At the October Plenary meeting of Galway County Council, Independent Councillor Geraldine Donohue under Questions raised the issue of CLAR 2023 funding and the confusion and frustration around the two different deadlines for same.
Cllr Donohue highlighted the Departments deadline of June 6th for the Community Facilities and Amenities, however Galway County Council set their own deadline May 8th in order to get all applications assessed in advance of the Departments date. This in turn resulted in late applications for a number of applicants.
Of the 30 applications received by Galway County Council they have confirmed that seven applications were late having been guided by their perceived deadline (Departments ) of June 6 and as a result were not considered.
Cllr Donohue raised the matter with Director of Services Mr Alan Farrell who agreed to write to the Department asking that the Dept consider revising the application form for next year and not include a closing date on the Departments form but to advise applicants to contact their own local authority for closing date.
Cllr Donohue said that many CLAR applicants / groups had spent an enormous amount of voluntary time and money completing the forms and were so disappointed to be told that their application was received after the Councils deadline of May 8.
Cllr Donohue states that a going forward a single application date would help focus applicants / groups minds on the scheme that are of direct interest to groups.
