Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
207. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the proposals to proceed with the provision of a second bridge over the Liffey at Celbridge, County Kildare, might be activated in line with ever-increasing traffic volume requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47258/23]
View answerOverall responsibility for roads policy and funding for the implementation of transport strategies is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport. Kildare County Council as the Roads Authority, is responsible for the management of the road network in its jurisdiction.
Notwithstanding the above, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is providing part-funding for applicant-led roads projects that will enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns.
A key measure in Project Ireland 2040, the URDF is supporting a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework.
Following the review of the National Development Plan, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) has been extended to 2030 with an associated level of additional investment. To date there have been two Calls for proposals under the URDF with more than €1.6 billion provisionally allocated so far in respect of 132 proposals, comprising of almost 400 projects.
In 2021, following the second call for proposals under the URDF, I announced a preliminary allocation of €10,237,500 towards Kildare County Council’s Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road project. This followed on from Kildare County Council’s successful application for €400,000 towards the provision of technical assistance for the advancement of the project under the URDF’s first call for proposals in 2018. To date a total of €10,637,500 in URDF funding has been provisionally allocated by my Department towards the overall cost of this project. This provisionally approved URDF funding allocation should enable Kildare County Council to advance the project through design and planning.
Subject to funding, the construction element of the project will provide a link road between Celbridge Town and Hazelhatch Train Station of approximately 2km in length, including the delivery of a second bridge over the River Liffey in Celbridge. The project will enhance connectivity between Celbridge Town and Hazelhatch Train Station, supporting compact, consolidated development in Celbridge by realising the full potential of zoned lands south and east of the River Liffey.
It should be noted that while my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Kildare County Council in respect of their URDF Programme of works, responsibility for the advancement of their supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for Kildare County Council. Accordingly, detailed queries regarding the projects should be directed to the Council.
Approved projects must be carefully developed and managed in accordance with the normal conditions and arrangements that apply to public sector managed projects and in full compliance with the Public Spending Code. Currently Kildare County Council is preparing a Preliminary Business Case for submission to my Department as part of Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code. Upon receipt of this submission further consideration will be given to the continued advancement of this project.
