No funding to repair severely damaged footpaths in Kildare estate

“I think no funding means no funding”, a councillor was abruptly told at a recent Kildare-Newbridge MD meeting, in relation to a request for footpath repairs in Church View Estate, Suncroft, Co Kildare.

Tabling the motion on Wednesday, February 19, Cllr Kevin Duffy (FG) called on the council to use Irish Public Bodies (IPB) footpath funding as “an emergency” measure to urgently address the severely damaged footpaths in Church View Estate, Suncroft.

Speaking of the condition of the pavement in the housing estate in question, Cllr Duffy said “I have to say, they're some of the worst footpaths I have come across in my time on the council.”

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He said some areas were “almost impassable”, and that this was a council estate which was probably built “in the late seventies.”

Cllr Duffy added that the area “desperately” needs investment because of older and vulnerable people and those with mobility issues using the footpath.

He said he had hoped that Irish Public Bodies (IPB) funding could be used to address the problem with footpaths in Church View Estate, and he found it “disappointing” that the local authority would state that this was not the case.

“This is a very poor estate and they've no-one else to look towards”, he said.

Also speaking at the meeting, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer (FG) pointed out that the council report stated there is no funding available in the Kildare-Newbridge district, and she was of the understanding that the Irish Public Bodies (IPB) funding was “countywide”, “and not MD-specific.”

This would mean, she suggested, that it may be possible to apply for countywide funding for Church View Estate.

A council official, responding to Cllr O'Dwyer, said: “I think no funding means no funding.”

When pressed, the official said he would “have to check” if funding was specific to particular Municipal Districts, or whether, as Cllr O'Dwyer understood, it was countywide.

A report issued by Kildare County Council stated: “There is no budget available under the Irish Public Bodies (IPB) funding within the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District for requested works.”