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Lilywhite News Snippets
Iarnród Éireann announced in July it will lodge an application to An Bord Pleanala for the extension of the electrified DART network from the Connolly/Spencer Dock area to North Kildare and Meath.
If planning permission is granted, construction will commence in 2024 and the new service could start operating by 2029, with a statutory public consultation period running until 30 September. The expansion will take in Maynooth and Leixlip in North Kildare and will also include the construction of a new DART depot facility west of Maynooth Station, to maintain the new DART + fleet.
CEO of County Kildare Chamber Allan Shine welcomed the announcement saying “This is a positive announcement from Iarnród Éireann . As a business organisation continually seeking to attract inward investment to Kildare, it is important for us to be able to point at a sustainable, efficient transport system connecting commuter hubs and regions together. Encouraging people to walk and use public transport, by increasing the frequency and speed of DART+ is one of the ways we build the regions reputation as sustainable, accessible, and inviting. Progress like this is vital for Ireland meeting its climate targets and helping Kildare becoming carbon neutral.
Diageo announce creation of 50 jobs
In July, Diageo announced the creation of 50 jobs at a new brewery to be estabilished in Newbridge.
Diageo, announced their plan to construct what will be Ireland second largest brewery, subject to planning, on a 50-acre site in Littleconnell, Newbridge, and creation of 1,000 jobs during the construction phase. If successful the purpose built, carbon neutral facility will begin brewing a range of ales and lagers, including Hop House 13, Rockshore and Smithwick’s in 2024. When fully operational the brewery will have capacity of two million hectolitres. CEO Allan Shine said “This is just one of a number of developments in the Newbridge area in the last 4 months and shows Kildare is prime for investment and continued development. We are competing and winning this investment in competition with other European locations. It also shows the confidence business leaders have in Kildare, with our excellent transport infrastructure and connectivity, in addition to a well-educated and ambitious young workforce.
Keurig Dr Pepper open new site in Newbridge
In June, Keurig Dr Pepper opened its new site in Newbridge; 300,000 square ft plant was a former Lidl warehouse. This is the group’s second manufacturing plant for beverage concentrate and first outside North America. 20 additional jobs were also announced, to be in place by the end of the year, adding to the team of 80 working at the site across operations, quality assurance, engineering, planning, and research and development. The Co Kildare facility will be responsible for sourcing materials and ingredients from the European and Asian market predominately, along with supply chain teams in Canada and Mexico, and it will also serve as a ‘centre of excellence’ for beverage concentrate production.
Bord na Móna lodge planning application for new building
In July Bord na Móna announced it had lodged a planning application with Kildare County Council for a new building off the town’s main street. Bord na Móna has had a presence in the Newbridge for over 70 years and currently employs 240 people at its offices in Newbridge.
The new building will be Bord na Mona’s headquarters and is targeting a BER of A2. The building will be completely fossil fuel free, with renewable energy generation on site and a high efficiency heating system. The announcement will greatly enhance the town of Newbridge and comes on the back of a number of good news stories for the town and surrounding areas in recent months.
Dún Ailinne in Old Kilcullen has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.
Together with his local colleagues Cllr’s Ivan Keatley and Tracey O’Dwyer, Martin Heydon, TD & Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, looks forward to supporting Kildare County Council, in conjunction with the Thompson family, in the next steps towards full recognition of this important piece of heritage in Kildare.
Important to Note: Dún Ailinne is a privately owned site and permission to access must be obtained from the landowners before visiting.
Siro invests €4m in new full fibre broadband network for Maynooth
SIRO, the broadband network operator, have launched its new 100% fibre broadband network in Maynooth. SIRO’s broadband network will bring world class connectivity to 2,500 homes and businesses in Maynooth, with an investment of €4 million in the town. Areas within the town set to benefit include Main Street, O’Neill Park, Parson Street, Leinster Street, Pound Lane, Dublin Road, Doctor’s Lane, Bere Street, Carton Grove, Carton Square, Pebble Hill Park, Limetree Hall, and Back Lane.
County Kildare Chamber congratulate Sonya Kavanagh on her appointment as Chief Executive of Kildare County Council. Allan Shine noted that, “This appointment brings certainty to the role at a crucial time for the council as the county development plan is due to be signed off shortly and preparation of the council budget for 2023 has commenced. Sonya is well known with the business community in Kildare and we look forward to working with Sonya and the executive team within Kildare County Council. It is a hugely exciting time to be involved in business in the county, we are seeing unprecedented demand from businesses looking to set up in Kildare and also from companies in Kildare looking to expand. We have challenges of course but through effective collaboration between all key stakeholders in Kildare, we will continue to thrive and ensure that both businesses and people in Kildare continue to work and live in what we all know is the best county in Ireland.”
Dublin Airport’s North Runway (10L/28R) Opens on Time and On Budget
The recently constructed North Runway at Dublin Airport commenced operations on the 24th August with the 12.00 departure of Ryanair flight FR1964 to Eindhoven.
The €320m North Runway (designated 10L/28R) and associated facilities were delivered on schedule and on budget by daa at no cost to the State. The new runway, located on daa lands some 1.69 kilometres north of Dublin Airport’s existing South Runway, will support the creation of 31,200 new jobs and €2.2 billion in additional economic activity. The development of North Runway has been part of Dublin Airport’s long-term strategic planning and land use prioritisation since the 1960s, which has enabled delivery within Dublin Airport’s existing campus, substantially mitigating cost, disruption and limiting construction time.
