Kildare County Council to engage with St John of God over car park/lands

Kildare County Council is to re-engage with St John of God regarding the use of Celbridge Abbey Car Park and to engage in 'wider discussions' regarding the lands at Celbridge Abbey, the council has confirmed.

The move follows a motion tabled by Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) at a meeting of Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District, held on Friday, September 18 2026.

Apart from the use of Celbridge Abbey Car Park, central to Cllr Heather's motion was how lands at Celbridge Abbey may be used for community facilities, “recreation and other purposes that would benefit the people of Celbridge.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Heather said that councillors had previously been told that KCC had entered into negotiations with St John of God regarding the opening of Celbridge Abbey Car Park.

According to Cllr Heather, this was deemed to be “not commercially viable” at the time, as St John of God had raised the rent on the car park.

What has transpired, Cllr Heather explained, is that “we have these large, concrete blocks blocking the entrance to the car park”, despite the fact, he said, that there is outdoor gym equipment in there also.

Cllr Heather told the council that in relation to parking in Celbridge, “there isn't enough of it”, it is next to impossible to get parking on the high street, and difficult still to engage with paid parking in the town.

He therefore viewed it as “essential” that Celbridge Abbey Car Park was brought back into use.

He said there was also significant amenity value in those lands, and it was important that this was made available to the Celbridge community.

Cllr Heather said that the compulsory purchase order on some of those lands is now operative, and it would be useful to find out when that process was concluded, as local people were asking about it

Cllr Heather admitted, nevertheless, that he was “heartened” by the council's response - which stated that the council will meet with St John of God to discuss the reopening of the Celbridge Abbey Car Park.

Cllr Declan Ryan said his issue with St John of God was that they “didn't want to talk” to Kildare County Council, and they “don't want any money.”

According to Cllr Ryan, St John of God as an organisation “get over €200m a year from the State”, and is funded by the taxpayer.

Cllr Ryan told the council that the upkeep of the lands in question was not being met.

He suggested contacting the Department of Health to point out that there was an asset in Celbridge from which St John of God could receive funding from Kildare County Council.

In his opinion, he said, “we're not going to get anywhere with St John of God”, and “we need to go straight to the top” - to the Minister for Health.

Cllr Ryan said he commended the work the staff of St John of God are doing in Celbridge, “but they're letting the lands go, they could be used, the people of Celbridge could use them.”

A report issued by the council stated: “The Transport Department will arrange a meeting with St. John of God to discuss the potential for reopening the Celbridge Abbey Car Park and are happy to

engage in discussions in a wider context. It is noted that a portion of these lands are

already the subject of a compulsory purchase order in respect of the Celbridge Hazelhatch Mobility Corridor, which is now operative.”