Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will let the Minister of State get seated. I thank him for taking this Topical Issue matter. I raised this with him in July and there are two elements to it, one of which is to progress the delivery of the second bridge for Celbridge and the other is to look at lands that have been identified in the recent local area plan at Hazelhatch as an area of key and strategic development and to carry out a master plan for same.

I acknowledge positively the work the Minister of State, his colleague, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy and Deputy Durkan have done with me in supporting this call to deliver the funding to progress the second bridge for Celbridge. That has been positive and significant. The announcement on Monday under the urban regeneration and development fund of funding to Kildare County Council to progress the bridge to route selection brings it up to, and including, the design and tender stage, which is welcome. Celbridge has a population of more than 22,000 people and this is something that we have been seeking for many years at this stage. There is gridlock and it can take up to 45 minutes to move 300 m or 400 m through the town, which is frustrating for people living in the area. While a second bridge is not in place, at least now people can see clearly that there is path to delivering it. Timelines will start to take shape and people will see an end game in sight. That is significant and important for Celbridge to develop and grow as one of the largest towns in north Kildare.

I acknowledge again and thank the Minister of State for his support and help in ensuring that this project is progressed, because when I raised this under Topical Issue matters with him in July, I highlighted the urgency of it and the need for progress in this area. He gave me a commitment on that occasion that this funding stream would open and that he would examine it with his officials and support it as positively as he could. He has done so along with the Minister and Deputy Durkan and I thank him for that.

On the issues of the lands at Hazelhatch, they are located right beside the train station, where the frequency and capacity of services has increased in recent times.

See this speech in context