Climate change warnings heard at Kildare County Council meeting

Stern warnings about the effects of climate change were heard at a recent Kildare County Council (KCC) meeting.

The comments were heard at the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting, which was held on Friday, February 6 last.

The discussion initially began when KCC heard a motion which was submitted by Labour Party Cllr Angela Feeney, who motioned for KCC to include the social housing units in Old Greenfield, Maynooth, in its Housing Retrofit Programme.

Her motion was seconded by Independent Cllr Pádraig McEvoy.

Responding to Cllr Feeney’s motion, KCC explained via the report it presented at the meeting that it receives a fixed annual retrofit allocation of funds from the Department [of Transport, Climate, Energy and the Environment], which is fully assigned for the current year.

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KCC further said: "It is anticipated that future allocations will increase, enabling more units to be addressed.

"Subject to resources, Departmental approval and additional funding for ancillary works, KCC intends to return to Old Greenfield as a priority in 2027, aligned with Maynooth’s decarbonising zone status."

Speaking further on the matter, Cllr Feeney said that she welcomed KCC’s specific comments that it would prioritise the matter.

Cllr Feeney also urged KCC to "seriously engage" with the people who live in the area.

A representative for KCC, who was also present at the meeting, gave assurances to Cllr Feeney that KCC would liase with Cllr Feeney in relation to the matter.

'A COMMON THEME'

Another KCC member, Marian Higgins, who is its director of services for climate, community, environment and water-related matters, then spoke: "There is a common theme here regarding the impact of climate on transportation."

She further said: "Our weather isn't going to improve, and there will be more [bad weather] in the future.

"It is incumbent for us to work towards these [climate-friendly] actions in order to make these changes."

Cllr McEvoy also decided to give his view on the topic of climate change.

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He told the attendees: "During Covid [referring to the Covid-19 pandemic], the will of the State came down to trying to do what was necessary."

Cllr McEvoy also expressed concerns for the proposed construction of more data centres in Ireland.

He further said that he was critical of a recent decision which was taken by the Department of Public Expenditure to disband its climate division.

Coming back into the conversation, Cllr Feeney said: "It is so important for KCC and councillors to work together, and to see what we can do."

She added: "It sounds cheesy, but is is true."

Labour Party Cllr Angela Feeney, who submitted the original motion (Photograph supplied by Cllr Feeney), and Independent Cllr Padraig McEvoy, who issued a warning about the effects of climate change (Photograph credit: kildarecoco.ie)

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.