My first question at March  (20th) Municipal District meeting; ‘Can the council outline the timeline and funding sources for each stage of the National Transport Authority traffic management plan and for the development of a new cultural quarter in Newbridge; specifically identifying the source of the €6.3 million for the cultural quarter and the extent of the development that this funding will cover, in light of the estimated €8 million cost of redevelopment of the library alone?
Here is the report issued by: Ms M Hunt, Senior Executive Officer, Economic, Community and Cultural Development: As set out in the Cat B application to the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, which was also circulated to the municipal district members, the total estimated cost of the Newbridge Cultural Quarter is €20,000,000. This proposal includes the redevelopment of the Library, Market Square, and some public realm works from Georges Street to the Town Hall and redevelopment of the area currently being used as a car park between the Town Hall and St Conleths Park. However, a more accurate costing for this project can only be ascertained once required Part 8 approvals are in place and detailed designs have been drawn up. These detailed designs can then be submitted to the URDF for Cat A “shovel ready funding” for the actual construction of the various elements of the proposed Cultural Quarter.

The National Transport Authority draft Newbridge Transport Plan is a separate project to that of the Cultural Quarter project, however both projects are complimentary. The NTA draft Transport Plan is estimated to cost in the region of €10,000,000. The full cost of this project, and sources of funding can only be ascertained once analyses of key junctions have been completed and detailed designs are drawn up.