M9 Park-and-Share Plans For South Kildare Await Talks With Private Landowners That Are Yet to Begin

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 09:54

By Martin Osborne

In contrast, a similar facility at Junction 5 in Rathcrogue, County Carlow, is further advanced because the land there is already publicly owned.

Motorists in south Kildare are facing yet more delays in efforts to tackle chronic parking pressure at key M9 junctions.

Councillor Veralouise Behan (FF) pressed council officials for an update on promised solutions at Prumplestown, Castledermot and Mullamast in Athy.

But the response reveals progress on the ground remains limited.

The National Roads Office says it is working with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to identify potential Park-and-Share sites at three locations along the M9, Junction 3 (Moone, Co Kildare),Junction 4 (Prumpelstown, Co Kildare) and Junction 5 (Rathcrogue, Co Carlow).

However, the two Kildare projects are still stuck at feasibility stage - with suitable land yet to be secured.

Crucially, the council says negotiations with private landowners have not even begun and are only expected to start in the first quarter of 2026.

"Suitable sites need to be determined in order to complete the Feasibility and Options Reports. This will require discussions with the landowners within the vicinity of the Junctions as these lands are in private ownership. It is proposed that these discussions will commence in Quarter 1 of 2026," a senior council engineer said.

In contrast, a similar facility at Junction 5 in Rathcrogue, County Carlow, is further advanced because the land there is already publicly owned.