The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, praised the Labour party leader, Mr Ruari Quinn, in generous terms at a ceremony in Dublin's Docklands yesterday.
He was presenting 16 community-based projects with £750,000 in grants from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA). The projects come under the DDDA's community development project initiative for 2001 and will be completed this year.
He praised Mr Quinn, who was present, for his work while minister for finance in pushing through legislation to make so much possible in the Docklands, including the awards. It was work he himself had also pursued when minister for finance, Mr Ahern said, and for which "both of us were accused of looking after our own." The awards presented included £210,000 to East Wall Sports Club to build a new clubhouse and launch area, £184,000 to the Clann na Gael Fontenoy Gaelic football club in Ringsend to renovate the pitch, £115,0000 for an extension to the Ringsend community centre, £50,000 to St Agatha's Development Association in the North Strand for the extension and refurbishment of its community hall, £50,000 to Poolbeg Training Ltd for refurbishment of the Rinn Voyager boat, and £45,000 for renovation of the Docklands Life Centre building.
Mini-buses, valued at £12,500 each, are to be bought for the East Wall Swimming Club, the North Wall After-Schools Educational Support Programme, Sherrif Youth Club, and the Life Centre. The East Wall Parents' group is to receive £10,000 for the development of its pottery room, as is the North Wall Senior Citizens' group, to refurbish its premises on Sherrif Street.
Speaking before the presentations, the Taoiseach said that "voluntary activity was the lifeblood of a community" and he praised the people involved.
