KILDARE: 'New housing estates in Naas have little or no green space'

New residential developments in County Kildare have little or no green space.

This has prompted a call for the county council to borrow €10m for the Naas area alone.

It came from Cllr Seamie Moore who wants the money to be spent on urban regeneration projects, sports land acquisition, social infrastructure development and public space improvements.

He said it could be financed by charges applied by the local authority such as development levies as well as property tax.

He said the money should be borrowed over a 20 year timeframe.

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Cllr Moore told a Naas Municipal District meeting that the money needs to be spent because the population of Naas is set to increase further and social infrastructure must keep pace with this.

Cllr Bill Clear said the population could reach 50,000 and news estates have little or no green space. He added this means that municipal public spaces will become more important.

According to KCC borrowing has to be approved by the  full council and approved by the minister. There must be proof of ability to repay the borrowings.

It was also pointed out that KCC approved the raising of a loan of €15m to finance housing, recreation and amenity land purchase in September 2024 and this was considered sufficient “should an investment opportunity arise.” Borrowing of €10m over 20 years would mean an annual repayment of €700,000 per annum.