking place in their area. Without a reform of how local Government works, it is hard to see how this is going to change.”