Croke Park decision to withhold funding for new GAA training facilities in Tulla forces the Clare County Board to revise planning application
Croke Park has told the Clare County Board that it will not fund its planned state of the art training facility at Tulla unless planning is secured to allow competitive matches that can accommodate 1,500 people take place at the site.
Last year, the County Board secured planning permission on a training facility at Caherloghan, Tulla, that includes five training pitches, a synthetic running track, a synthetic all-weather pitch, six flood-light masts and 171 car parking spaces.
In giving the plan the go-ahead, Clare County Council ordered that the development should be used solely for the purposes of a training facility and that no competitive matches should take place on site to be watched by spectators.
However, the County Board has lodged a new application to overcome the restrictions including in the grant of permission last year.
In a letter to the council, the County Board’s consultants state that in its present format, the planning permission restricts the County Board from achieving the full potential of the site and delivering a facility that will bring significant positive benefits to Clare.
The letter states: “While the development will increase the capacity to facilitate training for all grades in both codes, there is a still a lack of playing facilities within the county for competitive games such as post primary and third level competitions.
“Funding for the facility is to come primarily from the Central Council Capital Programme of the GAA and the National Infrastructure and Safety Committee, who administer this funding, have informed Clare County GAA Board that they are unhappy with the planning permission in its present format.
“They have recommended that the application for funding should not progress until the planning permission for the project is revisited.”
The letter continues: “The Clare County Board is requesting that competitive games be allowed on the site and members of the public be allowed as spectators to the facility.
“The competitive games would consist generally of primary, post primary, third level competitions and club fixtures with a capacity of between 1,000 and 1,500 spectators.
The letter stresses: “The facility would not be expected to host such fixtures as National League inter county games as these would still be held at Cusack Park in Ennis.”
As part of the application, the board is seeking the construction of a covered terrace and the provisison of 375 car spaces.
A decision is due on the application next month.
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