Tag: housing

The following motions and questions were raised for discussion in the Jan 09th meeting of the MD:

Motion – Councillor William Durkan
That the council conducts an identification of all sites within the municipal district that can benefit significantly from a town gateway project to slow traffic and clarify boundaries and provide an estimate of costing.
Report: Strategic Projects and Public Realm (SPPR) have published several Town and Village Masterplans, most of which include the provision of ‘Gateway’ signage on approach roads. Their inclusion in the Masterplan provides leverage to funding applications for Town and Village Schemes, RRDF schemes etc. The Gateways are designed ‘in house’, working with the Community and our Municipal District Engineer to determine an appropriate location – what is acceptable and what works in each area given that they are situated on the road network. In 2023 Gateways were delivered on approach roads in Prosperous and Kilcock. Prosperous had signs erected on both sides of the road at 2 locations – Allenwood to Prosperous Road and Prosperous to Clane Road (Curryhills). The process was carried out under Section 38 of the Roads Act in consultation with An Garda Síochána and the Transport team of Kildare County Council. A mini tender competition also took place for the civil works required for the installation piece.
The total cost for 4 signs at Prosperous was €100k of which €75k was received through Town & Village Funding and €25k through LPT. Project proposals within the Masterplans do not have funding assigned to them, SPPR actively pursues funding through grants or LPT requests. Given our extensive work programme for 2026, SPPR do not have the resources or funding to complete a survey of all sites in the Municipal District area. Our priority will be to pursue funding to aid the delivery of the project proposals included in existing Town and Village Renewal Plans.

To Note: Further discussion on this topic requested the identification and costing of specific projects that may be delivered in the short-medium term. It was noted that upcoming speed limit reviews in urban centres is an ideal opportunity to revisit this topic, and this will be raised in the coming months

Question – Councillor William Durkan
Can the council confirm if it has explored the provision of a playground in Coill Dubh, and provide an update on potential suitability?
Report: Coill Dubh was not included as a location for a playground in the 2018-2028 Play Strategy and therefore no work has been done on locating a playground in the village.

Notes: Further discussion on this topic requested a briefing of progress on the current Play Strategy projects to identify remaining projects. It was also noted that as an updated Play Strategy will be formulated in the coming years, this specific project will be suggested for inclusion at that point.

Motion – Councillor William Durkan
That the council reopens the submission portal for the Clogherinkoe Serviced Sites scheme to facilitate a new round of expressions of interest in January 2026.
Report: Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers (self-builders).
These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser. For more details on the scheme please visit the council website here.
Kildare County Council has previously made 7 serviced sites available in Clogherinkoe. These sites were initially advertised for sale in November 2024.
Due to a poor response, the sites were readvertised on 27 January 2025, again there was limited uptake.
Prior to advertising the sites, considerable work was carried out to raise awareness and interest in the sites such as a leaflet drop, information sessions in the local school hall, radio campaign on KFM, local newspaper ads, advertising in the local parish newsletter, local GAA social media, Kildare County Council social media, as well as working with the Municipal District members. Part of the criteria for these serviced sites was that an applicant had to provide proof of living for 16 years within a 5km radius area of the Serviced Sites.
The recently advertised Variation to the County Development Plan (CDP) and more specifically page 41-42 of the document available here, seeks to insert a table specific to serviced sites. The table sets out that an applicant must provide proof of residence for a 10-year period and be within a 10 km radius. It is hoped to bring the variation to the members to the January 2026 meeting.

If the variation is approved by the members, it should open the sites to more potential applicants. The council can publish the statutory notice and open the portal in Quarter 1 2026. The council will again work with the Municipal District members to raise the awareness of serviced sites (including the updated requirements, if the members approve the CDP variation), we will also work with the Council’s Communications Officer to focus a social media campaign.

Notes: Further discussion noted the welcome suggested changes to eligibility criteria and noted the importance of progressing a new application window in the coming month, pending variation approval. The importance of an intensive promotion campaign to accompany a new submission window was also stressed.

Question – Councillor William Durkan
Can the council provide an update on the award of tender process in the case of Clane Library?
Report: Tender assessment completed with a preferred contractor ready for appointment. Next stage funding application has been submitted to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for consideration and approval. A contractor will be appointed for an intended start of early 2026 following receipt of department approval in the new year.