Gardaí in Kildare concerned over lack of public lighting at this junction

Gardaí based in County Kildare have expressed concerns about the lack of lighting at one particular junction.

The matter was raised at the latest Kildare-Newbridge meeting, which took place on Wednesday, February 18 last, by Fine Gael councillor Tracey O'Dwyer.

She prefaced her motion by telling Kildare County Council (KCC) that she submitted it after receiving a request from gardaí based in Kilcullen. 

According to Cllr O'Dwyer, the gardaí have implored KCC (via Cllr O'Dwyer) to install public lighting at Kinneagh Cross in The Curragh.

Her motion was seconded by Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender.

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RESPONSE

KCC provided the following reply to Cllr O'Dwyer via the report it presented at the meeting: "The request for public lighting at Kinneagh Cross has been assessed, and the location is classified as Category B – Area of Low District Brightness (rural).

"In accordance with the KCC's Public Lighting Policy, the request has been logged into the Kildare Lighting Infrastructure Priority Schedule (KLIPS) Register."

KCC also noted that for Category B locations:

• "Infill lighting may only be considered where existing infrastructure is readily available"
• "New or additional lighting will only be considered where engineering measures for vulnerable road users are being installed"
• "Any such assessment falls within the remit of the Municipal District Engineers"

"Public lighting, where deemed appropriate, will only be installed as part of a wider engineering solution, with lighting considered the final measure rather than a standalone intervention," KCC added.

Speaking further on her motion, Cllr O'Dwyer said: "We have a duty to at least consider the request."

In response, a representative of KCC who was also present at the meeting, Mr McLoughlin, told Cllr O'Dwyer: "I am willing to discuss the matter with the gardaí further."

He also said: "It would be unusual to put public lighting at a rural location."

This prompted Cllr O'Dwyer to reply: "Unusual, but not impossible."

Fine Gael Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer. File photograph

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