Youth, Recreation and Sport

Ever since David was first elected, he has always made the provision of youth services a priority.  In order to attract young people into meaningful activities it is important that they have access to modern facilities and sufficient levels of programme funding.  Over the past number of years David has played a leading role in securing funding for a range of initiatives throughout the town.
 
New amenities such as:

• Ballywaltrim Community Centre with its multi purpose hall, changing rooms, meeting rooms, childcare facility and dedicated youth section
• Semora Youth Centre near the Dart Station
• New youth building in Fassaroe and the redevelopment of the Little Bray Community Centre
• Development of the Ballywaltrim 22 acre park with changing rooms and floodlights
• Floodlights in Fassaroe and the Loreto Astro Pitch
• Bray’s swimming pool with gym and astro turf pitches 
• New pitch to rear of St Kilian’s Community School.

 
In addition to this range of capital projects David has also support a lot of local organisations in securing funding for their activities, grants to assist their development, programme costs to assist with their projects and finance to employ staff to expand their role in their communities.
 
Notwithstanding the progress that has been made it is important that the needs of young people continue to be met and that organisations are supported as they continue to develop their programmes.
 
In particular, the proposal by Wolfe Tone Youth Club to develop the Temple Sports Field, the need for a local skateboard park, the continued provision and maintenance of playground facilities for the youngest in the community and the better development of programmes and activities for older persons are the kind of ideas that need to be delivered in the near future.
 
David recently proposed at a policy committee of Bray Town Council that the Council carry out an audit of the facilities in the town and identify gaps that exist.  They should then prepare suitable plans in conjunction with local organisations to address these shortfalls.
 
David put forward a proposal that was accepted and forms part of the town’s Development Plan, to develop the potential of the harbour in the town and create a centre of excellence on the east coast for those interested in developing outdoor pursuits such as water based activities and as a base from which land based sports such as orienteering, trekking and others can locate from. 
 
David has also pointed out that under the Development Contribution Scheme; where developers may a levy towards community and recreational infrastructure that the funds raised to date by this scheme should be put to good use in meeting new needs in the town.