Sports Minister confirms there is no money for Castlebar tartan track

A ROW has blown up over what is being described as 'the half delivery' of an €11 million sports  construction project in Castlebar.

Local TD Lisa Chambers said the project at Lough Lannagh was to include a running track on a site close to the new swimming pool, which is nearing completion.

The development was broken into phase one and phase two with the running track being in phase two.

She stated: “There has been much speculation and concern locally that the plans for phase two would not go ahead so I submitted a parliamentary question to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport asking when the construction of the running track would commence.

“It has been confirmed to me by the minister that there has been zero money allocated for phase two of the project and no date was given for when this project would even commence.” she said

“This is totally unacceptable, the people of Castlebar were promised a running track and swimming pool, not one or the other. Yet again Fine Gael over promises and fails to deliver. The people of Castlebar and Mayo are sick and tired of constant announcements and promises with nothing to show for it.

“I expect it will be Mayo County Council and the people that will be left to make up the shortfall in funding and the Working Group Report for the GMIT confirms this.

“Stating in the report that it is understood that these plans are at risk and GMIT should work closely with Mayo County Council to establish if a collaborative approach can ensure that they are brought to fruition.

“If the local authority have to pay for the running track that means less money available for local roads and services; this is not good enough and it is certainly not what was promised.

“I am calling on the minister and the government to make good on its promises to the people of Castlebar and Mayo and to ensure the delivery of the much needed running track in the county town. After all it was promised with much fanfare and the people have a right to expect delivery.”