'It's a disgrace' - Urgent action needs to be taken on N80 flooding in Laois

Major work needs to be done to address the ongoing flooding on the N80 road in the busy Laois town of Mountmellick, according to a local councillor. 

Councillor Paddy Bracken urged Laois County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to address the issue on the N80 at Emmet Street in Mountmellick.

That stretch of road has experienced serious flooding in recent times. Storm Amy led to significant flooding in the town in early October and caused havoc for traffic and local residents.

Laois County Fire and Rescue crews had to be deployed during the floods which they said were caused by a blocked or damaged drain.

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Speaking at the December meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick MD, Cllr Bracken said: "There's severe flooding there and major work needs to be done." 

Laois County Council's Road Design team told the Councillor that they would liaise with TII and consider the issues at Emmet Street.

They also explained: "All those gullies up there are going to a soak pit, which I'm told is about 30 years old now and it's been built over. A survey will be done and a new design will have to be carried out to find a discharge."

As a national road, TII is responsible for the N80. However, Cllr Bracken emphasised that the fact Laois County Council cannot act upon the issue themselves is "a disgrace."

He told the council that he has raised this motion numerous times and it has yet to be resolved by TII.

At the same meeting, Cllr Seamus McDonald raised a similar motion to have the road at Clonduff in Rosenallis included in the 2026 Roads Programme and to resolve the flooding problem there. 

Cllr McDonald said: "It's been 40 years since any road repairs have been carried out in this area. As far as I'm concerned, it's forgotten land."

The council responded that the Area Office will investigate the flooding.

A delegation of councillors are to meet with TII in the coming months to discuss such issues as flooding and other matters concerning roads. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme