Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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93. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department is aware of the vital need for a second bridge in Celbridge; to provide an update on the project currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60446/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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A key measure in Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (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. In line with the agreed Programme for Government, and as set out in Delivering Homes Building Communities, the initial €2 billion allocation to the URDF has been extended by a further €500 million to 2030 under the updated NDP. Working alongside other funding streams, this additional funding will expand URDF-type investments to provide broader public investment, including in social and community facilities to support regeneration and the development of sustainable communities.

While overall responsibility for roads policy and funding for the implementation of transport strategies is a matter for the Minister for Transport, the URDF provides part-funding to support certain applicant-led road projects, such as projects that enable the delivery of residential and mixed-use development.

In that context, approximately €10 million of URDF funding has been allocated towards Kildare County Council’s proposal for a Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road. This project involves the proposed delivery of a 2km link road, a second bridge over the River Liffey, the land purchase and construction of the bridge and 300m of road. It would provide essential infrastructure to support compact urban growth in Celbridge as well as enhanced connectivity between the town and Hazelhatch Train Station.

Following engagement with the Council and initial review of the Council's submission of a Preliminary Business Case (PBC) for the project, which outlined a substantial increase in overall project costs, my Department recently met with the Council to discuss how best to progress the project. At this meeting, a revised proposal to utilise the approved URDF allocation to provide for further design work and some construction elements, including completion of the bridge, was discussed.

On foot of this meeting, my Department wrote to the Council on 11 November 2025 confirming provisional support for its proposal. This provisional support is subject to the Council forwarding a revised PBC submission detailing its proposed options for proceeding with the revised proposal. This submission will also set out options for delivery of the remainder of the original proposal.

My Department is currently awaiting this submission.