International-standard athletics track should be developed in Kildare

An international standard athletics track should be developed in Naas.

Cllr Bill Clear said that it would be located at the Naas Athletic Club premises which caters from people from all over County Kildare embracing a hinterland with a 100,000 population.

He said the project has the support of governing body Athletics Ireland (AI), it could be used by schools and Naas AC has raised money.

“A lot of work has been done,” he said adding a "strong application” should be made for funding from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund - when  applications open.

According to KCC it's not known when the LSSIF will reopen and “the terms and conditions around this fund are unknown.”

READ NEXT GALLERY: Good Friday at the Curragh Racecourse in Kildare

It was also pointed out that previously a project would have to be part of a council's development plan, identified as a priority by AI, be multi-functional and a grant of at least €600,000 must be sought with capital partnership funding identified. 

At the moment this project  is not listed in the KCC capital programme and “while applications with local authorities and national governing bodies are encouraged, where more than one application is made, applications must be prioritised.”.

A Naas Municipal District meeting was also told  the intended launch of a new social and economic database for the county will be public and will support all clubs, NGOs and agencies operating in Kildare to seek money for the county and “strengthen overall applications to government funding sources.”

KCC official Syl Merrins said only three applications had been successful in Kildare and two of these were supported by national sporting bodies.