More parking spaces needed in Laois town after installation of bus stops

More carparking spaces are needed on a busy Laois town centre street, a local councillor has argued.

Cllr James Kelly requested Laois County Council to allocate additional funding towards footpath and parking restoration on Patrick Street in Mountrath.

Speaking at the April meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick MD, Cllr Kelly described the parking situation on Patrick Street as a "major problem."

He noted the busyness of the street, with over 6,500 vehicles passing through the town everyday and Patrick Street is the main entry to Mountrath. 

In addition to this, the garda station is located on the street as well as 42 houses. Two new businesses have also opened up there recently.

Cllr Kelly explained that, although the two new bus stops in Mountrath are very much welcomed, they have taken away a number of parking spaces on Patrick Street.

READ NEXT: 'A major opportunity': Mooreabbey Monasterevin is being sold to county council

He said that with all this in mind, at least 6 or 7 more parking spaces are needed on the street.

Cllr Kelly added that the footpaths on the street also need to be restored.

Laois County Council said that the 2026 budget for footpath repairs and maintenance works have already been agreed and so the MD Office will be unable to provide additional funding.

Cllr Kelly said he could not accept that response regarding funding as he is merely seeking to restore the existing footpaths. 

Local councillors have been allocated €60,000 each for works in their area over the next three years and Cllr Kelly said he intends on spending his allocation on Patrick Street.

However, he said he will explore other funding options to have these works completed such as potential Active Travel funding.

Senior Executive Engineer with Laois County Council, Rory O'Callaghan, told Cllr Kelly that the section of footpath between the Bloom entrance and towards Castletown will be surveyed in the coming weeks.

The footpaths along this stretch are 4 metres wide and so they could potentially provide extra parking spaces.

Director of Services, Angela McEvoy, added that more money might be available in the short term through Active Travel.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme