Dundalk IT students demand €125 refund as JJB facility fails to open

What the new facility is supposed to look like but progress on converting it has been slow

Dundalk IT Students’ Union have demanded a full refund of the €125 each student paid towards the new DkITSport facility, which was to open last year at the former JJB premises at Dundalk Retail Park.

An emergency class rep meeting was called by the Students’ Union yesterday, with 87 class reps in attendance being told that the latest information from the college was that the facility will not be open until this summer.

At the start of the 2014/2015 academic year in September, each student paid an additional €125 on their college fees towards the former JJB facility, which DkIT were set to convert into a major sports centre.

In exchange for the €125 they would receive full membership to the gym facility.

This was to open in September or October but when it failed to do so DkIT Students’ Union renegotiated that students would receive a refund on a pro-rata basis.

This would mean that if the facility opened in February they would receive €62.50 back. However, after hearing that the facility will now not be open until June, students have demanded that their money be refunded in full, with the levy not coming into place until the facility is fully operational in September.

Students’ Union President Brian Fitzpatrick said: “This year in DkIT the students have grown very frustrated due to many cuts and changes to our vital services.

“We promised the students that we would stick by them throughout this process and ensure that they will be treated fairly. The only fair option now is for a full refund as otherwise there would be a blatant breach of the original plebiscite voted on by the students in 2012.”

The Students’ Union previously blocked plans to build a velodrome in the facility, a venture that was put forward by college representatives in conjunction with Cuchulainn Cycling Club.

Cllr Sharkey calls for update on the taking in charge of Willow Grove estate

The entrance to Willow Grove, off the Carrickmacross Road

Local councillor Tomás Sharkey has asked management of Louth County Council for an update on the taking in charge of Willow Grove on the Carrickmacross Road.

The Sinn Féin representative said the estate was in need of repairs but said the council were powerless to carry them out until the issue of taking it in charge had been sorted.

He said: “Willow Grove estate badly needs repairs to the road surface. However it has not been taken in charge by Louth County Council which means that the road and other infrastructure is not yet the council’s responsibility.

“In 1997 the developer applied to have the estate taken in charge but then withdrew from the process in 2000. There is a paper bond with Danske Bank but council officials have yet to report how much this bond is worth. I am told that it will be insufficient to carry out necessary works to bring the estate to an acceptable level to be taken in charge.

“Last June I was informed by the County Manager that there was a plan to conduct a plebiscite, as provided for under Section 180 (3) (a) of the Planning & Development Act 2000 and to proceed accordingly. If this plebiscite of the residents in Willow Grove has the preferred result, Louth County Council will be able to take the estate in charge and start planning on carrying out works to it’s infrastructure.

“I am looking forward to management of our local authority coming back to me with some progress very soon.”