My adjourned motion  at Septembers MD meeting; ‘That the council provide an all-weather safe surface for the playground in Kilcullen similar to that provided in Maynooth and explain in its report the criteria for selecting different playground surfaces.

Report issued by: Ms P O’Rourke, Executive Parks Superintendent, Community and Cultural Development Department: The playground in Kilcullen was created using play mulch as the safety surface. Due to the decomposing of the bark mulch evidenced, the surface was changed to sand. The installation of a wet-pour/rubber surface and its maintenance in the Kilcullen playground would be cost prohibitive. Playground surfaces are based on the finances available, taking into consideration such items as the critical fall heights of the equipment, the required maintenance and lifetime costs, natural drainage of the site, environmental impact of the material and the accessibility of the play equipment.

My second question at Septembers MD meeting; “Can the council provide details of the full list of projects in the municipal district for which it intends to apply for funding for from the next round of Urban District Regeneration Fund; to include details of the council’s preparedness for application for each project including but not limited to applications for the second bridge, the new library and the development of the cultural quarter?

Report Issued by: Ms M Hunt, Senior Executive Officer, Economic Community & Cultural Development: As Newbridge has a population in-excess of 10,000, it is the only town in the Kildare Newbridge MD eligible to apply for funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF)

In the first call for applications to the URDF in 2018, a Category B application for funding to develop proposals for a Cultural Quarter in Newbridge from concept through to shovel ready stage was successful. Plans in respect of the Cultural Quarter concept are being developed, with a view to commencing separate Part 8 Planning Approval processes for the following distinct elements of the concept;

• Redevelopment of Newbridge Library.
• Development of a landmark building on Market Square.
• Development of mixed use buildings on lands bounding St Conleth’s Park/ Council carpark.
• Creation of a civic plaza on lands to the rear of Newbridge Town Hall.
• Public Realm Improvement works to Georges Street and to Main Street from the Town Hall to the bridge.

Before the Council can apply for Category A URDF funding for the development of the Cultural Quarter, all planning consents and detailed designs must be in place. Each element of the concept must be at shovel ready stage to be eligible for Category A funding in respect of the actual construction.

It is the council’s intention to submit an application for the provision of a second bridge over the Liffey in Newbridge when the next call for applications to the URDF is announced. The Transportation Department are currently preparing a Phase 0 Report for submission to the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport in respect of this project.

My first question at Septembers MD meeting; “Can the council outline the options for moving forward with the Compulsory Purchase Order of O Modhrain Hall that it had originally initiated, in light of the incomplete status of the sale of O Modhrain Hall?

Report issued by: Mr L Dunne, Senior Executive officer, Environment & Water Section; “The Environment Department has received correspondence from the Charities Regulator which states that the Charities Regulatory Authority authorised the sale in January 2018.

This was subject to the proceeds of sale being transferred to the Authority’s account, pending determination on registration of the trust and the ultimate application of the proceeds.

The Environment Department is also in correspondence with the vendor’s solicitor. The council is mindful of the requirements of the derelict status of the building and continues to monitor developments in this regard.

The members will be kept informed of progress.

My second  motion at Septembers MD meeting; “That the council clarify what progress has been made in relation to the management and protection of the Curragh Plains since the replacement of the Curragh Plains Forum with the partnership between the council and the Department of Defence, reported earlier this year.”

Report: The District Manager will provide an update at the meeting.

My first motion at Septembers MD meeting; “That the council provide a report on the process by which the site at Mooreabbey in Monasterevin was selected/approved as the location for the new build for St Paul’s Secondary School; to include details of any complexities in locating the school at this site of which the council were aware during the process, and the reasons why, if any other sites were considered, they were rejected.”

Report Issued by: Mr K Kavanagh, Senior Executive Administrative, Planning and Strategic Development: The acquisition of sites for the construction and development of buildings for educational purposes is a matter for the Department of Education & Skills.

The subject site at Moore Abbey was zoned as E1/E2 Education and Community in the Monasterevin Local Area Plan with a specific objective (E2) to “provide for a new education campus on the site identified within Moore Abbey Demesne”.

In November 2016, the Minister for Education and Skills submitted a planning application for the construction of a post primary school (Saint Paul’s Secondary School), to accommodate c.850 pupils, at Moore Abbey in Monasterevin.

The application went through the standard planning process with the application available for public viewing and comment during the statutory period. It is noted that a number of representations were made by local and national politicians supporting the application.

The application and its accompanying technical reports were analysed and considered by the relevant prescribed bodies and the appropriate service departments within Kildare County Council. A further information (FI) request, mostly on transportation related issues, was subsequently sought from the Department with a response received in May 2017.

Permission for the school was granted in July 2017. The planning permission is subject to forty-six specific conditions, all of which are subject to monitoring by the respective departments for compliance purposes.

Link to  report below  focuses on the submissions and observations received from the public and statutory bodies following the public consultation period from July 9th 2019 to August 9th 2019.

02 Chief Executive Report – public consultation LPT

LPT Guidelines

The Community Environment Action Fund, (previously known as the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund or LA21), promotes sustainable development at a local level by funding small scale, non-profit environmental projects, that make a significant difference in local communities

Link below to Community Environment Action Fund 2019 Application Form

Kildare CEAF Application Form 2019

My second question at July 17th MD meeting; ‘Can the council provide an update re efforts to ensure that Kilcullen is allocated much needed bus shelters, to protect constituents availing of public transport in the area?

Report issued by Ms E Wright, Senior Executive Officer, Roads, Transportation and Public Safety Department: ‘The National Transport Authority (NTA) provide bus shelters in conjunction with the local authority and a list of bus shelters has been prepared by NTA, to be developed in County Kildare in conjunction with Kildare County Council (list in link below). The provision of bus shelters at and opposite the petrol station on Main Street, Kilcullen, has been assessed, however, due to restrictions in footpath width and available space the shelters are not progressing at this time.

List of Bus Selter Locations – Item 8 on Agenda

My first question at July 17th MD meeting; ‘Can the council provide an update on any previous requests to improve transport links between Caragh and Naas and Caragh and Naas/Sallins Railway Station to including any previous requests for; the introduction of cycle lanes; the introduction of a Local Link bus service?

Report issued by Ms E Wright, Senior Executive Officer, Roads, Transportation and Public Safety Department: ‘Previous requests for improvement of transport links include a request to Iarnród Éireann to consider the advancement of building a new rail station on a site between Naas and Caragh to facilitate existing and future population growth and reduce the need for local commuters to use motor transport on the M7/N7 to Dublin. The Roads, Transportation and Public Safety Department also received a previous request for the provision of a cycleway between Naas and Caragh. A report from LocalLink on any future plans or outline proposals is awaited and any information provided will be issued to the members.