As administrative headquarters of County Kildare, Naas is still the most important town in the region. The attractions of Naas are obvious the minute you turn into South Main Street. Tall period buildings of different heights, old-style shop fronts and the overall look of a prosperous market town make this one of the most desirable locations within reach of the capital. The number of good restaurants in the town is an indication of its growing prosperity. The drawback, of course, is that it costs money to move here.
Houses are as expensive as in Dublin and in very short supply.
The population of Naas was just over 14,000 at the 1996 census. It is considerably more now and expected to reach 22,000 by the year 2003, according to a Development Plan for the town adopted by the Urban Council in May 1999. A new sewerage treatment plant to be commissioned at Osberstown early next year is designed to cater for up to 80,000 people. Naas's expansion plans have caused some local disquiet. There was trenchant opposition when the plan was launched and a petition carrying over 2,000 signatures was presented to the town hall.