Mark Wall's Blog

Permission for the road is now with An Bord Pleanála . An Bord Pleanála will now consider the planning involved in this road . It is therefore very important that you and or your neighbours make a submission to the Bord on any or all concerns you may have regarding the road and any submission you may make can also include your support for this development .
We are informed that it is likely an Oral hearing may be called on this application which could take place July / August with a decision in the months following that hearing .
Submissions may be made in writing to the An Bord Pleanála, Strategic Infrastructure Division,
64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902
from now until Friday 9th June.
A fee of €50.00 must accompany any submissions (subject to exceptions in relation to certain speci ed bodies).
If you want to discuss any part of the above or have any questions on the road , please let me know . 

Draw, Design and name your invention of the future – prizes for Students 6-12 years ,12-18 years and all those over 18 in our community.Closing date – June 9th 
Exciting competition with winners prizes to be presented at Kildare County Show on Father’s Day this year, June 18th .Prize fund of €2,500.

Let me know if you require more details of a great competition in association with Kildare County Council , Kildare Local Enterprise Office , Kildare Nationalist Newspaper and Kildare County Show or ring 045- 980838..

Your child or even yourself could have the next great Gadget or Retail venture of the future !

Cllr Mark Wall has welcomed a commitment from Kildare County Council that they will urgently investigate the junction at the Nags head Public House in Monasterevin where R445 and R414 roads meet following his recent motion to the Council. 

Speaking following a detailed discussion at the recent Council area meeting which received the unanimous support of all the area Cllr’s , Cllr Wall stated ” I have being asked by a large number of the people of Monasterevin to raise their safety concerns regardng this Junction . Following a frank discussion , Kildare County Council will carry out an immediate investigation while also referring its safety to the Technical Assessment and Advisory Group (TAAG), newly established in the Roads, Transportation and Public Safety Department. The Council have committed to also updating the members as soon as the investigation  is carried out.”

Cllr Wall concluded , ” The safety of everybody using this junction is paramount, I will continue to liaise with the Council on their findings and keep the public updated on all progress .”

Thank you for your phone call reporting loss of water supply at Carlow Road, Athy, Co Kildare. 

The disruption of water supply to Church Road, Carlow Road, Ballyroe and surrounds is due to a burst water main. The estimated restoration time is 4pm.

At the Athy Municipal District meeting today , the Senior Engineer of Kildare County Council , informed us that the road was ready for “publishing” and that this would happen in the papers and by public notice on Tuesday 25th April . The Senior engineer expects the documentation to go to Bord Pleanala on this date also, which will begin the process of seeking planning permission for this road for the first time . He informed the meeting that Council were expecting an Oral hearing to to called by the Bord, which it was felt would happen in late Summer or early Autumn. A planning decision would then be expected on the road by the end of the year. 
All necessary documentation for the planning process was now in place and approvals to go to this very important stage , had recently being received from the Department , a very important step.

That time of year , Residents, Festival , Heritage and Community grant application forms are out !

Please let me know if you need one or to discuss a project .
Closing date Tuesday 14th March .

Kildare County Council Grant Schemes 2017: 
Kildare County Council wishes to invite applications for their Community, Festival, Heritage, Residents Associations: Local Authority & Private Estates 2017 Grant Scheme. Closing date for all grants is Tuesday 14th March 2017 at 5PM. Please click here http://dlvr.it/NJG1P0

January Update on Athy Southern Distributor Road 
Cllr Mark Wall has welcomed the announcement today of a €1,000,000 allocation by Transport Minister Shane Ross to the Athy Southern Distributor road .

In his statement the Minister stated “As well as expenditure on maintenance and strengthening, the 2017 investment programme also allows for a number of Capital Plan projects to progress, including:

• Athy Southern Distributor Road in County Kildare

At the Athy Municipal District meeting in Monasterevin yesterday , the area Cllr’s including Cllr Wall were informed that the documentation relating to the Athy SDR scheme has being submitted to the 

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for their approval to publish the scheme and send this much needed road to An Bord Pleanala for planning permission. The Cllr’s were also informed that the documentation has being forwarded to Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority.

This news follows on from the December meeting of the Athy District where the consultants informed the area Cllrs , that the Department look for a cost benefit analysis of greater than 1 , however the Athy road is showing a benefit of between 2.5 to 3, which is obviously good news for the town and shows what we all knew, that our town needs this road urgently .

Cllr Wall concluded ” The news that the Minister has included the Athy Southern Distributor Road on his list of Capital projects to proceed is very good news. We now await the go ahead from his Department to allow the road to proceed to planning , a decision on this, we are told is due shortly.The cost benefit analysis completed by the Councils consultants is very positive as we all expected. The timeline on the delivery of this road states that 2017 would be taken up by the much needed planning permission for this road , this must happen for the future of Athy.I have requested from Kildare County Council that they would put the presentation on the road received by the Cllr’s in December on Public Display and I’m informed the Council are working on this . Athy needs this road and today I hope is another step in achieving this ” 
Further information please contact Mark on 0833341488