Millions for Laois national roads upkeep but zero for new routes or greenways

Laois is getting no money for greenways or new roads under the 2023 round of funding for national roads, active travel and greenways for Ireland's transport agency. 

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has allocated over €5.2m for the maintenance of national primary and secondary roads in Laois for 2023.  

However, Laois is just one of a handful of counties where nothing out of a €60 million fund for greenways will be spent. Laois is also missing out on any of the nearly €200 million for new roads in Ireland.

Routes that received specific funding in Laois include the N77 Course to Dunmore which is getting €300,000. Another stretch of the N77 from Portlaoise to M7 motorway is getting €900,000 for pavement work. Meanwhile, the N78 on the east of the county will get €1 million for work on a stretch between Ballylehane Lower and Farnans.

Of particular interest to people who travel regularly on the Portlaoise to Tullamore and Mountmellick is more money for the N80. 

Laois County Council is getting a total of €2.5 million for a stretch between Kyletalesha to Mountmellick. It's Phase 2 of an ongoing project on a national road that has been described as not fit for purpose by the CEO of Laois County Council. A total of €2.2 million was allocated in 2022.

A total of €5,274,158 is on its way to Laois under the 2023 Grant Allocations to Local Authorities for National Roads, Active Travel and Greenways. 

The council is also getting €100,000 for engineering support for improvement work on both national primary and secondary routes in 2023.

It is down from the €5.4 million allocated by TII in 2022, but the money was nevertheless welcomed by Laois Offaly Minister of State Pippa Hackett.

"The national roads network is of strategic importance and this funding allows it to be maintained and improved for safety," said the Green Party senator.

Including in the money going to Laois County Council is €474,158 for protection and renewal work.

Included in this is a total of €96,581 is allocated for national primary road lighting. As for national secondary roads, €149,500 is earmarked for winter maintenance with €128,967 going to ordinary maintenance. The council is getting €59,910 for route lighting on national secondary roads.

The council is getting €39,200 for engineering support for maintenance and winter maintenance on both national primary and secondary routes in 2023.

There are no new road projects listed for Laois in the 2023 €196,825,000 national budget for roads around Ireland.

Offaly is getting €8,761,012 out of the fund this year with nearly €4 million for greenways. The national greenway budget is €60,606,000 for 2023. 

While the Grand Canal runs through part of Laois, Kildare County Council is getting €4,100,000 for greenways most of which is being spent along the Grand Canal. Most of Offaly's Greenway money is being spent on a Grand Canal Greenway.

The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan confirmed a national allocation of €554 million to local authorities through TII for national roads and greenways in 2023. The Department of Transport is providing €491m of Exchequer capital funds for national roads to councils 34 major projects across the country.

An allocation of €34.85 million is being provided for national roads maintenance nationally. 

A statement said TII’s Greenway Programme will see the ongoing development of around 70 Greenway projects around the country. The funding will see construction continue on a number of projects which will be completed in 2023, with other projects moving through the planning and design stage.