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Factory Southside Youth Space will remain open until 2024, in a reversal of the decision to close the centre this month. Factory Southside Youth Space will remain open until 2024, in a reversal of the decision to close the centre this month.

Community

Factory Southside Youth Space saved from imminent closure

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2 years ago

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Factory Southside Youth Space will remain open until 2024, in a reversal of the decision to close the centre this month. 

Factory Southside Youth Space saved from imminent closure 

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew

Factory Southside Youth Space The old Fulflex elastics factory is home to two multi-sport indoor pitches, a dance studio, art rooms, a youth café and several outdoor facilities.

The old Fulflex elastics factory is home to two multi-sport indoor pitches, a dance studio, art rooms, a youth café and several outdoor facilities.


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The Factory Southside Youth Space will remain open until 2024, in a reversal of Limerick Youth Service and Limerick City and County Council’s previous decision to close the centre this month. 

‘The Factory‘, located on the Galvone Road, provides a host of youth programmes and services in the southside of Limerick City. 

The old Fulflex elastics factory is home to two multi-sport indoor pitches, a dance studio, art rooms, a youth café and several outdoor facilities, widely used by the community’s younger generation. 

In September, Limerick Youth Service and Limerick City and County Council announced that they would cease management of The Factory Southside Youth Space at the end of 2021, a move agreed by both parties back in 2019.

This decision was based on a number of factors, primarily the sale of The Factory premises to a private entity, with plans to demolish the building. 

Additionally, Limerick City and County Council had no plans to fund the youth space beyond 2021. Instead, it promised to invest in alternative youth facilities in the Southside community, to be in place by 2022. 

Recently, Limerick Youth Service established the Be Well Youth Mental Health Project and Youth & Family Support Project in the area, to a positive response. 

The turnaround will be welcomed by Southside residents and The Factory staff alike, who, up until this point, faced an uncertain future. 

Catherine Slattery, Councillor for Limerick City East, spoke of her relief at the news.

“After months of uncertainty for the workers of the Galvone Road youth space, we can now say that Limerick Youth Service and Limerick County Council have agreed to provide another three years of management. This is fantastic news. I’m delighted for the workers, and I’m delighted for the young people of our community, who need this facility badly,” said the local councillor.

For more information on The Factory Southside Youth Space, go HERE 

For more community news, go HERE 

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