Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Overall 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 some 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, with an allocation of €2 billion, 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.

In 2021, as one of the successful applications under the URDF's second call for proposals, I announced a preliminary allocation of €10,237,500 towards Kildare County Council’s proposal for a Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road. 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.

Pending the approval of a Preliminary Business Case, this provisionally approved allocation should enable Kildare County Council to advance the project through the design and planning stages of the project.

Subject to securing the necessary planning consents and funding to cover the costs of construction, 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.

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 recently published Infrastructure Guidelines. Currently Kildare County Council is preparing a Preliminary Business Case for submission to my Department as part of Approval Gate 1 of the Infrastructure Guidelines. Upon receipt of this submission further consideration will be given to the continued advancement of design work on this project.

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.