Sallins Park Project Setback A "Hammer Blow" Says Local Councillor Bill Clear

An application for €11 million was made under the Large Scale Infrastructure Fund, however only €3 million was awarded.

Independent Councillor for Naas and Sallins Bill Clear has described the reduced funding allocation for a long-awaited park in Sallins as a “hammer blow” that could set the project back by years.

Councillor Bill Clear said expectations had been raised across the community after an application was submitted to the Department of Rural and Community Development for €11 million under the Large Scale Infrastructure Fund.

According to Cllr Clear, all members of the Naas Municipal District agreed to prioritise the Sallins park project, delaying other developments across the district and wider county in the belief that significant Government support would be secured.

However, the project was ultimately awarded €3 million — a figure he described as “a token gesture” that falls far short of what is required to deliver the scale of park originally envisaged.

“This completely undermines the plan, wastes valuable time and leaves Sallins in a far weaker position,” he said.

Cllr Clear also criticised what he described as additional bureaucracy imposed after the funding decision, claiming Kildare County Council was asked to prepare a further detailed business case despite an existing submission already being completed for the full project.

He said this has contributed to further delays at a time when construction costs continue to rise.

As a result of the funding shortfall, the council is now unable to reapply for the remaining balance under the same scheme. Any additional funding will need to come from other sources, potentially placing further strain on budgets and competing priorities across the county.

Cllr Clear warned that the immediate phase of the project is now likely to be significantly scaled back, with initial works limited to basic site clearance and walking paths. These works may not begin until next year, while the full park development could be pushed even further into the future.

He added that the current €3 million project is not expected to commence until 2027.

The councillor also pointed to the recent refusal of €500,000 in funding for a local parish centre refurbishment as part of what he described as a broader pattern of Sallins being overlooked despite its growing population.

“I am extremely frustrated and angry at how Sallins has been treated,” he said.

Despite the setback, Cllr Clear said he would continue to advocate for further investment in the area, insisting the community deserves adequate infrastructure and amenities.