Knocknaheeny water tower lights row

A LOCAL election candidate has criticised a decision to spend €38,000 illuminating a water tower, saying the money could have been better spent on much more deserving projects.

Cllr Joe O’Callaghan (FG) reacted angrily to a press release issued by Cllr Tony Fitzgerald (FF) which stated that Cork City Council was to spend the money lighting up the water tower at Knocknaheeny.

Cllr Fitzgerald said he campaigned successfully for the project and was delighted city manager Joe Gavin had agreed to sanction the money.

“Over the last number of years, a number of people had asked me to consider lighting up the tower as it is seen from many parts of the city,” Cllr Fitzgerald said.

He said the city council will use low-power lighting to conserve energy.

Cllr O’Callaghan, who is also fighting in the city’s north-west ward along with Cllr Fitzgerald, said he was horrified to see the money spent on such a project in the present economic climate.

“There are more than 300 local authority houses boarded up in that ward alone. We haven’t got enough money to do them all up and turn them over to new tenants.

“That €38,000 would go some way to repairing a couple of the houses. There are currently more than 6,000 applications on the waiting for council houses in the city area,” Cllr O’Callaghan said.

He said that if there was plenty of money around, then he wouldn’t object to lighting the tower.

“But we haven’t got the money and we need to be sensible.

“With all due respect this money could have been better utilised on other projects. It could, for example, have been used to buy equipment for a children’s playground,” the councillor said.