KCC urged to consider finding alternative site for youth centre in this town

The appeal was made by an Independent councillor

By Ciarán Mather Published 1st Jun 2026, 09:00 BST Kildare County Council urged to consider finding alternative site for youth centre in this town | FILE PHOTOGRAPH / PIXABAY The appeal was made by an Independent councillor Sign up to our Kildare Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kildare Live within your account.

A local councillor has asked Kildare County Council (KCC) to consider finding an alternative site for a youth centre in one County Kildare town.

Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell implored KCC to explore alternatives while in attendance at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which took place on Wednesday, May 20 last.

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As part of his query, which related to the town of Newbridge , he also suggested some potential sites to KCC: ‘Páirc Mhuire, Lakeside Park, Ryston or any site in Newbridge’.

Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell | PHOTO CREDIT: KILDARECOCO.IE LENGTHY RESPONSE

In response to Cllr McDonnell’s question and subsequent suggestions, KCC issued an in-depth response via the report it presented at the meeting.

The report read as follows: “KCC is not aware of prior formal assessments having been carried out in relation to the locations specified, for a youth centre.

“It is of note that some of the lands specified are already serving as open space / amenity land for existing developments, are already listed in the Capital Programme for other projects or are under private ownership and in use.

KCC continued: “The current location offers a broad range of advantages when compared to those alternatives.

“It is centrally located and benefits from proximity to several key amenities, including schools, the Liffey Linear Park, St Conleth’s Park, and established public transport links such as nearby bus stops; this level of connectivity and visibility makes the site more accessible, particularly for young people travelling independently, and supports greater inclusivity from across a wider catchment area.”

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KCC further told Cllr McDonnell: “The presence of nearby recreational and community facilities, such as the linear park, Riverbank Arts Centre, Library, the town hall also enhances opportunities for engagement, partnership, and coordinated and associated youth activities.

“The Youth Centre will also be within walking distance of the Garda Station, local retail and food outlets, enhancing accessibility and passive supervision; in contrast, the alternative sites suggested are situated within more defined residential areas.”

KCC explained that while these locations ‘may have local value’, it nevertheless insisted that their positioning ‘could be less accessible, particularly for young people from outside those immediate neighbourhoods’, and this could therefore potentially limit participation and reduce the diversity of users.

“These areas may lack the same level of footfall, visibility, public transport connectivity, and proximity to complementary amenities, all of which are important factors in encouraging regular attendance and sustained engagement,” KCC added.

KCC concluded by asserting: “Overall, the current location is considered significantly better placed to support an inclusive, accessible, and well-utilised youth facility and the focus remains on developing the current location.”

Following this report, Cllr McDonnell told KCC that he accepted its reported and added that he would follow up with the matter offline.

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Cllr McDonnell is not the only representative in the MD to raise the matter of a youth centre in Newbridge in recent weeks — Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender also took to social media to urge KCC to progress the project.

He also gave a summed-up version of the current state of the project: “At the moment, it’s still at preliminary design stage; that means drawings are being prepared and the project is going through internal consultation across different council departments.

“The Part 8 planning process still has to happen, and that alone takes around 20 weeks once it begins.”

Cllr Pender added that although ‘progress is being made’, he stressed that there are ‘still a number of steps ahead’.

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Related topics: Kildare County Council Kildare Politics Cllr Tom McDonnell Sign up to our Kildare Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kildare Live within your account.