Questions over funding due for Mill Street in Maynooth, County Kildare

A query relating to funding due for a street was brought to Kildare County Council (KCC) by a councillor.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Naoise Ó Cearúil put forward the query at the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting, which was held on Thursday, April 6.

His question read as follows: "Can the council clarify why funding announced for Mill Street (Maynooth North South Corridor, Phase 5) on two occasions from the National Transport Authority (NTA) has not been drawn down or why work has not commenced?"

He added that there was 'great public anticipation' around the announcement of funding for the street — "We can only tell people 'we don’t know' so many times," he added.

In response, KCC said: "An invitation to tender to prepare the detailed design and contract documentation for the Mill Street Active Travel Scheme (Maynooth North-South Corridor Phase 5) was published in November 2021 and a service provider appointed in February 2022.

"This service provider is completing their design assignment in April 2023, and the council will then be a position to tender for the construction stage.

"This will be subject to successful completion of a Section 38 process and the securing of funding from the NTA for this stage of the works."

KCC also said: "Design complications on this short section of active travel scheme included upgrading the Part 8 approved scheme to the latest NTA design guidance, the provision of options with/without land transfer to the east of the site, agreement with the Architectural Conservation Officer regarding amendments to a protected structure and the incorporation of proposed new bus stop locations."