A former chairman of the company behind the 29-turbine wind farm on Slieve Callan says it's voluntarily contributing over 1.5 million euro to nearby communities.
West Clare Renewable Energy will grant the money to the parishes of Miltown Malbay, Kilmurry Ibrickane, Kilmaley and Kilnamona.
The one hundred and ten million euro Slieve Callan Windfarm investment is one of the largest of its kind, and represents the biggest ever investment in the local area.
However, the laying of cables for the wind farm will see local road closures, including on the R474 Ennis-Miltown Malbay Road, and concerns have been expressed that this could devastate businesses, including in Kilmaley.
This morning, speaking on Clare FM's Morning Focus, project stakeholder and former Chairman of West Clare Renewable Energy, Padraic Howard confirmed details of funding that's being allocated to affected areas.
He said the total fund would be worth over 1.5 million euro, and it's reported that this will be paid over 25 years.
In some areas – including Miltown Malbay – community development committees have been set up to decide which organisations will receive money.
In Kilmaley, the local Meitheal committee have suggested that the funding goes to the GAA club there – however, Padraic Howard, who is also a businessman in Kilmaley, believes that's good for everyone.
Road closures were due to begin this week, but this has yet to happen after the Council received over 500 public submissions.
It's understood that it is now proposed that road closures occur only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., before re-opening overnight.
But Kilmaley businessman Laurence O'Brien remains concerned that it will be bad for his shops.
