KildareNet News week ending 18 March 2000

'Nationwide' comes from The Curragh this weekend

THE CURRAGH, 17 March 2000: by Bill Trapman. The popular RTE series Nationwide comes from the Curragh on Sunday when the entire programme will be presented by Michael Ryan from different locations on the racecourse and training grounds.

The main story centres around racing sponsorship for the Classic meetings ... there are five in this country the Derby, St Leger, Oaks and the Guineas. The Guineas weekend festival is sponsored by the US cake company Entenmanns. Local company Hibernia Foods has that franchise for Europe and their CEO and chairman, Oliver Murphy, a racing man himself, gives back to the industry he loves in abundance.

Oliver Murphy has his horses in training with Dermot Weld and in 1990 was leading owner in this country. The Nationwide programme meets Oliver Murphy in his wellingtons on the gallops of Kildare with Dermot Weld and talks to him about his passions and pleasure and why he is one of the very few business enjoying racing ownership who actual gives back.

Dermot Weld talks about the importance of sponsorship to bring the fastest and best to the Curragh for the Classic meetings and Brian Kavanagh, Curragh manager, talks about the unique atmosphere at the Curragh for these classic meetings. There are also shots of the 1967 Sweeps Derby with former US First Lady, the late Jackie Kennedy, in attendance. The show is produced by Kildare TV journalist Mary Fanning (above left).

Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

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Car of the Week

Hyundai Accent

Illegal landfills cause difficulty for local licensed facility

KILCULLEN, 16 March 2000: by Brian Byrne. The EPA-licensed KTK landfill site at Kilcullen has recently had to ask the regulatory organisation to change part of the conditions in its licence, because the apparently unrestricted operations by illegal landfill owners has meant the mix of waste material being handled by the site has not been as expected.

This emerged at a public briefing by KTK Landfill Limited last night, when Dr Gabriel Dennison said the amount of construction and demolition waste being brought to the site has been significantly less than expected. Chairman of KTK Kevin Keenan said it seemed that much of this material was being distributed in illegal sites within Kildare or in neighbouring counties. The situation has meant that KTK has to buy in covering material to make up the shortfall of material which would otherwise have served this purpose.

The material being disposed of at KTK, which is beside the County Landfill at Silliott Hill, is mainly paper, plastics, some timber and some metals. The kind of material is strictly detailed on the licence, as is the mix.

Dr Dennison also noted that a lot of the material being brought to KTK has a recycling potential ‘but this just isn’t happening’ yet. Kevin Kelly said they are considering the acquisition of a chipper to recycle timber, and he noted that if the expected amount of demolition material had come in, much of it could have been recycled.

The purpose of the briefing was to keep local residents aware of how the site has developed and is being operated. It included presentations from (below) site manager Mark Heesom, Geoff Parker of Environmental & Resource Management Ltd, chairman Kevin Keenan, managing director Noel McNamara, and Dr Dennison.

Senator John Dardis complimented the company for the way it had been so open with its proposals from early on in the development of the project, and for having such community briefing sessions. “I can think of several other projects in the area where we were just kept in the dark,” he said.

In a Q&A session afterwards, matters relating to the future operation of the site were discussed, including odour and gas control, leachate collection and analysis, and eventual reconstruction of the site. on that last, Geoff Parker noted that it was fortunate the site had been surveyed before extraction of sand and gravel had ever begun, and so it would be possible to restore it to ‘the way Mother Nature made it thousands of years ago’.

Dr Dennison agreed with a suggestion that the KTK operation was ‘vulnerable’ to contamination from the County Landfill, and that very careful monitoring was required so that KTK couldn’t be blamed for what came from there. He said a ‘snapshot’ of conditions in and around the site had been taken before any waste went in, and if any problem occurs it could be tracked back to source, whether that be KTK or the local authority facility.

The company expects it will take some seven or eight years to fill the site, and it will maintain responsibility for it for 20 years after that. Several times during the session, invitations were extended for anybody who wishes to see how the landfill operates to make contact with the management and they would be facilitated.

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GARDA PATROL

When you may be out of your home a lot, be especially security conscious. If you are going away for Christmas, use devices such as timers to make it appear that your home is occupied. Let local gardai know if your home is going to be vacant. When at home, be alert for any suspicious activity in your neighborhood and let gardai know if you see something that disturbs you.

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Goffs celebrate Cheltenham win

CHELTENHAM, 16 March 2000: by Bill Trapman. Lord Noelie's victory in yesterday's Royal and Sun Alliance Chase (Grade 1) at Cheltenham was another success for graduates of the Goffs Land Rover Sale. Presented at the inaugural sale in 1996 by Sean Twomey's Hawthorn Villa Stud he was bought by Louis Archdeacon for 6,000 gns.

"It is quite fantastic that the first Land Rover Sale should have thrown up such a prestigious winner - the first of many we hope," Goffs National Hunt Director Leo Powell said yesterday.

The sale, which is limited to 250 horses, has proved a great success with both vendors and buyers, and Goffs will be hoping that it will ultimately add to their National Hunt Roll of Honour, which includes horses such as Arkle, Red Rum, Golden Miller, and L'Escargot.

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CBS students visit archeological exhibition

NAAS, 16 March 2000: by Trish Whelan. Second year pupils from Naas CBS pictured during their visit to the 'From the Land to the Peoples' exhibition in Naas Town Hall yesterday.

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Enterprise Task Force established

EDENDERRY, 16 March 2000: by Brian Byrne The OAK Partnership has established an Enterprise Task Force to look at new enterprise opportunities for the North West Kildare/North Offaly area. This follows concern about the low level of industrial development in the area.

According to OAK chairman Patrick Fay, recent developments in Bord na Mona and the ESB have really added to the importance of the work of the Task Force, which was first mooted last year. Over 1,000 fulltime and seasonal jobs were lost locally in those organisations between 1986 and 1996. “In addition, many other local industries which closed in the 1980s, including Edenderry Shoe Factory, were never adequately replaced,” he noted.

The membership of the Task Force includes private and community enterprise promoters, Bord na Mona and statutory agencies such as the enterprise boards and local authoritries. It’s chairman is Noel Burke of Bord na Mona, and he said it is heartening to see collaboration by key personnel in Offaly and Kildare to focus on the needs of ‘this particularly disadvantaged area’.

Those at the launch were told that the current threat to Croghan Briquette Factory and the expected closure of Rhode Generating Station in the next few years also highlight the need for an industrial policy to develop alternative types of employment in the future.

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Corban's Lane Car Park

NAAS, 16 March 2000:

Dear Editor,

You are to be commended for highlighting a number of important questions regarding the proposed sale of the Corban's Lane car park in Naas. As one of the minority of Councillors who voted against it, I was amazed at the lack of consideration given to any other options.

I am also deeply concerned as to the potential hazards that such a large volume of traffic may pose for the children attending the two large schools in the vicinity. I can assure you that the Councillors had no idea how this problem may be avoided when they voted on the proposal.

It seems to me that the majority of Naas councillors are prepared to vote for a 'pig in a poke'.

Yours sincerely,
Pat McCarthy, Member of Naas UDC,

Criticises 'crocodile tears'

CELBRIDGE, 16 March 2000:

Dear editor,

Concerning your coverage of decision by An Bord Pleanala to allow a further 6 houses to be built on this complete and mature Estate I wish to comment on the audacity of Cllr. Geraldine Conway [F.F.] to criticise this decision.

I want to remind Cllr. Conway that it was her F.F. Minister for the Environment Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D. that introduced and enforced the new 'pro developer ' regulations ordering higher house densities in new and existing estates. He did so in Sept. 1999 just in time for this developer to reap the benefits in Abbey Farm. Cllr Conway will be well aware that An Bord Pleanala is bound by thisF.F. decision at National level. This is a bench mark decission and will have knock on effects in housing estates all over the county and indeed the Country. Cllr Conway is fooling nobody by her crocodile tears for local residents when her party in government is pandering to the developers lobby.

You cant have it both ways; your party can not make national regulations that is allows the rape of Abbey Farm while F.F. at local level pay lip service to the concerns of local residents who are adversely effected by your party's decision.

Some editorial research and judgement would also be welcome ---- or were you taken in by the double standards.

Sincerely,

Emmet M. Stagg.T.D.

Open Days at Oldtown under threat from UDC 'inaction'

NAAS, 15 March 2000: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. The now-traditional Open Days at Oldtown Demesne are under threat because Major John De Burgh (left) doesn’t feel Naas UDC is pulling its weight to help with a property that will eventually be handed over to it as a public park. And he’s equally concerned that the developers he sold the property to, Lehmex International, haven’t maintained as they promised the wood-and-waterlands that make up a unique 18-century garden.

While the first Open Day of the year is tentatively scheduled for May 1, the major says it is subject to the UDC taking what he calls a ‘positive interest’ in the 20 acres. He also wants them to insist on getting control of the whole river system at Oldtown, including the Octagonal Lake, the alder grove and the St Patrick’s Well section.

“These are necessary for the running of Oldtown to a proper standard,” he told KNN last week. “It was my understanding when I sold to Lehmex that this would be the case, but the council will be getting short-changed if they accept the current offer from the company.”

The offer of the gardens to the UDC was a key proposal in the campaign by Lehmex to have sections of the demesne rezoned during the preparation of the Naas UDC Development Plan. When Major De Burgh sold, it was with the proviso that he and his wife would retain the right to live there for the rest of their lives. He is quite happy to maintain the area remaining to him under this arrangement as he has done for the last 50 years, but he wants the UDC to get involved now so that when they gain control of the property after his death, they’ll at least know something about the work required.

The Open Days - there have been about a dozen in recent years - attract up to 800 people, and the major and his demesne staff have handled all the preparation and the management of the events. But now he feels it is unfair on his staff to have to bear the full burden, given that the UDC are to be the ultimate beneficiaries of the work.

Major De Burgh says he is ‘very disappointed’ in Lehmex because the area of the woodlands currently under their control has deteriorated. The waterway downstream of the historical St Patrick’s Well is covered in vegetation, slime and discarded rubbish (above). The alder grove appears neglected. There is a clear difference between the Lehmex area and ‘the major’s side’ (below).

“It all started well, but I’ve had no recent communication at all,” Major De Burgh said last week. “I feel they have let me down so badly. Perhaps I was rather naive. It is now up to the UDC ... they hold all the cards, and should look for the lake and waterways.”

Meanwhile, the gardens will still be opened on occasion to public groups, but only to small parties by prior arrangement, unless the UDC indicates that it will become seriously involved in the gardens. If that doesn’t happen soon, the days of 800 people visiting one of the jewels in Naas’s crown on a Sunday are in danger of becoming only memories.

Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO

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GARDA PATROL

When you may be out of your home a lot, be especially security conscious. If you are going away for Christmas, use devices such as timers to make it appear that your home is occupied. Let local gardai know if your home is going to be vacant. When at home, be alert for any suspicious activity in your neighborhood and let gardai know if you see something that disturbs you.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email

Power station emissions could adversely affect bloodstock

DUNSTOWN, 15 March 2000: by Brian Byrne. The building of a power station at Dunstown near Kilcullen could endanger the health of horses on existing stud farms and discourage future bloodstock investment in the area. That’s the view of the operators of Troytown Equine Hospital, who have warned that it would be a mistake to ‘turn a blind eye’ to the kind of image problems which have already surfaced over the recently-defeated proposition to build an incinerator at Kilcock.

Veterinarians Hugh Dillon and Frank McGovern have written to the local protest group, outlining their concerns, which include the fact that significant amounts of nitrogen would be released into the atmosphere from the kind of plant proposed at Dunstown. “Nitrogen is the one factor deleterious to the proper development of equine bone, and any disturbance of this balance will lend to congenital flexural deformities, weak bones and poorly developed tendon structures,” they note. “You may be certain that stud owners will keep this in mind when deciding to make further investments in the area, or indeed if they want to continue breeding in this area at all.”

Stud farms in the area of Dunstown include Gilltown, New Abbey, Ragusa, Ardenode, Hollyhill, Broadfield, Newberry and Rathasker. There are also rumours that Coolmore Stud are seeking to buy land and develop a stud close to the area.

“No one can argue that electricity is needed,” the writers say. “However, where does Kildare want to go? Does it want to maintain an environment conducive to the production of high-quality bloodstock along with the development of compatible industries, or does it want to take the risk of losing its position in the breeding world? It will not be possible to maintain both a good breeding environment and reputation along with heavy industry and its ancillary polluting infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, following the discovery by the protesters that the planning application for the power station was presented in the name of a company that had been changed beforehand (see last week’s exclusive story on KNN), the notices for the application have been removed from the site. It is not yet known whether a new application will be made.

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THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO

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Adding twin town name to sign

NAAS, 15 March 2000: by Trish Whelan. Naas UDC is to add the Bavarian town of Dillingen to its list of twinned towns on signs along the major approach roads to the town (above). The signs feature a list of towns, or areas, with which Naas is twinned. These include Castleattica in Italy, Allaire in France and St David’s in Wales. The wording is to be completed before before the Easter weekend when a 50+ contingent arrives from Dillingen for a vist to the town. The group includes members of the Dillingen Band who will take part in the Easter Parade on Easter Sunday.

Note: Cllr Mary Glennon and Orla O’Connell from Naas Twinning Group are looking for 30 host families to help accommodate the visitors.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email

Dukes opposes SW office closure

KILDARE TOWN, 15 March 2000: by Bill Trapman. Kildare South TD Alan Dukes has called on the minister for social, community & family affairs to rescind a decision to close the Social Welfare Office in Kildare Town following the retirement of the current manager. People who currently avail of services at that office will then be required to go to Newbridge.

“This would cause great inconvenience to most, if not all, of the people currently using the Kildare town office,” deputy Dukes said last night. “Public transport, whether by Arrow or by bus, is not a realistic option for substantial numbers of people, especially for those who are ill or disabled. A great many people who currently use the Social Welfare office in Kildare town live a considerable distance from the railway station, and the railway station in Newbridge is not at a convenient location for pedestrians. Closing the office in Kildare and requiring people to go to Newbridge will impose substantial hardship on a great many vulnerable people.”

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Kildare County Council snippets

COUNTY HALL, 15 March 2000: A new computerised planning information system in Kildare County Council will mean councillors can get reports on planning matters every two weeks. This has been welcomed by Cllr Catherine Murphy in Leixlip, who says she and her colleagues have not received planning lists for a number of months. “We are also to get a planning list for the outstanding weeks as a matter of urgency,” she said.

Intel volunteers plant trees

LEIXLIP, 15 March 2000: by Bill Trapman. A team of volunteers from Intel recently donned their wellies and planted 10 trees at the rear of St Mary’s Church on Main St in Leixlip. The trees replace a number which were vandalised, and 40 dogwood shrubs are also part of the work, to screen a wall. The contribution has been welcomed by Cllr Paul Kelly (right).

“People will know that the Leixlip Town Commissioners are more than half way through their five year Town Improvement Programme,” he said this morning. “The project agreed for this year is the restoration of the walkway along the Rye bank at the back of Main St. This runs from the bridge to the back of the car park and joins up with the new linear park being constructed by Kildare County Council. When the park and the walkway are complete there should be a pleasant area running the length of Main St. at the rear of the shops with access from Ralph Square, the car park, Maher’s Lane and Rye Bridge.”

The Commission’s Town Improvement Committee took the advice of a landscape gardener for the overgrown property at the rear of the Church of Ireland. Last autumn their Community Employment Project staff cut back the growth and removed the litter. More recently they disposed of heavier rubbish and are now getting ready to restore the area at the rear of Maher’s Lane.

“One of our committee members, Cmmr Breege Lynch, has been liaising with Intel on this work,” says Cllr Kelly "We really appreciate their generosity in providing both the plants and the manpower to sow them."

GARDA PATROL

When you may be out of your home a lot, be especially security conscious. If you are going away for Christmas, use devices such as timers to make it appear that your home is occupied. Let local gardai know if your home is going to be vacant. When at home, be alert for any suspicious activity in your neighborhood and let gardai know if you see something that disturbs you.

Traffic lights 'causing rows'

CELBRIDGE, 14 March 2000: by Trish Whelan. Celbridge area councillor Kate Walsh (left) has thrown down the gauntlet to officials of Kildare County Council to come and see the level of traffic congestion in the town. She said traffic lights have had to be turned off twice because of rows on the street and asked the ‘experts’ who said the lights would work ‘magic’ to visit the town to see their expertise in action.

Assistant county manager Terry O Niadh said it is normal when new traffic lights are installed for there to be teething troubles ‘at the beginning.’ He had no doubt it would all be sorted out. County engineer Jimmy Lynch concurred, saying that new traffic lights take a while to settle in. He said the problems will be ironed out by consultants or by the Council itself.

Mr Lynch also said the consultants’ report in the Celbridge Traffic Study had pointed out that these are preliminary measures - the main points in the study were the Celbridge interchange, a second bridge and relief road ... all parts of the whole package necessary to control the traffic congestion situation.

Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

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Travellers 'holding community to ransom'

NEWBRIDGE, 14 March 2000: by Trish Whelan. Newbridge councillor John O’Neill yesterday called for a meeting between Kildare County Council, Newbridge Town Commission, Chamber of Commerce and Tidy Towns Association together with garda chief superintendent Sean Feely to discuss the problem of transient travellers parking illegally in the town. “They’re holding people to ransom and it’s a disgraceful attitude to people in general,” he said.

A number of caravans have been parked in the carpark of Penney’s store in the town over the last week and yesterday, assistant county manager Terry O Niadh said the Council had secured a court injunction to have them moved on.

Councillor Sean O Fearghail said the message seems to have gone out that Kildare will not take firm action against transient travellers. “We’ve had a situation in Newbridge where they have been camped in a machinery yard, in Newbridge Industrial Estate, in the new car park at the railway station (below) and now at Penney’s car park. And we’re only at the start of the summer season,” he said, adding that ‘if we have this level of incursion of travellers into the county, we won’t be able to cope'.

County secretary Tommy Skehan confirmed he had received a letter from Newbridge Chamber of Commerce requesting an urgent meeting on the matter.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING

Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP

Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential.

Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

Intel employes to get home PCs

LEIXLIP & SANTA CLARA CA., 14 March 2000: by Bill Trapman. Intel Corporation has announced a new benefit program to offer computers, Internet access and services at no charge to all Intel employees worldwide. The Intel Home PC Program will allow employees to have secure access to information about corporate benefits programs, training, and communications via PCs and the Internet for employees and family members. Delivery of the PCs to employees' homes should start by early autumn with rollout to be completed by the end of the year.

"We want our employees and their families to participate fully in the Internet revolution," said Craig Barrett, Intel's president and chief executive officer. "An Internet-savvy workforce supports our mission to be the preeminent building block supplier to the worldwide Internet economy. We see these employer-based programs as a positive trend illustrating the importance of technology literacy to us all."

Intel employs over 4,000 people at its European HQ in Leixlip.

Kildare County Council snippets

COUNTY HALL, 14 March 2000: Kildare county councillors Jim Reilly FG and Paul Kelly FF have been nominated to the DTO. Both were elected by block voting between the two parties, defeating the third nominee, Cllr Catherine Murphy.

A controversial public right of way at Riverforest in Leixlip is to be closed off because of anti social behaviour by a minority of people.The closure was formally proposed by Cllr Paul Kelly who stressed his agreement came with a ‘safety net’ to remedy the situation if it did not work out. Cllr Senan Griffin said the closure was more on a trial basis than a definite closure. Deputy Emmet Stagg said a minority of people are causing huge problems and the Gardai have to apply the Public Order Act as there is no other legislation open to them.

Disappointed at green space development refusal

CELBRIDGE, 14 March 2000: by Bill Trapman. Cllr Catherine Murphy has expressed her disappointment with Department of the Environment decision to turn down Council proposals for the development of the green space at the top end of St Patrick’s Park, Celbridge. The initial application was made in 1998 and included levelling the area, the provision of paths and developing two private sites for housing.

“Residents have indicated a willingness to maintain the area once developed and the decision to refuse funding will be a blow to them,” she says in a statement. “If the developer of a private estate sought to have an estate taken in charge without first landscaping the open space, the Council would rightly refuse to do so, yet this area has been left in an unusable state for years. It is essential that the Council considers what options are now available to resolve this outstanding matter.”

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Warm welcome for incinerator decision

KILCOCK, 13 March 2000: by Brian Byrne. The rejection by An Bord Pleanala of the appeal by Thermal Waste Management Ltd against a refusal of planning permission for an incinerator at Kilcock has been warmly welcomed by local representatives in the area. The proposed incinerator was the subject of very strong objections (above and left) in the locality and permission was originally turned down by Kildare County Council.

Cllr Paul Kelly said it was a ‘victory for the community’ after ‘an extraordinary campaign fought by extraordinary people’ which had brought together every section of the community. Deputy Emmet Stagg hailed the decision as ‘a victory for local democracy’ that vindicated the arguments of the local community against the incinerator. Cllr Catherine Murphy said the was ‘delighted but not surprised’ by the ruling and the case made by those opposing the incinerator was ‘overwhelming’. “But it has been an anxious wait, particularly for the people of Kilcock.”

The planning appeals board turned down the appeal on three grounds: that the development would contravene materially the the development objective of the County Development Plan for the use primarily of the site for agricultural purposes; that the existing road network would be incapable of accommodating the traffic generated by the development; and that it would seriously injure the visual and recreational amenities of the canalside environment in the area.

Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

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Official launch of community development facilitators

MAYNOOTH, 13 March 2000: by Trish Whelan. A service to provide a panel of community facilitators to assist community groups has been officially launched in County Kildare. The eleven panel members are based throughout the county and are actively involved in their own communities. (Pictured at the launch are front Paul Croghan (Maynooth), Assumpta Quinlan (Celbridge), Catherine Leonard (Donadea), Anne Henry (Leixlip), Fearga Kenny (Carbury), Molly Buckley (Edenderry); and back Margaret Condell (Celbridge), Brendan Potter (Newbridge), Percy Donnelly (Ballymore Eustace), Michael Kenny (guest speaker, from NUI Maynooth) and Dermot O’Donnell (Celbridge).

The facilitators can offer assistance in the areas of community and rural development, group dynamics, community audits and strategic planning. Identifying and building on communities strengths and enabling people to participate and effect change in their own communities in an inclusive manner.

The service offers a central point for ease of contact by the voluntary and statutory sectors. The panel members are trained facilitators and hold the Certificate in Facilitation Skills from NUI Maynooth.

The formal launch was intended to give the panel members the opportunity to meet with representatives of the voluntary and statutory sectors to explain the benefits of using the services of the panel members.

At the launch, Michael Kenny of NUI Maynooth said their role in between the local development professionals like KELT and the local community volunteers 'is a terribly important one, so in a sense they are para-professionals but also para volunteers'.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING

Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP

Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential.

Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

Contract signed for £1.4m Sports Centre

NAAS, 13 March 2000: by Trish Whelan. The long awaited sports centre on the Caragh Road has finally received the go-ahead and work is scheduled to begin within the next three weeks. It's expected the building will be completed within 26 weeks. (Pictured at the signing of the contract were front Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane, John Dunne, John Ryan of Rydell Construction from Newbridge - who were awarded the contract - and John Brady; and back - Ger Murray, Paul Casey, Michael Osborne (chairman of Naas Sports Group), UDC chairman Seamie Moore, Des Healy and Michael Brophy.)

The facilities will include four all-weather football fields, a running track, open stadium area for discus, shot and javelin, two five-a-side outdoor football pitches, a sports hall and changing rooms. Speaking at the signing of contracts in Naas last week, Michael Osborne, chairman of the Sports Group, said it was indeed a momentous occasion.

"We have struggled hard over the years," he told representatives of the various groups which use the Caragh Road sports complex. "It has been tough and there were times we all felt like throwing in the towel." He said it would be a great success and thanked all friends and colleagues, Naas UDC, for their support through the years.

UDC chairman Seamie Moore said Naas will never be the same again after the birth of the project which had seen so much pre planning and financial worries.

He said it has set a standard for partnership undertakings for Naas, in raising funds, undertaking further debt and harnessing support. "In agreeing to grant £500,000 to support this project, the Council was paying a compliment to the hard work of the Sports Group committee and setting a recognition of its efforts, at the maximum height. The outcome of all the efforts will be a long awaited Sports Centre and another milestone in the development of the town," he told representatives of clubs present at the signing.

With funds raised to date totalling some £950,000 (£500,000 from Naas UDC; £350,000 from Lottery funds and £100,000 from own funding), the project still has a lot of work to do to complete, according to Naas Sports Group secretary John Dunne.

The Caragh Road grounds are used bys Naas Hockey Club, Naas Athletic Club, Sarto Celtic, Naas Town Soccer Club and Naas AFC.

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Article was 'very slanted', claims councillor

LEIXLIP, 13 March 2000:

Dear Editor,

I have just read your very slanted article on the above, and I am appalled that you have allowed such a blatant misrepresentation of the facts to be presented.

At the first meeting of the new County Council in June last, I was nominated, along with Cllr Jim Reilly, as one one Kildare's two representatives on the DTO Local Authority Committee. This followed a vote at the council meeting. I was not notified subsequently of any meetings of that committee, and I understand that none were held. At the December meeting of the Council, we were notified that the Department of the Environment had revised the operations of the DTO and that a single advisory committee representative of local authorities had been set up, and we were asked to nominate 2 members to it.

It was the view of myself, and Cllr Reilly, and many others, that this was merely a technicality, and that we were the nominees to this revised committee also; a position entirely consistent with the vote in June. However, Cllr Murphy and her colleagues persisted in renewing her attempt to secure this position, and as a result, the council decided to request that in view of the population of the county, and the fact that all of Kildare was now within the DTO area, a further representative be allowed for Kildare. A submission was to be made to the department on the issue.

It is a complete distortion to state that "only Kildare has failed to nominate its representatives". What has happened is that my party colleagues, and those of Cllr Reilly, tried to accommodate Cllr Murphy's desire to remain on this committee, and to benefit from her admitted experience on the DTO. It is wrong to portray this as a politically motivated refusal to make a decision, with the consequences ascribed to it in your story.

I was nominated by my party colleagues, and subsequently by the full council, to the DTO committee, and like Cllr Murphy, am willing to serve and to "put in the time and effort required". Had I not been, I would not have sought, nor deserved, the position. While I acknowledge Cllr Murphy's experience, I believe I have the ability to ably represent Kildare, and contribute to dealing with the mounting transport problems - and opportunities - facing the DTO area.

Yours Sincerely

Paul Kelly.

(ED's NOTE: While not wishing to enter into a long dialogue on this issue, I would like to make a few points, given the accusation of a 'slanted' article. The situation is FACT that Kildare is the only relevant county not to have submitted its representatives; it is also FACT that this leaves the county in danger of having no input into the selection of the Steering Committee on an organisation extremely important to this county; and it is a FACT, as anybody who attends the first meeting of a new council will know, that delegates to various organisations are selected by party power bases, in this case involving an alliance of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael which controls Kildare County Council. To suggest that there was nothing political about the selection of representatives is disingenuous. Any portrayal of the situation being a 'politically motivated refusal' was the legitimate opinion of one of the people involved. Cllr Kelly's equally legitimate contribution to the matter is welcome.)

View of Naas Car Park 'sell-off'

NAAS, 13 March 2000:

Dear Editor,

Do you remember the note you carried previously from me on this [Naas Car Park] issue when the car parks sell-off was first mooted? KNN back then carried my comments on the revenue income and the way the UDC seemed to be putting this venture before the people it was supposed to be serving.

But another sting in the tail was that up until recently there were tax incentives for public private partnerships that would have allowed the UDC to maintain ownership of the car park while getting it built via private capital. The resulting facility has a shared revenue stream and then after a set period is passed into the full ownership of the public entity. I heard at a public tendering day recently that there have been a number of these public private partnerships.

This is the way Tallaght hospital I am informed had their car park built. For further details you might contact Tallaght or the Revenue Commissioners. I wonder how many public amenities could have been funded by this revenue stream?

A further comment I note you report: "Naas UDC chairman Seamie Moore confirmed yesterday that the carpark in St Corban's will be operated by the developers, who will set the charges and keep the revenue taken. But he said it will be part of the agreement that the developers charges 'will relate to' those being set by the UDC for their own on street car parking plan this year."

Do you remember your previous report in KNN where the town clerk talked about setting town rates to encourage people to us the car park. Is this the relationship Cllr Moore was referring to ?

Which comes first - the chicken (developer) or the egg (UDC) within this circle? If the developers increase their prices, the UDC will automatically increase their prices to always ensure that on street parking is more expensive than the car park! Whose interests are being served here? The Public's apparently aren't

On another matter, I hear that the highlighting of the issue of the harbour in KNN may be bringing about a change in mind on the part of the UDC. Both myself and my wife have been stopped on the street of Naas and told by people that they are going to ring the UDC on the issue and some are now being told that the issue is being readdressed.

Keep up the good work,

John Kavanagh.

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