Affordable housing scheme and climate initatives among Kildare Co Council's 2025 achievements
Former cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council and Sonya Kavanagh, chief executive, Kildare County Council
KILDARE County Council has published its Annual Report for 2025 this week (30 June), providing an overview of the Council’s programme of work delivered last year.
This report shows the Council's commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Kildare through collaboration, innovation, inclusion, and community engagement across nine criteria.
In 2025, the council made significant progress in addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with key initiatives including the opening of the Demo House, the commencement of the Energy Performance Contract (EPC), and the completion of the Green 2 Gas project.
The council also received ISO 50001 Energy Management System Certification in October 2025 for our corporate energy requirements.
The local authority continued to maintain over 20 community centres, house and cabins and oversaw their use for community groups.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) exceeded targets, working with 103 community groups and 1,157 individuals.
The LEADER programme approved three projects worth €433,139, while the Kildare Sports Partnership engaged over 27,000 people through various programmes, and the Kildare Public Participation Network registered 863 members.
2025 also saw the establishment of the Kildare Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP), which brings together an Garda Síochana, Kildare County Council, Tusla, the HSE and representatives from community, youth and education sectors. The Kildare Child Poverty Initiative was also launched in 2025.
In 2025, the council delivered direct build units in Osberstown Cottage, Sallins and Barracksfield West, Naas, which is the county’s largest Affordable Purchase Scheme to date with 66 new affordable homes in phase 1.
Eleven standard units were delivered under The Traveller Accommodation Programme, while the refurbishment of Emily Square was subsequently nominated for a Public Realm Project of the Year award at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards 2025.
Kildare County Council additionally purchased St. Davids Castle, Naas as part of future regeneration projects.
Surface dressing and road restoration were completed on 101 kilometres of local and regional roads in 2025.
A record drawdown of €11.5M in National Transport Authority Active Travel funding was achieved, progressing over 35 schemes.
Additionally, the Royal Canal Greenway from Maynooth to Leixlip was officially opened and the council continued to modernise its fleet stock with the purchase of 22 electric vehicles (EV).
In 2025, the corporate services section supported 40 elected members, serviced 149 statutory meetings, and webcast 11 full Council meetings.
The customer service team maintained high performance with 86 per cent of cases responded to within Service Level Agreement targets.
The council also made significant contributions to libraries and the arts, including the launch of ‘Building for Tomorrow – Kildare Library Service Development Plan 2025–2029’, in June 2025, a five-year plan setting out an agenda for Kildare’s libraries, positioning them as inclusive, innovative, and sustainable community hubs.
A new Innovation Portal was launched to provide a central hub for innovation resources, tools and learning materials, supporting staff engagement, communication and access to innovation supports.
The Kildare Local Authority integration team arranged 214 information clinics, supporting 1,619 people and resolving 1,830 queries. Through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, 50 programme refugees were resettled and provided with integration supports.
Speaking on the final days of her term as Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Cllr Carmel Kelly said: “It has been a great honour to serve as Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare and to witness first-hand the commitment, energy and ambition that exists across our communities.
“The 2025 annual report highlights the many ways in which Kildare County Council is working to support people, places and communities throughout the county. I want to thank my fellow elected members, council staff, community groups and local partners for their continued work in making Kildare a vibrant, inclusive and forward-looking county.”
