‘How are we supposed to seek further clarity?’: Absence of report's author at Kildare County Council meeting criticised. FILE PHOTOGRAPH / PIXABAY

‘How are we supposed to seek further clarity?’: Absence of report's author at Kildare County Council meeting criticised

A councillor representing the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District took issue with the author's absence

19 Dec 2025, 15:00 by Ciarán Mather · Leinster Leader

The absence of one report which was submitted to councillors at a recent Kildare County Council (KCC) meeting was criticised by one local representative.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender was visibly frustrated by the absence of the report's author during the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which took place on Wednesday, December 17 last.

The discussion initially came about he submitted the following question to KCC: "Can KCC provide an update on all communications between itself and the Department of Transport in relation to the second bridge for Newbridge and Southern Orbital Route project, to outline any progress on securing funding, and to confirm the current status of the project?"

In response, KCC said via its report at the meeting: "Discussions are ongoing with the Department about securing funding to
progress this project."

KCC added: "A further update can be provided in 2026 following the release of the funding allocations for the coming year."

However, Cllr Pender replied at the time: "I absolutely do not accept that report; I got a response that isn't a response"

He clarified that he took issue with the fact that the author of the report was not present at the meeting.

"How are we meant to seek further clarity on what we're asking, if the person who write it isn't even here?" he asked KCC.

Cllr Pender also noted that three people from KCC's Roads Section were in attendance at the meeting, but when he asked them to provide him with further information following the report, none of the three representatives were able to do so.

"And the one person [who wrote the report] isn't here," he remarked. "It's not acceptable, particularly for this [kind of issue]."

Cllr Pender then suggested that he would deal with the matter by submitting a Freedom of Information Act request, which prompted one KCC official, Eileen Hanlon, to tell Cllr Pender that a full written report would be presented at the MD's January meeting.

SIMILAR MOTION

Another motion relating to the proposed second bridge for Newbridge followed Cllr Pender's motion.

The Mayor of the MD, Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey, submitted the following question to KCC: "Can KCC provide an update on the schedule for delivery of a second Liffey Bridge at Great Connell, Newbridge?"

In response, KCC issued the same report to Mayor Heavey as it did to Cllr Pender's motion.

(LEFT) Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender. File photograph / (RIGHT) Fianna Fáil Cllr and Mayor of the MD, Noel Heavey. Photograph credit: Martin Connelly

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.