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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Clondalkin Equine Club closure

Summary

Deputy Kenny warns that the Clondalkin Equine Club may close despite significant public investment and says 20 young people will lose stabling facilities. The Tánaiste says he will try to find a funding mechanism, possibly involving the local authority, though Kenny says the council has refused.

I raise an issue that is very different from those we have just discussed. In two months' time, the Clondalkin Equine Club, which promotes urban horse ownership and equine education, will close. This is incredible because thus far the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has spent €800,000 building and funding the project. I cannot fault the Department whatsoever; it has done a brilliant job. We are in a situation where 20 young people will have nowhere to stable their horses come July. This is a travesty when we consider the amount of money - up to €70 billion - that has been paid to the horse industry. The club is looking for a fraction of that. We speak about young people's health and well-being. In July, this club will have to close for the sake of a small amount of money. I appeal to the Government to come together and develop an interdepartmental response to fund this project.

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I thank the Deputy very much. I know this is a very important issue in Clondalkin. Deputy Higgins also raised it with me and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been to visit the project in the past. I am sure we will find a mechanism to fund the project so that it keeps going. I am not sure whether that will be done through the local authority. I know that in my part of Dublin, Fingal County Council funds such projects, so perhaps the local authority is the solution. However, we are happy to work together to try to find a solution-----

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The council said it will not do that.

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

-----because nobody wants to see the project close.

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