Calls for water filling stations in this Kildare Municipal District

A Labour councillor has called on Kildare County Council to set up water filling stations in the Clane Maynooth Municipal District in order to encourage members of the public to reduce plastic waste.

Putting forward her motion at a meeting of Clane Maynooth Municipal District, held on Friday, September 5 2025, Cllr Angela Feeney said credit must go to former Green Party councillor, Peter Hamilton, who championed this particular cause during his term in office.

Cllr Feeney said the council had laid out its climate action plan – which it should be “very proud of” - but this is something which would enhance public amenities, and would cut down on single-use plastics.

The matter, she said, was mentioned in 2019 as a potential to run an initial pilot scheme. She was aware that such a scheme would entail a cost, but suggested LPT funding for the scheme.

READ NEXT: Kildare residents urged to consider leaving gift in Will as part of ‘My Legacy Month’ 2025

Cllr Feeney said that with summers now getting warmer, the opportunity was there to provide people with a facility to fill up water bottles, thus providing a vital service while helping with the environment.

Speaking in support of the motion, Cllr Padraig McEvoy (Ind) pointed out that Climate Action Week is coming up and this was an opportunity for councillors and officials to engage in such activities.

Cllr Tim Durkan (FG) said there were also a number of public realm projects coming up, and it would be “quite easy” to add public drinking facilities to these projects.

There was a project mooted a number of years ago in the main street of Maynooth to revitalise the “old public tap” which was still there but he wasn't sure if it was functional.

A report issued by Kildare County Council stated: “The addition of water filling stations will require suitable locations to be identified and a budget to deliver them.

“Additionally, the work required will have to be considered in the context of commitments to existing projects across the municipal district and the required staff and financial resources to deliver these.”