Footpaths in this Kildare estate ‘pose a hazard’ to elderly residents

A local rep has expressed concerns that the footpaths in one County Kildare estate may pose a safety hazard to its elderly residents.

The state of the footpaths was raised at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which took place on Wednesday, January 21 last.

Specifically, the topic came about when Social Democrats councillor Pat Balfe motioned for Kildare County Council (KCC) to carry out "an assessment of the existing footpaths at Gurtenoona, Athy Road in Monasterevin".

He also stressed to KCC that it should pay "particular regard to their current condition, safety, accessibility, and suitability for pedestrian use, and that, following this assessment, the necessary remedial and improvement works be considered for inclusion in KCC's 2026 Plan of Works".

Cllr Balfe's motion was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Chris Pender.

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In response, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting: "The MD Office will assess the footpaths in the area and include on the list for consideration of future footpath works when funding becomes available."

Cllr Balfe responded that he noted the report, but stressed that there were a lot of elderly residents living in the region, and that it becomes "very dark at night-time".

He added: "The footpaths [in the estate], I feel, pose a hazard [to these residents]."

Following this, another representative for the MD, Fine Gael Cllr Kevin Duffy, said that he expressed support for the motion, and noted that the area was "one of the older estates" in Kildare.

Social Democrats Cllr Pat Balfe. File photograph

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.