The cost of implementing the scheme of 88 allotments is estimated at €65,000 which includes set up costs which will be recouped over a 3 year period.  The set up cost includes the provision of 7 water taps, a car parking area,  improvements to secure the site entrance and the  subdivision of allotments of which there are 3 sizes  100,  150 and 200sq.m    The cost of the annual lease  together with a refundable deposit is €225,  €300 and €425  which compares favourably with private allotment schemes but is considerably more expensive than the scheme provided by South Dublin. The Wonderful Barn scheme will  be cost neutral it is not intended it will be a source of funding for Kildare County Council. While the deposit is refundable an additional cost will be water rates which will be shared among the allotment holders.  It is not intended that  the erection of sheds or other buildings on the allotments will be allowed. 

Cllr Murphy  has stated that Minister Brady either doesn’t know what she is talking about or it’s a bare faced attempt, by her,  to deflect the bad news of reduced services  by blaming Kildare County Council for miss management of resources.  In her statement she says   “the people of Kildare can be confident that local government will have the resources available to provide the range and quality of services that they expect and demand” .  

The Local Government Fund is primarily made up of motor tax receipts,  however,   some Counties like Kildare pay far more into the fund  than they get out.     In 2009  the County received €150.30 per person with the average payment being  €213.78  the difference being  over €10m annually.     “While there was an expectation that cuts were inevitable the very least we should expect is that the pain is fairly applied.” 

In addition the applicant has appealed against conditions imposed by the Council, included in their decision to grant permission for a suburban housing scheme within the protected Donaghcumper Demesne.  

Those who are listed as observers, some of whom have contributed to the oral hearing,  all speaking in opposition to the proposal were:    Castletown Residents Association;   Desmond Guinness;  Cllr Padraig McEvoy and former Councillor Tony McEvoy (who together with Mary Glennon and Cllr Catherine Murphy opposed the original rezoning of the land);   an Taisce;  Sen. David Norris and Dr Patrick Walsh.

In response to Weston Aerodrome's decision to appeal against the decision by Kildare County Council to refuse permission to relocate and lengthen the runway, Cllr Catherine Murphy lodged an observation seeking that An Bord Pleanala confirms that decision.

Reference Number: 08-2018 in the name of Weston Limited  sought: “to relocate the existing runways 07&25 to midway between the airport boundaries, incorporating the existing stopway to include the provision of Precision Approach Path Indicators(PAPS's). This will also include runway end safety areas of 130 meters etc”

Cllr Catherine Murphy has welcomed the Kildare County Council and An Bord Pleanala decisions to refuse permission for a relocation and extension of  the runway at Weston Aerodrome,  the decisions were made within a day of each other.   The Bord Pleanala decision overturns South Dublin County Council’s decision earlier this year to grant permission for the relocation of the runway towards Kildare.  An associated application was made to Kildare County Council  who subsequently  sought additional information which arrived from the applicants  on the eve of the 6months deadline.  It ran to more than  300 pages and included an environmental impact statement.   

Independent Councillors  Pádraig  McEvoy,  Catherine Murphy and Seamie Moore have highlighted the proliferation  of clamping controls in privately operated parking areas, and have slammed  the aggressive enforcement by some operators as totally unacceptable saying  it is causing confusion,  distress and  widespread public resentment.