Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With the greatest of respect to the Minister of State, I did not need a lecture on the URDF. While he correctly stated that Kildare County Council submitted four applications, this particular application was highlighted as the second most important of those four. It was bypassed for whatever reason. We were very disappointed to receive word that the project was not included. The Department cannot simply wash its hands of this. It needs to work with the Department of Transport and Kildare County Council to find an innovative response. Kildare County Council is working proactively to provide three quarters of the funding for the project. The Minister of State has said it is back in the court of Kildare County Council. When will we have the next round of the URDF? The Minister of State spoke about one feedback meeting between the Department and Kildare County Council. Is this the only engagement that has taken place? Has there been other engagement? What plans does the Department have to support the people of Kildare as well as Kildare County Council in securing sufficient funding to make progress on this vital infrastructure?