Laois secures €1,147,249 for minor works and national roads maintenance

National roads in Laois will benefit from funding of €1,147,249 million for maintenance and repair work this year.

The allocation was issued in two categories. A total of €701,300 was delivered Under Capital Investment Protection and Renewal. It included sums for minor works including €40,000 on the N80/N78 Simmons Mill junction, €9,000 on the pedestrian crossing at Durrow, €55,800 for the N77 Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise, €4,500 for Fingleton’s property on the N80, €15,000 for JFL Avenue in Portlaloise and €4,500 for the N80 at Rathillig. 

A further €400,000 has been allocated for pavement renewals, €150,000 was allocated for local authority improvement works and €22,500 for retrofit fencing. 

A further €445,949 was delivered under the category of Current Maintenance Protection and Renewal. It includes €39,200 for maintenance, €96,581 for motorway lighting, €59,910 for lighting on national routes, €128, 967 for national route maintenance and €121,291 for winter maintenance. 

Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming and Fine Gael TD, Willie Aird, welcomed the announcement which was part of a €33 million national allocation. 

“I am delighted to see that funding has been allocated to Laois County Council for essential national road repair works across Laois. The continued safety for all road users is a key priority for Fine Gael in government and key to that is the protection and regeneration of our existing national road network,” said Deputy Aird. 

The 2025 funding allocations are made in line with the National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP), which balances investment in transport against other priorities of Government over the lifetime of the Plan.

TII(Transport Infrastructure Ireland) will allocate the funding in line with the National Development Plan.

“The allocation for protection and renewal of the existing national road network will fund a range of activities including road safety improvements, pavement renewal, maintenance of bridges and structures, and measures to ensure the network can withstand the increased number of severe weather events,” Dep Aird added.

Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming said “this is very welcome news and many locations throughout the county will see the benefits of these funds when these maintenance and improvement works are carried out over the coming months.”

He said the  funding is in addition to €14,454,450 funding for regional and local roads in Laois which were separately announced in February, bringing the total government allocation for roads in the county to €15,601,699 in 2025.

“There is much pressure for improvements and repairs to various roads throughout the county especially in rural areas.  I hope this funding will help deal with these important requests from people in these areas.

I am calling on Laois County Council to have sufficient equipment carrying out these works as early as possible in the year and not to leave it to November and December when the weather can be very bad,”  said Dep Fleming. 

Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, said: “As Minister with responsibility for Rural Transport, I appreciate the important role played by the national Road Network in ensuring that all parts of Ireland are connected to each other. A safe and efficient National Road Network supports rural residents, allowing them to connect to work, education and healthcare. In addition, it also facilitates the many bus services that now serve rural Ireland. The funding announced today will serve to safeguard and improve this vital national asset for all our citizens.”

READ ALSO: Obselete part leaving Laois pedestrian crossings out of order

A total of €33 million is being provided to local authorities nationwide for regular maintenance of National Roads. The government announced a further €600 million in funding for new roads in 2025 nationwide but Laois wasn't included in that allocation of funding.