Latest news with #KildareCountyCouncil
Irish Independent
16-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Kildare councillor may have to spend her entire discretionary budget of €50,000 to build one pedestrian crossing
Cllr Evie Sammon says a combination of high building material costs and underfunding from central government means that Kildare County Council are struggling to deliver on 'bread and butter' projects A Kildare county councillor may have to spend her entire annual discretionary budget on a singular pedestrian crossing in Naas that could cost up to €50,000 or more to build. Naas Councillor Evie Sammon told the Irish Independent that due to a lack of government funding, Kildare County Council are struggling to deliver on 'bread and butter' projects across the county such as pedestrian crossings. As a result, basic maintenance works such as footpath maintenance works are not being done as it's too costly for the council. Cllr Sammon explained that a combination of the high cost of building materials and underfunding from government has created a situation in Kildare whereby councillors are having to use their annual discretionary budgets to cover basic maintenance works. "Having to deliver a pedestrian crossing through a councillor's nominated funding shouldn't really be happening,' said Cllr Sammon. 'The reason why I'm willing to use my entire discretionary budget on one project is out of desperation to deliver the infrastructure that we're lacking. "You would like to use the discretionary funding to deliver nice community things but I have been looking for this pedestrian crossing near Meadows & Byrne in Naas for the past six years and I have come to the end of my tether. 'For years I was told the pedestrian crossing would be part of the Dublin Road scheme which would be funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and that there was no point in delivering the pedestrian crossing until that scheme came forward but that scheme seems to be years, if not a decade away. "But we can't wait that long, for public safety reasons we need that pedestrian crossing now.' When Cllr Sammon approached the council to enquire about using her own budget to cover the cost of the pedestrian crossing she was shocked when she was told her entire annual discretionary budget would only cover the cost of that one pedestrian crossing, in other words her entire discretionary budget for the year would be gone on one singular project. Although the project has not gone out for tender yet, the council informed Cllr Sammon that it could cost up to €50,000 or even more to construct one pedestrian crossing. 'When I was looking for the pedestrian crossing I was essentially told, 'well that's your full discretionary amount because it could cost €50,000'. "The cost of building materials is so high at the moment, but also you have to take into consideration the cost of implementing a stop and go system while the works are happening which is surprisingly very expensive in itself. Learn more "It's the combination of the high cost of building materials and labour. If the pedestrian crossing is beaconed then you also have the cost of underground electrics and bringing the electrics from wherever the nearest source is so it really adds up.' It's not just projects for pedestrian crossings that council funds are struggling to cover, but essential footpath works too. "We are getting quotes for footpaths at the moment of about €300,000 and these footpaths are not being delivered because of the high price. Concrete in particular is very expensive so where we have footpaths that need to be done, if we can't afford them, it's a case of they are either not being done or we look at using tarmac. "We're underfunded in Kildare,' added the Fine Gael councillor. 'Our area engineers are doing the best that they can with small budgets. We are the worst funded council in the country from central government and even to bring us to the next worst funded council which is Wicklow, we are looking at about €4m or €5m to bring us in line with them.'
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Irish Times
Caravan occupants in Celbridge carpark face possible contempt over refusal to leave
Three caravans that have been parked in a car park in Celbridge, Co Kildare , since October must be removed by this Thursday, July 10th, the High Court has ordered. If they fail to do so, the occupants could face applications by the car park owners to have them jailed for contempt, the court heard. Last week, Mr Justice Brian Cregan gave 'persons unknown' in occupation of the car park in the Abbey Car Park, Clane Road until Tuesday, July 8th, to vacate the property. It is owned by the St John of God Trust (Ireland), which uses it for car parking for its community-based services and tea rooms there and it also licenses it to Kildare County Council for use as a public car park. Since the caravans arrived, the court has been told, there has been disruption to the trust's services and intimidation and aggression towards patients and staff. There has also been an accumulation of waste throughout the car park. Early efforts by the county council to service notices directing the occupants to vacate the property have not been successful. Last Wednesday, following a one-side only represented application by the trust seeking the removal of the caravans and occupants, Mr Justice Cregan granted an interim order requiring that the car park be vacated by 1pm on Tuesday, July 8th. He said the occupants could turn up in court on Tuesday to make their case about the order if they wished. When the case returned, Conor Sheehan BL, for the trust, said there had been no appearance by the occupants and the caravans were still there. He asked the court to make its order stay in place pending full hearing of the case. Mr Justice Cregan was satisfied to do so and said if the caravans are not gone by Thursday at 1pm, the trust could take whatever steps it chooses to enforce the order including asking the court to issue an attachment and committal order which can lead to the imprisonment of the occupants for contempt.
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Caravan occupants face possible contempt over refusal to leave car park
Three caravans that have been parked in a car park in Celbridge, Co Kildare, since October must be removed by this Thursday, the High Court has ordered. If they fail to do so, the occupants could face applications by the car park owners to have them jailed for contempt, the court heard. Advertisement Last week, Mr Justice Brian Cregan gave "persons unknown" in occupation of the car park in the Abbey Car Park, Clane Road, until Tuesday, July 8th, to vacate the property. It is owned by the St John of God Trust (Ireland) which uses it for car parking for its community based services and tea rooms there and it also licenses it to Kildare County Council for use as a public car park. Since the caravans arrived, the court has been told, there has been disruption to the trust's services and intimidation and aggression towards patients and staff. There has also been an accumulation of waste throughout the car park. Early efforts by the county council to service notices directing the occupants to vacate the property have not been successful. Advertisement Last Wednesday, following a one-side only represented application by the trust seeking the removal of the caravans and occupants, Mr Justice Brian Cregan granted an interim order requiring that the car be vacated by 1pm on Tuesday, July 8th. Ireland Woman beaten with golf club by partner in 'savage'... Read More He said the occupants could turn up in court on Tuesday to make their case about the order if they wished. When the case returned, Conor Sheehan BL, for the trust, said there had been no appearance by the occupants and the caravans were still there. He asked the court to make its order stay in place pending full hearing of the case. Mr Justice Cregan was satisfied to do so and said if the caravans are not gone by Thursday at 1pm, the trust could take whatever steps it chooses to enforce the order including asking the court to issue an attachment and committal order which can lead to the imprisonment of the occupants for contempt.
Irish Independent
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Cross-party support for pilot mobile sensory unit and accessible toilets at Kildare council events
Following a call by Social Democrats councillor Peter Melrose, Kildare County Council has agreed to fund the provision of a mobile sensory unit and a mobile accessible toilet for council-run or affiliated events with more than 3,000 attendees. It's expected that the initiative will launch as a pilot project later this year. 'This move aims to improve the experience and accessibility of events for people with sensory sensitivities and/or disabilities,' explained Cllr Melrose. 'Data collected from the pilot will be used when considering future provision to events of 500 or more attendees. 'Everyone deserves to enjoy our community events in comfort and dignity. A mobile sensory unit offers a quiet, safe space for those overwhelmed by crowds and noise. Just a few minutes in one of these rooms can help someone to reset, regulate, and then continue to enjoy the event. 'While changing places are a priority for the council, we are still quite a bit away from being able to offer full accessibility at our events. 'Providing an onsite mobile accessible toilet ensures basic facilities for people with mobility needs. Crucially, this includes a hoist for independent use, an issue which gets raised again and again by accessibility groups across the county.' Cllr Melrose added that he hopes this initiative will be rolled out to smaller events with under 3,000 attendees down the line. 'Having seen first-hand families using and embracing these facilities at the Kildare Inclusivity Festival in May, it was a cause I felt compelled to champion,' he said. 'I'm grateful for the support received from fellow members including Kildare county councillors Peggy O'Dwyer (Fine Gael) and Donna Phelan (Fianna Fáil), both champions of inclusivity and accessibility in their own rights. 'I will continue to work closely with the council on this initiative and hope to see it grow and reach smaller events in our towns and villages. 'People and families often choose to attend an event based on what facilities are available to them, and I want to ensure that everyone is afforded an equal chance to enjoy what Kildare has to offer.'
The Journal
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Conor McGregor refused planning permission for 'out-of-scale' six-bed house in Co Kildare
AN COIMISIÚN PLEANÁLA has objected to plans by Conor McGregor to construct a sprawling 'historic stately home'-style house in Co Kildare. This follows the State planning watchdog refusing planning permission to McGregor for the planned new 'family home' complete with a cinema, bar and two swimming pools. In the application, McGregor was planning to demolish his existing five-bedroom home at The Paddocks, Castledillon, Straffan and replace it with a 32,693 sq ft six bedroomed 'family home'. This home would be 27 times the size of an average three-bed semi-detached home of 1,200 sq ft. An Coimisiún Pleanála inspector in the case, Robert Speer – who recommended that planning permission be granted – commented in his report that the 'imposing design' of the planned home 'clearly intended to elicit an element of grandeur in an attempt to mimic that of historic stately homes/estate houses'. McGregor's plans also included a fully sunken basement to include car-parking, a bar and a games area. The location of the home is 1km south east of Straffan, and 1km east of the K Club. In its refusal decision, the planning commission concluded that the proposed development 'would appear visually incongruous in this sensitive landscape area, would seriously injure the visual and rural amenities of the area, and would set a precedent for out-of-scale replacement dwellings in the rural area'. In a decision signed off by Planning Commissioner, Mary Gurrie it also concluded that proposed demolition of a large detached rural dwelling, and its replacement with a substantially larger structure, would be contrary to Kildare County Council's Rural House Design Guide which promotes the re-use, adaptation or extension of rural structures. An Coimisiún Pleanála's refusal upholds a refusal issued by Kildare County Council in January and the case was before An Coimisiún Pleanála on appeal from McGregor. The planning commission has issued its refusal despite its own inspector in the case, Robert Speer recommending a grant of permission. Advertisement It is only one in every 10 cases where the planning commission dismisses a grant or refusal recommendation of its own inspector to issue a contrary ruling. As part of a 52 page report, Speer found that the proposed development would be acceptable, would be justified in terms of demolition and replacement and acceptable in terms of siting, design and wastewater treatment, would not seriously injure the visual amenities of the area or the amenities of property in the vicinity, and would constitute an appropriate development in this rural location. Speer observed that the planned home is 1km from the K Club golf resort, where there are multiple examples of houses of a substantial scale having been developed. He said that the site itself is heavily screened from view with mature boundaries defining the full extent of the site perimeter. Having conducted a site inspection, Speer said: 'while I would concede that the proposed replacement dwelling is of an imposing design and is clearly intended to elicit an element of grandeur (in an attempt to mimic that of historic stately homes/estate houses), it is my opinion that the overall size and scale of the proposal is not in itself incompatible with the site location and context'. He said that 'the proposed development involves the amalgamation of the housing plots presently occupied by 'The Paddocks' and 'No. 5 Castledillon' into a singular larger site in excess of 4 hectares (9.8 acres) and I am satisfied that this can accommodate a development of the scale proposed'. He said that 'visual representations serve to demonstrate that the subject site is capable of accommodating the development as proposed without detriment to the wider area'. As part of the commission's order, Gurrie stated that in deciding not to grant permission as recommended by the Inspector, the Commission considered that the design of the proposed development did not have sufficient regard to the 'special' sensitivity landscape context of the site. Gurrie also said that the Commission further considered that 'the proposed development would be out of scale and character with adjacent residential properties in this rural area and that the applicant failed to adequately justify the complete demolition of a substantial detached residential property and its replacement with a significantly larger structure as opposed to the sensitive adaptation or extension of the existing dwelling in accordance with the policy of the planning authority'. McGregor paid out €3m for The Paddocks in 2019 and planning documentation shows that McGregor's staff were to be housed in a nearby home at No 5 Castledillon 'which is now also in the full ownership of the applicant'. Records with the Residential Property Price Register show that No 5 Castledillon was purchased for €1.65m in June 2022. McGregor previously secured planning permission to partly demolish and extend and renovate The Paddocks. However, Tyler Owens Architects told the council that having started the process of demolition back in 2022, it became apparent that the existing quality of construction of the remainder of the house, along with the client's changing needs, indicated that the works would not make sense.
