Laois commuters say they're spending hours getting to work

A large number of Laois commuters are spending up to two hours per day commuting to work, according to the early results from a new survey being carried out for Laois County Council.

A statement issued to the Leinster Express / Laois Live said responses received during the first week of the Council’s Commuter Survey show that a quarter of those who have taken the survey so far have a journey of up to 120 minutes to work by car or public transport.

Dom Reddin, Acting Head of Enterprise at Laois County Council, says the response rate to the survey, which was launched on February 7, is very positive.

“For the first time, commuters in Laois are having their say on how they feel about commuting. It’s their direct, lived experiences, and it’s these insights that we will use to help shape policies that will make working closer to home a reality for people living in our county.

"We are delighted with the response so far, and I would encourage those who haven’t already filled it out to take a few minutes and ensure their voices are heard. The survey is available at laois.ie/survey. It takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and is anonymous,” he said.

Angela McEvoy is Director of Services at the local authority. She says the survey will help. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Portlaoise Train Station.

“This survey is a vital step in understanding the skills and potential within our commuter population. By gathering this data, we can create strategies that attract investment and generate local employment, ensuring Laois continues to thrive as a great place to live and work," she said.

County Hall says the survey is being undertaken to provide an accurate and up-to-date snapshot of commuting patterns of people living in Laois and working outside the county, and help market the county from an economic point of view as a destination of choice for investment, showing the range of skills that are being lost to the county each day.

The findings will identify key locations within Laois where skills and talent are concentrated and will form the basis for future economic development strategies.

READ ALSO: Lack of late trains to Laois is 'exhausting' on Portlaoise commuters

The survey is being carried out by leading Market Research Company, Interactions Research. For more information or to complete the survey, please visit www.laois.ie/survey

The local authority says the survey takes approximately five minutes to complete and will run until Tuesday, February 17.

Previous studies have estimated that at least 10,000 people commute outside of Laois for work.