Category Archives: Local

Sallins Area Plan – Support for Amenity Lands

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Mock Image of Sallins Harbour with Boardwalks

The Sallins Local Area Plan has almost concluded its rounds of consideration in the council and has been sent to the Minister for final sign-off. As expected the Minister has raised a concern over Alteration 20 relating to the additional residential zoning on the Bodenstown road. However the key piece of this jigsaw is the 40 acres of Amenity land that come with it. This was supported by all Councillors unanimously when the plan was going through as the community gain behind this proposal will allow for development of multiple playing pitches, running track, a new community building for all the different groups in the village. It will bridge the gap which has long existed of over development without any facilities in the village to go with it. The Minister has invited submissions on the Alteration before he makes a ruling and I include my submission here.

Further Coverage Announced for Rural Broadband in Kildare North

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CllrPaulWardJamesLawlessTDImagineBrianODonoghueToday I hosted a constructive meeting with the Imagine Broadband executive team regarding rural broadband coverage for Kildare North in Leinster House today. In attendance were Ciaran Doyle and Brian O’Donoghue from Imagine Broadband and Cllr. Paul Ward.

Having previously worked with Imagine to bring fibre broadband to rural areas of Kill and Eadestown where previously services had been poor I was keen to stress the need for broadband in North West Kildare. Cllr Paul Ward explained the urgent need for improved broadband services in Newtown and Kilcock during this meeting.

It was agreed that Imagine’s technological team will begin to next assess these areas for further roll out. They will work with Deputy Lawless to target the areas in North West Kildare which need better coverage.

It is great to progress this issue further. It was vitally important to increase broadband services in North West Kildare and the first steps will now take place. Businesses, students, and families all need faster broadband as a basic need. The pilot in Eadestown and Kilteel has gone very well and Imagine have now agreed to roll the service out further to Clane, Straffan, and Ardclough. They will next begin to work on Newtown, Kilcock, and North West Kildare coverage at my request.

News of Tender for Sallins Bypass & M7 Upgrade

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I am delighted to see that Kildare County Council have officially begun to seek tenders for the Sallins Bypass and upgrading of the M7. The project includes M7 Naas Newbridge Bypass Upgrade + M7 Osberstown Interchange & R407 Sallins Bypass.

M7 Upgrade Sallins Bypass

It is fantastic to this project making steady progress. I was cautious in September 2015 in welcoming funding as residents in Naas & Sallins had been promised these works since the early 1990’s. I have campaigned strenuously for years on this issue, these road projects will bring a dramatic improvement to the lives of people living in Naas and Sallins, travelling through as well as the thousands who use the M7 everyday.

Prospective contractors have until the 13th of May to apply and state their case. In my new role as a T.D. for Kildare North I will continue to do everything possible to monitor and lobby for this project to be completed.