Call for Laois council staff to attend meetings

A councillor has asked for Laois council staff to be present during Municipal District meetings. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan tabled a motion asking  “that Laois County Council seek further funding from the Department of Transport this year for the L3897 from Monavea Cross to Gorthaile as this road is in very poor condition.”

In a written response read by Senior Executive Engineer Philip McVeigh, Senior Engineer at the Roads Section, Paul McLoughlin stated that “this road is prioritised for improvement works under the 2024 restoration improvement programme. The improvement works will be undertaken at the earliest opportunity following the announcement of funding allocations in 2024 or earlier if sufficient funds are to come available from the Department of Transport.” 

Mr McLoughlin stated that “Municipal District staff will maintain the road in the interim.” 

Cllr Brennan was not satisfied with the response. He said the tar and chippings wouldn’t work given the state of the road. 

“The Municipal Staff will not be able to maintain that road,” he said.  

“Have they looked for money for this?” asked Cllr Brennan. 

Mr McVeigh said Cllr Brennan would have to ask Mr McLoughlin about that.

“This is the problem here. We put in questions and nobody is here to answer them,” he said. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran supported Cllr Brennan and said she agreed with him.

“I think if Paul is answering the questions, Paul needs to be at the meeting,” said Cllr Moran. 

“People can come in and spend five minutes with us and then leave but I think they need to be here to answer the questions,” she said. 

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