Iran war hits road repair plans across Laois due to rising costs
The war on Iran is hitting planned road improvement works in Laois this year.
Laois County Council will be forced to cut back on its road improvements this year, due to the US war on Iran causing costs to spiral.
Last March the council had announced a budget of €31 million to resurface and repair roads, along with bridge repairs, safety improvements, drainage and fixing damage caused by climate change. Half of it will be paid by the Department of Transport.
However just two months later, tenders coming back are showing 10% to 15% higher prices than expected.
Director for roads Simon Walton now says they will get less done with the same budget, and a request to get more from the state has been turned down.
“We have been informed that there is no additional funding by the Department of Transport. It’s impossible now to complete the lengths of road network we aspired to,” he said.
In a memo sent to councillors, Mr Walton cited the war on Iran inflating material costs as the reason.
“The war in Iran gives rise to very significant inflationary pressures on the cost for many road surfacing materials. These materials and works are critical to the delivery of our roadworks scheme.
“In addition, additional funding from the Department of Transport to cover increased costs, is confirmed as unlikely, having regard to significant national funding demands for priority services, the costs for the fuel rebate scheme etc.
“All of this is set against a backdrop of significant storm damage to the road network in the first quarter of 2026.
“So to balance the books we have to review the scheme and make adjustments to some of the ambitions in it,” Mr Walton told councillors at the May meeting.
The cutback has caused consternation among councillors. However they are suggesting a solution to avoid disappointing the public.
Fianna Fáil Cllr John Joe Fennelly is from the Portlaoise Municipal District covering Abbeyleix.
“The roads we put in should all be kept there, maybe reduce the lengths by 100 metres. In fairness to us as public representatives, we told people they would be done this year,” he said.
Fine Gael Cllr John King of the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick District agreed.
“As councillors we requested the roads be done and we informed people. I want the roads done, as Cllr Fennelly said, just reduce them a little.
“We should put pressure on our friends in Dáil Éireann, we’re the poor relations now. We’ll do our job and contact our TDs to ask for more,” he said.
Cllr Paschal McEvoy complained that the roadworks on JFL Avenue in Portlaoise “must have cost millions”.
“I find it amazing to see the amount of money being spent on roads, especially here in Portlaoise. The amount of work on that road for the past six or eight months. All I can see it doing is holding up traffic. Just to make the grass grow greener or something. Out in the middle of the country there’s roads almost impassible. At the very least we should get paid to do the roads this year. I’m afraid to ask the money spent out there. Just to disappear part of the road and make the footpath wider.
Mr Walton said that shortening the road lengths to be done, is noted and will be up for discussion.
He said that the roadworks on JFL Avenue in Portlaoise are being paid from a separate fund from the National Transport Authority, linked to delivering the Triogue Way riverside cycle path through Portlaoise. He said it is being built to “state standards” and has “no impact one way or the other” on the cutback to road repairs.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said “this comes after one of the worst winters we’ve ever had, I’ve met Sean Fleming and asked him to go to the Minister to get more money. It’s not good enough, people deserve better.”
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said it’s “probably the first time we’ve ever seen a situation that after the roads programme is agreed, not being able to complete it. I agree we shouldn’t remove any roads”.
Cllr Ollie Clooney said “the taxpayer doesn’t need extra repairs on their car.”
“TD’s have to get on their bikes now and some little box has to be opened. We have this agreed on paper, it should be done, roads are in an awful state with the bad weather”.