Cllr Noel Connolly SF

19/10/2026

19/10/2026

Is é 2.40pm Déardaoin, an 22 Deireadh Fómhair, an spriocdháta le haghaigh na bhfoirmeacha iarratais a chur isteach.

Reminder: Application forms for Junior infants will be accepted in our school office until 2.40pm on Thursday October 22nd 2026

19/10/2026

I'm delighted that my motion (co-sponsored by Councillors from the Labour Party, and Councillors Clear and O'Rourke) passed at today's full Council meeting. The motion is as follows:

That Kildare County Council writes to the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage seeking the introduction of a national moratorium on new data centre development until a public consultation process has been undertaken and national planning guidelines for data centres have been prepared and published. Such guidelines should include, but not be limited to, consideration of:
• proximity to, and impacts upon existing and future housing, schools, hospitals and other critical infrastructure;
• the cumulative impacts arising from proximity to existing data centres;
• the availability and capacity of water services and the use of air-cooling technologies where appropriate;
• opportunities for district heating and waste heat recovery;
• electricity demand at full operational capacity, demand management requirements at peak periods, and impacts on local, regional and national grid infrastructure;
• zoning requirements and the appropriateness of locations for data centre development, having regard to size, scale, visual impact and screening;
• community gain and social value;
• carbon emissions, climate performance, biodiversity impacts and renewable energy provision.

There was a slight amendment to the last sentence to include a reference to the effect of fossil fuels (gas), proposed by Councillor McEvoy.

There are 107 data centres in Ireland, 9 currently under construction and a further 43 have received planning permission. Ireland is already saturated, with the highest energy footprint from data centres in the world.

Thanks to Data Centre Awareness Kildare and Friends of the Earth Ireland for informing the debate. Today is a small win, the fight continues; get informed, if you're not outraged you're not paying attention.
https://notherenotanywhere.com/campaigns/data-centres/

19/10/2026

Sinn Féin activists were out across the country this weekend campaigning on cost of living issues.

Far from giving workers and families a break, in the hours after the budget was announced, wholesale home heating oil prices increased by €100 for a fill, with a further increase projected.

Households now face bills of over €1,600 on a 1,000 litre of home heating oil. The price of fuel at the pumps continue to soar.

Sinn Féin will be prioritising the campaign for action on the cost of living in the time ahead. Because families should not have to struggle to afford the basic necessity of heating their homes - there is a better way.

It's time to put workers and families first. It's time for action on the cost of living crisis.

15/10/2026

*Cherry Avenue Park update*
Kildare County Council have appointed a contractor to undertake the construction of phase 1 of Cherry Avenue Park. This will include

1. Upgrade to the existing entrance
2. Construction of a car park
3. Grading throughout the site
4. A perimeter path and seating to facilitate circulation through the park
5. Landscaping throughout the site including tree and shrub planting.

The contractor expects to start enabling
works at the end of the month. Once construction is complete the park will require a period of time for grass and wildflower areas to establish before the park can be opened to the public.

The site at Cherry Avenue was originally the entrance to the National Stud before being separated by the construction of the M7 motorway. The development aims to transform the 7.4 hectare site into a new public amenity park for Kildare Town.

The design restores the historic gates and avenue lined with mature pines and incorporates walking routes, open spaces, and areas for biodiversity and community use within a flowing landscape setting. This is the first phase in an ambitious plan which will deliver a parkland area that we can all enjoy.

14/10/2026

14/10/2026

STATEMENT FROM THE HSE
The HSE expects significant and widespread disruption to many health and social care services on Wednesday, 14 October, due to public sector work stoppages.

As part of contingency plans for the day, all elective, day services and outpatient healthcare services across hospitals and community settings are cancelled. This includes routine hospital procedures, outpatient appointments, community-based services, day services, primary care clinics and other scheduled care services. HSE administrative services will also be impacted.

Home support care will continue for people with the highest care needs and those who are most vulnerable in line with approved derogations. Other visits may be rescheduled where clinically safe to do so. Services may also continue for some other home care clients where deemed necessary locally.

Emergency Departments, ambulance services operating at reduced capacity, and other critical and time-sensitive healthcare services, including urgent cancer treatment and dialysis, will continue to operate.

Anyone requiring urgent medical attention should not delay seeking care. In an emergency, people should dial 999 or 112 or attend their nearest Emergency Department where necessary.

Please consider all care options before seeking emergency care. Injury units, GPs, GP out-of-hours services, and community pharmacies will remain available.

Healthcare teams are making every effort to contact as many patients as possible regarding their appointments and services. Patients do not need to contact the HSE. All cancelled appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

The HSE continues to engage with health sector unions regarding contingency arrangements and service delivery for Wednesday and we will provide further information as arrangements are finalised.

The HSE recognises the disruption this will cause for patients and their families, and we thank the public for their patience and understanding.

14/10/2026

Public sector workers are striking for a pay deal that addresses the soaring cost of living.
Sinn Féin stands shoulder to shoulder with them.
These workers deliver the services we all depend on. They deserve fair pay, respect and a government that delivers.
The message is clear: a fair pay deal for our public sector workers! ✊🏻

14/10/2026