Board approves new Ratoath youth facility

Proposals to provide a new youth facility a the Ratoath Community Centre were given the go-ahead by the centre's board of management last week. Young members of Pulse-Ratoath Youth Forum made a presentation to the board of management which unanimously decided to allow the construction of af a youth facility in the car park of the centre. Nick Killian, general manager of the centre, said: "I am delighted that my board has made this important decision to allow this very innovative youth project go ahead on our lands at the heart of Ratoath. "Great credit goes to our chairman, Donal O'Brien, and his board colleagues who have embraced this venture for the young people of Ratoath. This building will cater for the young people by providing a designated recreational and social place for the youth of Ratoath aged 14 to 18 years." Cllr Killian said the project could be achieved with the continued support of sponsors and the goodwill of the wider community. "Bearing in mind that the 2006 census showed that Raoath had the largest population of young people in the country with 32 per of the population under 14 years, I would very much encourage adults to volunteer and contribute in a meaningful way to the young people of the area," he said.