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03 Oct 2025
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03 Oct 2025
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The motion concerned the proposed resurfacing of a road located in the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District. FILE PHOTOGRAPH / PIXABAY
A councillor for the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) made it clear that he was let down by Kildare County Council (KCC)’s response to one of his motions.
Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell was critical of the response issued by KCC to one of his motions, which was heard at the latest MD meeting on Wednesday, April 16 last.
He motioned for KCC to resurface the L703610, Piercetown, Newbridge which he said "is in poor condition".
CROSS PARTY SUPPORT
Cllr McDonnell’s motion was seconded by Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey.
However, KCC informed Cllr McDonnell that there are "no plans for surfacing this road in the 2025 budget".
Explaining his frustration, Cllr McDonnell said: "The community came to me and they have a request; my job is to then try to get it resolved."
He added: "We have buckets of money coming into the country, and we [still] can’t do it. It is aggravating me and the community who ask me [to raise matters with KCC]."
‘HARD TO ACCEPT’
Cllr McDonnell further said that KCC’s answer was "going nowhere" and that he found it "hard to accept" the response.
He also posed the following question to the council: "KCC has to ask the government for money for small jobs, otherwise what’s the point in having councillors?"
Brenda Cuddy, a senior engineer with KCC who was present at the meeting, reiterated to Cllr McDonnell that KCC has a limited budget for the MD when it comes to resurfacing works.
"That’s fair enough, your hands are tied, but can’t we go to someone [about this]?" Cllr McDonnell asked.
It was then that Eileen Hanlon, KCC’s head of Finance, Digital Services, Innovation and Governance, also cited budgetary constraints.
She also said that when it comes to funding, the roads section receives a large portion of KCC’s funding.
However, she stressed that even this section receives a limited allocation of funds.
"We have to live within the budget," Ms Hanlon added.
Cllr Tom McDonnell, Independent. Photo credit: kildarecoco.ie
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