Two Kilkenny communities to share €70,000 for safety works – Minister Phelan

Two Kilkenny communities are to get improved lighting, car parking and safety upgrades, Junior Minister, John Paul Phelan, has announced.

Crosspatrick and Muckalee are to share €70,000 under CLÁR Programme 2018 and Minister Phelan acknowledged the major efforts on the ground from local councillors Johnny Brennan in Muckalee and Mary Hilda Cavanagh in Crosspatrick.

“Under the CLÁR Programme 2018, Crosspatrick Village and Crosspatrick Tidy Towns have been granted €20,000 to allow for the completion of phase two, the final phase, of a lighting project in the village.

“I’m also delighted to confirm that €50,000 is to be made available to Muckalee Community Creche and St Brendan’s National School to allow for the development of car parking, a bus set down area, footpaths, road markings, signage and more.

 “These are very important safety measures for both areas and the good news today for both communities is down to the hard work of their local representatives who made very strong cases to central government for this investment,” Minister Phelan said.

The two successful Kilkenny projects are among 51 granted funding by Michael Ring T.D., Minister for Rural and Community Development. In all, a further €1.6 million is being shared among the 51 rural communities to provide safety measures, play areas and multi-use games areas for schools and communities under the CLÁR Programme 2018. 

The latest investment comes on top of the €7.5 million for 240 projects of this nature approved earlier this year, bringing to €9.1 million the total investment in these facilities under the CLÁR programme in 2018.

More than 1,200 projects that have been supported by CLÁR funding since Minister Ring re-introduced the scheme in 2016. Projects supported by CLÁR funding to date include pedestrian crossings, flashing lights and speed indicators adjacent to schools and community facilities in order to slow down traffic as well as play grounds and multi-use games areas and supports for emergency responders.