Calls to ring-fence paid parking revenue for Kildare towns ruled out

A call for the ring-fencing of paid parking for the delivery of roads projects within the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District has been ruled out by the council.

At a recent MD meeting, Cllr Chris Pender (SD) called on the council to commit to ring-fencing a minimum of 60% of all paid parking revenue generated within each town in the municipal district for the delivery of roads projects specifically within that town.

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This, his motion argued, would ensure that funds raised locally would directly support local transport and infrastructure improvements.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Pender said he understood the reasoning behind the council's report, but that he was not looking for all the funding generated to be allocated to the town in which it was generated.

What he was seeking, he said, was 60% of all paid parking revenue to be allocated to local roads projects for those towns.

He said that “if it helped”, it could perhaps be 60% over a five-year term, or 60% over a 10-year term so that that it gives the opportunity to have a more balanced approach.

He believed, he said, that the majority of funding from paid parking should be spent within the towns in which it was being generated.

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer (FG) said that this was “a dangerous road to go down”, as she believed there has to be “flexibility” for departments to use the funding where and when it's needed.

She didn't believe it was fair for funding to be given to the two towns in which it is generated (Kildare and Newbridge), because she said it's people driving in from the hinterland who are availing of paid parking.

Agreeing with Cllr O'Dwyer, Cllr Suzanne Doyle (FF) said she concurred with the point that most of the people generating income from paid parking in Newbridge are driving in from outside the town.

If that was the case, she said, there was a stronger argument to have the funding spent elsewhere.

Cllr Doyle suggested an annual review of distribution of spend of funding would be more equitable than allocating a specific amount to one or two towns.

A report issued by the council stated: “The Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District Budget 2025 included an allocation of €445,289 in respect of the pay-parking surplus.

“The pay parking surplus is used for the Roads Programme within the municipal district i.e. local roads, regional roads, footpaths, public lighting, traffic signing and calming and/or road safety.

“The allocation of this budget within the Roads Programme is determined by the members each year in consultation with Kildare County Council’s Transport Department.

“A further ring-fencing below municipal district level would not improve the delivery of service and

could be restrictive and counterproductive in meeting the needs of the community.”