Fine Gael Kildare South TD Martin Heydon has today said that an allocation of €1m for the Athy Southern Distributor Route is sign of Government Commitment to this important project.  The announcement was made today by Minister for Transport Shane Ross as he confirmed an allocation of €18.9m for Kildare Roads.

“I am delighted that €1m has been confirmed for the Athy Ring Road for 2017 which will allow Kildare County Council to continue to progress the project through to planning with An Bord Pleanala.  I raised this issue with Minister Ross in the Dail in December to ensure that his Department continue to see this project as a priority.

“The Department of Transport are currently considering the business case for the project which was submitted by Kildare County Council before Christmas and a decision is due on this in the near future to allow the project to go to planning stage.

€9.2m of the full allocation is for strategic road projects in Kildare including €7.5m for the Sallins By Pass & Osberstown Interchange.

“The allocation of €7.5m to progress the Sallins By Pass and M7 widening is also very welcome for this much needed project which already has planning permission and can now progress in 2017.