Councillor William Durkan

I: Clane-Maynooth MD: December 2025

Tag: community

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: December 2025

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  • Clane-Maynooth MD: November 2025

    The below motions and questions were raised at the November 2025 meeting of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council inspects the low volume of speed signage in the Drehid and Gilltown areas, with the aim of improving coverage beyond what is currently there, or recommended by the design manual, to improve public safety.

    Report: The existing speed signage in this area is in compliance with the requirements of the Traffic Signs Manual. Prior to the reduction in the speed limits nationally on local roads, the same amount of signage was in place to advise drivers of the speed limit. It is not deemed necessary to install additional speed signage in rural areas.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council investigates the condition of footpaths in Anne Street, Prosperous and outlines any options to facilitate repair works.

    Report: The Municipal District Engineer will inspect the footpath in Anne Street and advise the members of the estimated cost of repairs to consider, ahead of the LPT allocations for 2026.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council provide an update on the schedule for implementation for ‘Jake’s Law’ speed reductions and the subsequent review of urban speed limits within the municipal district?

    Report: The submission period for the Proposed 30 KPH Speed Limit in Residential Housing Estates Taken in Charge (Jake’s Law) process closes on the 4 November 2025. Following this, a report will be prepared and presented to the elected members. It is then a matter for Full Council to approve or reject the proposed changes to the speed limit by-laws. It is expected that this process can be completed by the end of 2025. A commencement date in 2026 will then need to be agreed so that the ordering and implementation of the appropriate poles and signage along with any other statutory consultations can take place. A review of urban speed limits will commence following the conclusion of the vote by the elected members of the above Jake’s Law process.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council provide an update on the Safe Routes to School assessment in the case of Prosperous National School?

    Report: An Tasice/Green Schools has shared an Outline Delivery Plan for Scoil an Linbh Íosa, Prosperous as part of the Safe Routes to School Programme. This Outline Delivery Plan contains supporting and sorting documentation from the parent survey and audits carried out for the school. The Sustainable Transport Section is examining this outline delivery plan and will be arranging a meeting with the principals in the first instance and then progressing a design for consultation to be shared with elected members at that time.

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: October 2025

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council conducts a traffic survey in Johnstown Bridge to identify means of improving traffic management, in the context of new housing developments in the town.
    Report: A traffic study can be completed as requested.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council confirm any plans to expand the winter salting routes in the Broadford Village area?
    Report: The objective of the Kildare County Council’s Winter Maintenance Plan is to keep all principal roads in the county open to traffic, free from ice and safe to travel on. Kildare County Council treat our National Secondary, Regional and Local Roads. National Primary and Motorway routes are dealt with by contractors on behalf Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
    The Kildare County Council Winter Maintenance Plan and map of routes are prepared annually and updated on our website.
    Kildare County Council currently operate 10 routes within its Winter Maintenance Programme, treating approximately 705km of the Local, Regional and National Secondary Road Network in the county.

    This equates to the treatment of approximately 26.5 % of Kildare’s road infrastructure. Including all Motorway and National Primary roads treated by TII,
    30.3% of all Public Roads within County Kildare are treated. This is higher than neighbouring counties, who treat between 24-26 % of their road network.
    This requires a significant input of resources, including 24 drivers, vehicles, equipment, technical and administrative staff and operates at a considerable cost.
    Kildare County Council’s salting trucks on all routes are running at capacity at present, precluding the Council from adding new roads to the current salting routes without removing the service from another area of the county.
    Please note that at times of severe weather conditions, Kildare County Council staff, during the working day, may give priority to other roads and junctions outside of our standard routes that need treatment. This may include snow clearing and salting on additional roads at critical locations. Therefore, due to resource limitations, it is not possible to facilitate this request for further routes to be added to the current Winter Maintenance Plan.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council confirm any plans to improve the bus stop at Carbury Mushrooms to include improved bus stop cover?
    Report: This bus stop has been included on the list for improvement under the Kildare Bus Stop Enhancement Programme (BSEP) funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
    Kildare County Council is awaiting details from the NTA’s supplier for the new bus shelter designs and specifications. When received, Kildare County Council will then be in a position to progress the BSEP to include the installation of new bus shelters throughout County Kildare.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council provides an update on the Mobile Library Service within the municipal district and identifies any required supports to maintain and improve the service.
    Report: The Library Service has a new driver recently appointed for the Mobile Library Service. After a break of 7 months the service is now back in operation since Tuesday 30 September beginning with the Kill route. The service in the Clane Maynooth Municipal District will be back on the Prosperous route commencing on Tuesday 14 October. This good news story has been shared with primary schools and mobile library users on all routes and announced through the Kildare Library Service social media.
    Further good news is that the procurement for a new mobile library vehicle funded by a capital grant from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) with match funding from Kildare County Council has been completed.

    There is a lead time of approximately 14 months from order to delivery of a bespoke designed mobile library vehicle. This new mobile library will be fuelled by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), include solar panels, will be fully accessible, have access to Wi-Fi and digital technology. On delivery of this new vehicle the Library Service plans to explore options to extend the service and use the mobile library for expanded outreach to communities in Kildare and as a Library Service promotional tool at events and festivals. The elected members will be kept informed when the new vehicle arrives in late Quarter 4 2026.

  • Full Council: September 2025

    Motion: Councillors Brendan Wyse, Daragh Fitzpatrick, William Durkan, Evie Sammon, Ivan Keatley, Fintan Brett, Donna Phelan, Carmel Kelly, Paul Ward, Angela Feeney, Paula Mulroe, Pádraig McEvoy, Mark Leigh, Aoife Breslin, Bill Clear and Ger Dunne:

    That the council updates the elected members with reports, draft designs, works completed and required resources to improve safety on the 10 junctions identified in Phase 1 of the Junction Improvement Programme, which commenced in April 2022. These junctions being Dag Weld’s Cross, Prosperous Village, Allenwood Cross, Firmount Cross, Cloncurry Cross, Bert’s Cross, Perry Street Cross, Watchhouse Cross, Thompson’s Cross and Allen Cross.

    REPORT:

    Allenwood: Design of signals complete, finalising tender and drawings for consenting phase. Next steps: Complete consenting phase and move to construction.

    Prosperous: New school development conditioned to upgrade junction crossing.

    Dag Welds: Phase 1 complete, finalising tender and drawings for consenting phase. Phase 2 which entails the introduction of a stagger will require land acquisition and a Part 8 process due to the extent of the scheme. Next Steps: Complete consenting phase and move to construction for Phase 1. Begin engagement with the relevant landowners to discuss land acquisition to allow Phase 2 to progress.

    Cloncurry: Project Team to review options report received. Scheme to be developed thereafter however the other junctions (Allenwood, Dag Welds and Watchhouse) will be prioritised.

    Firmount: Project Team to review options report received. Scheme to be developed thereafter however the other junctions (Allenwood, Dag Welds and Watchhouse) will be prioritised.

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: September 2025

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council provides additional signage and road markings at the single-lane bridge on the L-1004 between Hortland Solar Farm and Knockanally to improve public safety.

    Report: The Municipal District Engineer will inspect this location and install additional signs and lines as required.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council provides additional traffic calming measures, to include additional signage and road markings, on the R-407 between Mainham Cemetery and Clongowes Wood College, Clane.

    Report: The Municipal District Engineer will arrange for a speed survey to be carried out at this location. The result of this survey will guide any proposal for traffic calming at this location.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council provide an update on works to provide a bus stop upgrade on the R148 adjacent to Broadford Village, and indicate an expected completion date?


    Report: The Section 38 public consultation process has been completed. Kildare County Council is awaiting confirmation from the National Transport Authority (NTA) about when they will be in a position to provide bus shelters for the various locations across the county. The shelters are not expected to be available until 2026.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council provide an update on the progress of Clane Library?


    Report: An update on the progress of Clane Library will be provided at the meeting.

  • Full Council: July 2025

    The below motion was raised at the July meeting of the Full Council on 28/07/2025.

    Motion: Councillors Peggy O’Dwyer, William Durkan and Brendan Wyse


    That the council writes to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment for a policy on the disposal of large nitrous oxide canisters.


    Report: The matter has been discussed at the Environment Strategic Policy Committee, and it might be helpful to provide some background to the issue.


    The safe disposal of potentially dangerous nitrous oxide canisters has in recent years become a major issue for the recycling and waste management industry.

    The gas is sold legally for medical, industrial and commercial purposes, and is easily obtained online. Revenue has the power to seize canisters of the gas where officers believe they are intended for illicit purposes.


    Kildare County Council has no facilities to store and dispose of these canisters, nor are they accepted by locally based waste collection operators for health and safety reasons.


    Due to the physical nature of the canister, it is difficult to ascertain if the product is empty or full. Whilst an empty canister is widely recyclable, if gas remains in the container, it may explode if crushed – it cannot be processed through standard recycling facilities.


    This issue of disposal is not unique to Kildare and is rather a national issue that requires addressing at a nationwide level.

    I would therefore be pleased to support the request to formally write to the Department as outlined in the notice of motion.

    Notes: Members agreed to write to the department, with an update on the reply to issue at a later date.

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: July 2025

    The following motions and questions were raised at the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting held on 04th July 2025.

    Motion – Councillors Tim Durkan and William Durkan
    That Kildare County Council makes school wardens available on the Celbridge Road, Maynooth as a matter of urgency given a recent accident.


    Report: A School Warden is employed part time by the Local Authority, and operates under Section 96 of the 1961 Road Traffic Act (as amended). A warden can stop and hold traffic to allow school children cross the road safely, in the vicinity of a primary school. As the role of a school warden is to assist children to cross the road at school opening and closing times, it is not a permanent full-time provision. Therefore, Kildare County Council does not provide them at locations where there is an existing and functioning signalised crossing.


    The accident referred to in the motion did not occur at the signalised crossing, which is considered to be the most appropriate facility to control traffic and provide a designated crossing point for children, guardians and local residents.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council provides a costing and identifies suitable funding streams for works to include the reinstatement and repointing of the parapet structure at Merrymann Bridge, Derrinturn.

    Report: There is no funding available for the proposed works as this is not a masonry arch bridge but a remanent of an older structure that has been replaced by a pipe culvert

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council outline plans to improve safety at Firmount Cross, Prosperous Road, Clane?

    Report: This junction is included in the Junction Improvement Project and an options report has been received. This will be reviewed and a plan for improvements developed, however there are no resources available at present to progress this work stream as the junctions at Allenwood and Dag Welds are being prioritised.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council outline what plans will be in place following completion of the Capdoo Link Road, Clane to assess overall traffic management within the town and expected timeline for same?

    Report: There are no plans to carry out any assessments following the completion of the Capdoo Link Road.

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: June 2025

    Please see below the motions and questions raised at the 06th June meeting of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council improves the junction of the L-10091 with L-1009 adjacent to Donadea Forest Park, to include road markings and improved sight lines.

    Report: The Municipal District Engineer has requested that the road markings at this location be renewed by the appointed line marking contractor. The existing adjoining property boundaries do not allow for the sightline to be improved without land take

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council installs a columbarium wall in Mainham Cemetery, Clane in order to suitably cater for future local need.


    Report: With the members’ agreement, and subject to available capital funding, the council will include provision of a Columbarium Wall in Mainham Cemetery in its works programme for 2025/2026.

    Question Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council investigate the communications board in Prosperous Playground with a view to fixing the broken QR code link?


    Report: The QR code issue will be investigated and fixed.

    Question –Councillor William Durkan
    Can the Council provide an overview of the volume of social housing stock provided by Kildare County Council in the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District in the 2020 -2025 period, and outline projections for future supply?

    Report: There have been 659 units provided in the Clane Maynooth MD since 01/01/2020.
    290 units were provided through Part V, Turnkey, Direct Sales and Capital Projects.
    369 units were provided through Leasing and Approved Housing Body Programmes.
    The current projections are 106 further units to deliver by year end 2026.

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: May 2025

    The following questions and motions were raised at the Clane -Maynooth Municipal District meeting on Friday May 2nd 2025.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council provides a costing for upgrade works in the case of Clane Playground and provides an update on any progress to secure funding for such works.
    Report: A costing for the upgrade of Clane Playground will be prepared. Any funding required will have to be considered for the 2026 budget.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council inspects the condition of all signage in Clane Town with a view to cleaning and improving overall presentation.
    Report: Municipal District office will arrange to clean the signs in Clane Town.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council outline plans to improve pedestrian access from the Boreen Road to Straffan Town Centre, in line with the 2024 Straffan Village Renewal Masterplan?

    Report: There is no funding available to advance the Straffan Village Renewal Master Plan.

    Note: Following discussion on this topic, and related topics brought by other members, KCC agreed to visit the site for inspection.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council provide an update on the current number of vacant properties under Kildare County Council ownership within the Clane LEA and what actions are being taken to address same?
    Report: The monthly vacant house report provides info on the number of vacant properties by Municipal District. As of 28 April 2025, there are currently 36 units of Kildare County Council housing stock within the Clane Maynooth Municipal District that are currently vacant. This represents approximately 0.5 % of our total housing stock.

    The breakdown is as follows:

    Carbury 1
    Clane 10
    Coill Dubh 2
    Derrinturn 2
    Kilcock 4
    Kilmeague 3
    Maynooth 3
    Prosperous 5
    Rathcoffey 1
    Robertstown 4
    Straffan 1


    Of these 36 properties, 26 are currently assigned to Clerks of Works for scheduling of repairs required to bring them back into the stock available for allocation.
    These are at various stages of delivery (inspection/scheduling/procurement/construction etc.)

    This leaves the remaining 10 that will be assigned to our Clerks of Works for scheduling as the works are completed on the other units.

  • Clane Maynooth MD: April 2025

    Please find below the list of motions and questions raised for discussion at the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District on April 4th 2025.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council installs additional accessible parking bays at Timahoe National School (x2) and Prosperous National School (x1).

    Report: The Municipal District Engineer will assess this request at each school and subject to funding being available, the request can be progress through the required process.

    Note: Further discussion on this topic during the meeting was very positive for both cases. In particular, Timahoe National School was already inspected and no issues to delivery identified. While some further planning was needed in the case of Prosperous, no significant issues were expected.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan
    That the council inspects Clonuff Lane, Broadford (L10021), to review the road condition and consider inclusion on the 2025 Works Programme.

    Report: This road will be assessed and if works are required, they will be included in the Road Works Programme 2025, subject to funding being available.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council provide an update on when a timeline for individual school zone marking works within the municipal district will be available?

    Report: The members allocated LPT funding to these works at a special meeting in March. The Municipal District Office is currently preparing to engage with the Road Markings Contractor to carry out the required markings at each school. It is anticipated that these markings will be carried out during May and June, but the works are weather dependant.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan
    Can the council provide an update on the identification and prioritisation of planned bus stop improvement works within the municipal district?

    Report: There are over 500 existing bus stop locations in County Kildare. Kildare County Council is working with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to review and prioritise improvements to bus stop infrastructure. When this review is complete, a list of potential bus shelters and other improvements for locations will be prepared and appropriate public consultation undertaken. The provision of stop poles and associated timetable information at existing bus stops on local link routes are being prioritised to link rural communities to more urban areas.

  • Full Council: March 2025

    The following motion was raised at the March Full Council meeting on 31.03.25.

    Motion: Councillor William Durkan

    That the council extends the eligible works under the Housing Aid for Older People Grant to include the provision of external security lighting.

    Report: The Housing Aid for Older People Grant Scheme is available to assist older

    people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements

    carried out to their homes, it provides financial assistance to households to carry out essential repairs.

    On receipt of this motion, the Housing Department contacted the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to enquire if security lighting can be funded, they advised that security lighting is not eligible for funding.

    Issued by: A/Director of Services, Housing and Regeneration

    Notes: Further discussions highlighted the potential to pursue alternative funding streams at the MD level for localised targeted schemes.

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: February 2025

    The below Motions and Questions were raised at the February 2025 meeting of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District:

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan

    That the council identifies the most suitable design/location for a pedestrian crossing in Broadford Village to connect the car park with the school and church and provides a costing estimate for same.

    Report: The request has been added to a list of similar requests in the County and shall be examined when staff resources are available.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan

    That the council conducts a review of ‘Nan Brennan’s’ Junction on the L1002 near Calfstown in order to improve road safety in the area.

    Report: Kildare County Council is currently progressing a junction improvement project that is looking at ten junctions across the county. This project focuses on locations of interest identified in the Collision Analysis for Regional Road Network work completed by the Department of Transport Support Office.

    This location is not identified in this collision analysis, nor has it been included in the low-cost safety improvement schemes that are to be delivered in 2025. Kildare County Council does not have the funding or resources to review junctions that fall outside of these criteria.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan

    Can the council outline an expected timeline for the completion of all stages of the ongoing speed limit review within the municipal district?

    Report: During 2024 Kildare County Council (KCC) undertook a public consultation process for the review of speed limits on rural local roads. This review arose from recent legislation (Road Traffic Act 2024) which provides for the phased lowering of default speed limits in Ireland.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan

    Can the council outline the number of potential ‘serviced site’ schemes that may be advanced within the municipal district over the coming years, and what conditions are needed to progress same.

    Report: The Serviced Sites Scheme for County Kildare which sets out the terms and conditions for compliance with the scheme is available on the Council website. Volume 2 of the Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029 identifies all sites designated “Serviced Sites” across the county.

    The Council are currently running a serviced sites pilot scheme in Clogherinkoe, in the Clane – Maynooth Municipal District. Further pilots will be determined on completion on the current project in Clogherinkoe and subject to resources.

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: January 2025

    The below Motions and Questions were raised at the January 2025 meeting of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District:

    Motion – Councillors Tim Durkan, William Durkan and Brendan Wyse

    That the members allocate €300,000 of LPT money to the area engineer to deliver safety improvement works outside all national schools within the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District to include pencil bollards, school zone road markings and warning lights.

    Report: The allocation of funding under LPT is a matter for the members to agree.

    *Subsequently Agreed and Accepted

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan

    That the council adds roads at Dunfeirth Crossroads, both westbound (L-1004) and southbound (L-5013), to the 2025 works programme regarding resurfacing and road markings.

    Report: This request will be considered as part of the road works programme for 2025.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan

    Can the council provide an update on the pending ESB connection to lights at Boherhole Cross, and expected completion date?

    Report: Due to storm Daragh, there has been an increase in the number of outages. ESB have advised us that they are still overwhelmed by the workload resulting from storm Daragh and are prioritising restoring power to homes. Unfortunately, we are unable to give an expected date as it out of the control of Kildare County Council and the Public Lighting Contractor. We will continue liaise with ESB to prioritise the work.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan

    Can the council confirm if it has any plans to develop amenities at Johnstown Bridge?

    Report: There are no immediate plans to develop amenities at Johnstown Bridge. It has been identified as a location to provide a playground in in the Kildare Play Strategy. This would require the identification of an appropriate site and funding to provide it.

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: November 2024

    The below Motions and Questions were raised at the November 2024 meeting of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District:

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan

    That the council arrange a site visit with residents of Anne Street, Prosperous to consider faded road markings and the condition of footpaths in the estate.

    Report: The Municipal District Engineer will carry out an inspection of the road markings and footpaths in Anne Street and carry out any routine maintenance required

    Question – Councillor William Durkan

    Can the council confirm any plans to update the westbound bus stop at the Broadford Junction on the R148, following recent welcome improvements to the eastbound stop at this location?

    Report: Kildare County Council is awaiting the appointment of a new staff member to progress bus stop infrastructure improvement works. When this occurs, the team will review and examine the list of existing bus stops across the county and produce a priority list, broken down by Municipal District area.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan

    Can the council confirm any plans to review traffic management at the crossroads in Prosperous Town, with a view to improving public safety?

    Report: Improvements to this junction have been conditioned as part of the extension to the adjacent secondary school and will be completed prior to the occupation of the new school.

  • Clane-Maynooth MD: October 2024

    The below Motions and Questions were raised at the October 2024 meeting of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District:

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan

    That the council provides a costing for the provision of pedestrian lights in Broadford Village to improve the safety of school and church users in the area.

    Report: This request has been added to list of similar type requests in the County and the location shall be assessed to determine what/if any measures are required when resources become available.

    Motion – Councillor William Durkan

    That the council provides a costing for the resurfacing of the L-70781 near Cock Bridge (off R409) and clarify the extent of the lane that is in the charge of Kildare County Council.

    Report: The cost to resurface this road would be estimated to be in the region of €70,000. This is an estimate and could not be confirmed until tenders would be received. The pavement management system shows 526 metres of the road as listed in charge; however, the Municipal District Engineer understands that the lane is in charge to the last bend.

    Question – Councillor William Durkan

    Can the council provide an update on the conduct of a speed limit review in the case of Kilshanroe Village, as discussed at the previous meeting?

    Report: A 2023 Speed Limit Review was completed by the Department of Transport. Based on a direction (RS01/2024) received from the Department of Transport the following default speed limits are to be implemented:

    • 30km/h (Urban Areas)
    • 60 km/h (Rural Local Roads)
    • 80km/h (National Secondary Roads)
    •  

    The default speed limits are to take effect on a staggered basis with provisional commencement dates as follows:

    • End of November 2024 for Rural Local Roads.
    • First part of 2025 for National Secondary Road and Urban Speed Limits

    Kilshanroe Village is located on a Regional Road (R402) and is not being examined as part of the current phase of works (rural local roads).