Kildare Library Service

Kildare County Council has today published its Annual Report for 2022, giving an overview of the Council’s programme of work delivered in 2022.

Many significant and important projects and milestones were advanced by Kildare County Council throughout 2022.  The 2022 Annual Report reflects on the activities and achievements of Kildare County Council as well as highlighting the wide range of services provided by the local authority in Kildare, across all aspects of daily life.

2022 Annual Report

Kildare County Council strives to innovate and be agile in approach to service delivery, maximizing resources, continually improving customer service and communication, citizen engagement and social inclusion, which is highlighted across all aspects of the annual report for 2022.

The Kildare County Development Plan 2023 – 2029 was adopted in 2022.  Consultation and engagement was at the centre of this significant and involved process for the elected members and staff of Kildare County Council.  The County Development Plan sets out our strategy to coordinate and prioritise areas of population growth and address the physical, social and environmental needs of the county in delivering new developments and enhancing and safeguarding our valued assets and amenities.

Over €1m in grant funding was awarded to 54 businesses to support many areas of business development such as start-up, expansion & export marketing.  €4.2m in funding was secured to deliver the Athy Food, Drink & Skills Innovation Hub under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.  When complete, the hub will act as a home for our countywide food cluster, an education hub and provide manufacturing space for 20 entrepreneurs.

Supporting Communities, The Arts & Culture

Community supports and integration were a priority for Kildare County Council in 2022, to support those displaced by the war in Ukraine, and our existing communities.  The Kildare Community Response Forum was reformed to coordinate and provide much needed supports.

978 community grants were distributed throughout the year, providing funding of €1,956,003. 

Kildare County Council was proud to launch ‘Brigid 1500’ in 2022, a programme of national and international events and initiatives to celebrate and commemorate St Brigid.

A significant Capital Project Programme was progressed by the Library Service in 2022 including refurbishment and extension for the URDF funded Naas Library and Cultural Centre. 

Environment & Climate Action

Kildare’s Sustainable Energy Communities were reinvigorated in their efforts in 2022 through a series of workshops as well as significant progress on plans for applications for SEAI grant funding to retrofit homes, commercial and potentially community buildings.

136 groups and individuals participated in the Green Kilometre initiative in 2022, resulting in planting of over 800 native saplings to improve local biodiversity.

131 schools registered for the green schools programme working on environmental themes including litter and waste, energy and water reduction, biodiversity and sustainable travel.

Housing

The delivery of social housing as well as important work in the areas of homelessness, vacant and derelict properties, housing loans and grants continued to be a focus in 2022. 372 new homes were delivered by Kildare County Council and Approved Housing Bodies, achieving Housing for All build targets.  In addition, 261 new homes were delivered through the social leasing programme.

Expenditure on the grants programme increased from €4.25m in 2021 to €5.19m in 2022.

Kildare County Council continued delivery of a comprehensive Energy Retrofit Programme, delivering upgrades on 178 properties.

Major Roads Infrastructure

A number of major infrastructure projects were delivered or continued to progress at pace throughout the year.  Works got underway on the new Athy Distributor Road, which, upon completion, will provide two new roundabouts, new signalled crossroad junctions, approx. 3.4km of footpath and cycleway as well as an 80m single span steel bridge over the River Barrow.

Elsewhere, significant progress was delivered on capital projects including the Maynooth Eastern Ring Road, Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road as well as the Newhall Junction upgrade and junction improvement programme.

Sonya Kavanagh, Interim Chief Executive, Kildare County Council said; â€œKildare County Council strives to innovate and be agile in our approach to service delivery, maximising our resources, continually improving our customer service and communication, citizen engagement and social inclusion. We hope this was evident across all aspects of Kildare County Council in 2022.”

“The war in Ukraine presented heartbreaking challenges for the people of Ukraine.  Kildare County Council worked in support of national government to support community integration and provide accommoda­tion for people fleeing from the war in Ukraine.”

Speaking on the final day of his term as Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Cllr Fintan Brett said; â€œOur Elected members have demonstrated great leader­ship and commitment throughout the year and continue to focus on our people, our communities, our environment and our economic development.”

Kildare County Council’s 2022 Annual Report is available to view here.