€50,000: That's How Much A Single Pedestrian Crossing In Naas Is Set To Cost This Year

Monday, 14 July 2025 12:20

By Martin Osborne

It comes at a time when it has been claimed that the council is "constrained" due to funding.

A single pedestrian crossing in Naas is set to cost Kildare County Council around €50,000 this year - an amount that has consumed the entire annual discretionary budget of one local councillor.

The cost has sparked concerns over how far council funds can stretch amid what has been described as a funding crisis.

Cllr Evie Sammon (FG) revealed to Kfm that she allocated her €50,000 annual budget - funded by local parking charges - toward the installation of the crossing near Meadows and Byrne in Naas, only to be told by council officials that it would cover just that one project.

“The cost of material is massive at the moment,” she said. “It’s not just tarmac - the electrics, and the need to widen the footpath, all add to it.”

The allocation councillors receive each year is drawn from car parking revenue and can fluctuate annually.

Most council projects are bundled under tender agreements to reduce costs, but, according to Sammon, the council is currently "constrained" due to a lack of Government funding and is already struggling to cover basic maintenance work across the county.

More from Local News

Call For Sanitary Bins In Men’s Toilets To Support Prostate Cancer Survivors

Audio

Each year, around 4000 men in Ireland are diagnosed with the disease, with research from PHS and the Irish Cancer Society finding more than half of men with incontinence feel anxious because of poor toilet facilities.
Own-Brand Foods Often Produced By Same Factories As Big Labels, Says Money Doctor John Lowe

Choosing own-brand products can also save money, with Lowe noting that many supermarket labels are produced by the same manufacturers as well-known brands.
Kfm Strengthens Position As Kildare’s Most Listened-To Station, According To Latest Ipsos/MRBI Report

Kfm CEO Clem Ryan said: “This latest research is a major reflection of the power of local radio, which showcases local issues , and where advertisers reach their target customers in real time."
Quarter Of Uisce Éireann Staff Earned Over €100k Last Year

Audio

Officials from Uisce Eireann are appearing before the Public Accounts Committee, outlining the company’s financial statements for 2024.
Meath Bird Flu Case Prompts Warning, But Chicken And Turkey Safe To Eat, Says Agriculture Minister

Audio

After confirmed cases in Carlow and Cork, the Department of Agriculture is imposing a mandatory order for all poultry and captive birds to be kept indoors from next Monday.
One-Month Road Closure In Catherinestown To Start Next Week To Facilitate Maynooth Pipeline Works

The road will shut from the junction with the L5050 at Catherinstown to the L1015 at Kellystown from November 10th to December 6th.
Commuter Chaos On M7/N7 Renews Calls For Standby Emergency Response Team During Morning Gridlock

Minister for Public Expenditure and Infrastructure Jack Chambers said he would ask Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Minister Of Transport to better resource the response to certain incidents.
Thousands Of Workers Could Get Tax Back In Time For Christmas, Says Financial Advisor

People can also claim on GP visits, prescriptions and rent - along with flat rate expenses for certain professions.