Calls for 'more robust' communication on Local Property Tax and other grants in Kildare

A Fianna Fáil councillor has called for “more robust” communication to all groups supported by Local Property Tax (LPT) and other grants in Kildare.

Cllr David Trost, who tabled his motion at a recent Celbridge Leixlip Municipal District meeting, further called for “a centralised communication process” to better inform the public on all the supports being provided by the council and events being held.

Thanking the council for its response, Cllr Trost said this was not a criticism of the council, but rather it was a case of not getting the message out to the public of what is available “to the extent that we should.”

There was a need for the local authority, he said, to constantly challenge itself in terms of its communications to the general public, and “how better to reach out.”

He said the other issue is that with many of the groups who avail of grants historically, their committees sometimes change and they “lose the knowledge” in terms of what is available to them.

“There's a lot happening that's very positive”, he said, “but I'm just not sure that everybody knows about it.”

“We've a great story to tell, and I think that we just need to tell it better.”

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Cathaoirleach Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) pointed out that LPT funds “do an awful lot” for the county, and it was an example of where a tax is used to benefit communities.

But he agreed with Cllr Trost that somehow the message “appears to be broken on that.”

A report issued by the council stated that the local authority agrees that “a proactive, coordinated and consistent communications approach” would enhance public awareness and understanding of the valuable work delivered by groups supported through LPT and other grant schemes.

The report stated that this could be facilitated by encouraging groups in receipt of LPT or other grant funding to submit key information on project milestones, launches, community benefits and upcoming events.

In addition, the report continued, there was scope to expand the use of high-quality digital content, “including short videos, photography and community-focused storytelling, to better highlight project outcomes and local voices.”

The report concluded: “The Communications Team will continue to work with relevant internal sections to strengthen funding conditions and reporting requirements at application stage, supporting a more centralised communications approach and enhancing public understanding of the impact of council funding.”