Taoiseach’s Mayo village cycling club hits jackpot with Lottery grant

RayCun

Pelvis wrote: »

Haven't read the thread, but where do you guys think the money went? What about their own club members, are they not curious seeing as the money was supposed to be for turbos for them!

The main problem, from my perspective, is that the money should not be going to a sports club at all. There are sports capital grants available to clubs. If they wanted to buy equipment, they should have applied through that system. Department of Health grants are not for regular sports clubs. Yes, yes, sport is good for your health, but this money is for other groups.

There has been some mention that even members of the club are actually paying for these classes, and the implication that there are particular individuals who are mainly going to benefit... maybe, maybe not, that's all beside the point.

The club should not have applied for that grant, and it should not have been given the money. <SNIP> No-one is suggesting that people were bribed. But the club was given grant money it was not entitled to, because they are in the Taoiseach's constituency. He wanted to make them happy, someone else wanted to make the Taoiseach happy, and so the grant funding rules were ignored.

spyderski

Agree almost 100% with RayCun. <SNIP>

This is €20,000 of money from a Department that spends its time looking for more money from government to fix the shambles that is our health system, and is indicative of the poor governance that is in widespread effect when it comes to the spending of State funds.

I have only latched on to this one because it involves something I am familiar with, i.e. Cycling clubs and their funding. I'm not for a moment suggesting this is the biggest corruption scandal of our time, but it's a microcosm of a broader mismanagement of the country.

spyderski

As promised, I'm not letting this one go. It's now getting near turbo time - Presumably the spin bikes will be arriving in Jack's Cottage any day now. Can't wait to see what they've spent the €20k on.

Would be terrible if they don't spend the money within the 12 month time limit - someone could report them and they'd have to pay the money back. ;-)

spyderski

In an astounding development, the €20,000 obviously wasn't enough! They appear to be trying to raise nearly USD$50,000 from a US-Mayo fundraising programme!

http://mayo.designwest.ie/islandeady-cycling-club/

To buy Wahoo Kickrs no less!

greenspurs

They have Board members, and no staff .....

The following costs are attributed to the project:
SMART trainers Wahoo kickr 10 $1,400.00 $14,000.00
Training mats Safety mats 10 $65.00 $650.00
Presentation unit SMART TVs - stands -cables 10 $1,180.00 $11,800.00
Storage unit Heated storage unit 1 $3,200.00 $3,200.00
Bikes for disability Specialised fitted bikes 10 $1,180.00 $11,800.00
Additional disability Equipment Hand cycles 10 $750.00 $7,500.00
Total cost $48,950.00

wow .........

Weepsie

greenspurs wrote: »

They have Board members, and no staff .....

They are not on the charity register either, unless using a different name.

magicbastarder

to be honest, while i qould question the sanity of a private donation to a sports club for TVs , they're not using taxpayer money or national lottery money if they achieve that aim.

OleRodrigo

Fair fooks to them. Hope they get it.

Prevention & proactivity is much more cost effective than burdening the HSE with various health issues.

Now, if every rural town with similar social problems could do the same, perhaps rural degeneration wont have such a negative human impact.

spyderski

Agreed, but its absolutely ASTOUNDING that in circumstances where they received €20k of Irish taxpayers money 10 months ago to buy SPIN BIKES, which they appear not to have bought, that they are now seeking to raise an additional €50k for Turbo trainers. Where is the money going????

spyderski

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Fair fooks to them. Hope they get it.

Prevention & procativity is much more cost effective than burdening the HSE with various health issues.

Now, if every rural town with similar social problems could do the same, perhaps rural degeneration wont have such a negative human impact.

Grand, but they haven't spent the €20k they got last year for its' intended purpose, why would we believe they'll spend this €50k properly?

greenspurs

spyderski wrote: »

Grand, but they haven't spent the €20k they got last year for its' intended purpose, why would we believe they'll spend this €50k properly?

I might send an aul email off to their secretary and ask a few questions :rolleyes:

spyderski

greenspurs wrote: »

I might send an aul email off to their secretary and ask a few questions :rolleyes:

Given their form to date, you are unlikely to get a reply.

OleRodrigo

spyderski wrote: »

Grand, but they haven't spent the €20k they got last year for its' intended purpose, why would we believe they'll spend this €50k properly?

We'd really need to ask them, I'm sure there's a good explanation.

But I'd only be half bothered to hear it , to be honest. The money is being used to benefit the community through sports and activity..directly or indirectly. That's all that matters here I think.

spyderski

OleRodrigo wrote: »

We'd really need to ask them, I'm sure there's a good explanation.

But I'd only be half bothered to hear it , to be honest. The money is being used to benefit the community through sports and activity..directly or indirectly. That's all that matters here I think.

You're completely missing the point. THE MONEY IS NOT BEING USED FOR ITS STATED PURPOSE.

They are trying to raise further money for something they've already been given €20k for and have not spent. They are also representing themselves to potential donors as a "charity/nonprofit". <SNIP>

spyderski

For the avoidance of doubt, I'll restate my support for whatever funding can be given to Cycling clubs - indeed, my own club is in the process of applying for funding.

Where my difficulty arose initially was that Islandeady CC clearly did not qualify for funding from the source it was received, and on top of that has not as yet spent the money for its stated purpose.

My concern is further heightened having just discovered they are seeking more money to spend on the same project, with no apparent oversight or accountability.

Weepsie

spyderski wrote: »

You're completely missing the point. THE MONEY IS NOT BEING USED FOR ITS STATED PURPOSE.

They are trying to raise further money for something they've already been given €20k for and have not spent. They are also representing themselves to potential donors as a "charity/nonprofit". They're skirting the borders of fraud and misrepresentation at the moment.

Particularly when it's on record that they charged for the spinning classes....

mugsymugsy

spyderski wrote: »

For the avoidance of doubt, I'll restate my support for whatever funding can be given to Cycling clubs - indeed, my own club is in the process of applying for funding.

Where my difficulty arose initially was that Islandeady CC clearly did not qualify for funding from the source it was received, and on top of that has not as yet spent the money for its stated purpose.

My concern is further heightened having just discovered they are seeking more money to spend on the same project, with no apparent oversight or accountability.

100℅ agree with this.
I would also like them to clarify their charity/non profit status.

greenspurs

Is there anywhere people can complain/object to this? Minister for Sport ? Lottery etc ??

Have we any links for these accusations? re. charging for the classes etc?

OleRodrigo

spyderski wrote: »

You're completely missing the point. THE MONEY IS NOT BEING USED FOR ITS STATED PURPOSE.

They are trying to raise further money for something they've already been given €20k for and have not spent. They are also representing themselves to potential donors as a "charity/nonprofit". They're skirting the borders of fraud and misrepresentation at the moment.

This isn't Enron. A cycling club can be actively engaged in running events of which the proceeds are given to a charity, with no intention of generating a profit.

That's not the same things as a charity organisation, as a legal entity. So they are not misrepresenting themselves by saying they are cycling club ( as defined by CI ) , with no intention of making a profit, or by having the intention to run events, with the proceeds going to charity.

spyderski

You appear to be unwilling or unable to understand my point. I can't help with either.

OleRodrigo

spyderski wrote: »

You appear to be unwilling or unable to understand my point. I can't help with either.

I understand it perfectly.

spyderski

greenspurs wrote: »

Is there anywhere people can complain/object to this? Minister for Sport ? Lottery etc ??

Have we any links for these accusations? re. charging for the classes etc?

From their Facebook Page:


Islandeady Cycling Group
February 12 · Castlebar ·
Reminder New series of Spinning Classes starting tomorrow MONDAY 13TH FEB at 7.30pm with new instructor Mark Quigley. You don't want to miss out !
Places are limited SO FIRST COME/PAY First served.
Please come early to register and Pay
€60 for 12 classes over 6 weeks.
€30 for 6 classes over 6 weeks
Beginners & Non-Members welcome contact Keith or Ray to book your place now! As places are filling up fast!
Please bring - water bottles - turbo frame and front riser - hand towel - bike and plenty of energy - FIRST COME FIRST SERVED - DONT MISS OUT!

spyderski

also....

January 3
Reminder our 2017 Spinning Classes start TONIGHT Tuesday at 7.30pm with instructor Ray Moylette. Places are limited SO FIRST COME/PAY First served. Please come early to register and Pay - €60 for 12 classes over 6 weeks.
€30 for 6 classes over 6 weeks
Beginners & Non-Members welcome contact Keith or Ray to book your place now!
Please bring - water bottles - turbo frame and front riser - hand towel - bike and plenty of energy - FIRST COME FIRST SERVED - DONT MISS OUT

mugsymugsy

You won't need to bring your turbo frame anymore as the department of health gave them 20k for spin bikes.......

spyderski

you'd think....

terrydel

OleRodrigo wrote: »

This isn't Enron. A cycling club can be actively engaged in running events of which the proceeds are given to a charity, with no intention of generating a profit.

That's not the same things as a charity organisation, as a legal entity. So they are not misrepresenting themselves by saying they are cycling club ( as defined by CI ) , with no intention of making a profit, or by having the intention to run events, with the proceeds going to charity.

Spyderski said that his issue is with the cycling club representing itself to potential donors as a charity, which is fraudulent behaviour if they are not a registered charity.
He didnt say anything about them mispresenting themselves as a cycling club.
They got 20k of state funding and apparently havent spent it on what it was intended for. If that doesnt bother you, you clearly vote FF or FG.

benneca1

Spyderski You are trying to generate controversy for the sake of it. You don't know if it is for the same purpose as the previous one or not. These look like bikes for folk with disabilities and hand cycles. For God's sake if anyone is in enough of a bind to need one of these good luck with the fund raising.

Chuchote

benneca1 wrote: »

Spyderski You are trying to generate controversy for the sake of it. You don't know if it is for the same purpose as the previous one or not. These look like bikes for folk with disabilities and hand cycles. For God's sake if anyone is in enough of a bind to need one of these good luck with the fund raising.

These Wahoo Kikrs don't seem to be for disabled people? Haven't really been following this, but…

spyderski

benneca1 wrote: »

Spyderski You are trying to generate controversy for the sake of it. You don't know if it is for the same purpose as the previous one or not. These look like bikes for folk with disabilities and hand cycles. For God's sake if anyone is in enough of a bind to need one of these good luck with the fund raising.

No, I'm not. I came back to this thread to follow up as to when the €20k which was wrongly granted to the club was going to be spent for its intended purpose. When I did a google search to see if they had, I found that they're trying to raise another €40k from private donors for the same equipment.

Some of the funds are to be allocated to the purchase of hand cycles. However, the majority is to buy high end smart trainers, and associated electronics which are designed for committed athletes.

You seem to be trying to dismiss obvious and legitimate concerns about governance for the sake of it.

greenspurs

benneca1 wrote: »

Spyderski You are trying to generate controversy for the sake of it. You don't know if it is for the same purpose as the previous one or not. These look like bikes for folk with disabilities and hand cycles. For God's sake if anyone is in enough of a bind to need one of these good luck with the fund raising.

This is what they claim they are trying to raise money for with the US/Mayo fundraising :
The following costs are attributed to the project:
SMART trainers Wahoo kickr 10 $1,400.00 $14,000.00
Training mats Safety mats 10 $65.00 $650.00
Presentation unit SMART TVs - stands -cables 10 $1,180.00 $11,800.00
Storage unit Heated storage unit 1 $3,200.00 $3,200.00
Bikes for disability Specialised fitted bikes 10 $1,180.00 $11,800.00
Additional disability Equipment Hand cycles 10 $750.00 $7,500.00
Total cost $48,950.00

As Spyderski has stated a few times , they have already recieved a grant for 20,000 for the same items ..
But they havent bought them.... THAT is the problem....