Laois meeting with Minister Eamonn Ryan to demand new road funding

The Green Party leader and Minister for Transport Eamonn Ryan is being asked to meet Laois politicians to hear firsthand why more money should be spent building Laois roads.

The Minister is being asked to receive a deputation of the three Laois TDs, as well as local representatives and Laois County Council's Director of Services for Roads.

The aim is "to establish the funding which is available for new roads in Laois".

The proposal was tabled in a motion by Cllr Willie Aird at the December council meeting.

Top of Cllr Aird's wishlist are new roads around and through the rapidly expanding county town of Portlaoise.

He also wants Laois County Council to be reimbursed for the multi million new road it installed from its National Enterprise Park beside Junction 17 of the M7 motorway, that gives an alternate road around the western side of Portlaoise.

"It is of critical importance for us to know exactly where we are and what he's earmarking us for. I do feel the orbital route from the Mountrath road to Supermacs is all taking heavy traffic. It is now a huge link from Rosslare to the west. It took a lot of lorries off that were going past schools. I feel the council was shortfalled and should be getting remuneration.

"Where are the priorities? If he told us for roads like the Northern Orbital Route don't come back until 2030, we can push our TDs to get it on the list. 

"A 1,000 pupil school is going on the Timahoe Road, Colaise Dunamaise. We need that road," he said.

Cllr Barry Walsh seconded the motion.

"The new link road from Stradbally to the Dublin road is also hugely important to Portlaoise. We need to get it done because of all the traffic," he said.

Cllr Paddy Bracken stressed the issues for Mountmellick which has no orbital route to divert the 10,000 vehicles travelling through it on the N80 daily.

"The N80 is hugely important and it's not on the National Development Plan. The bog road from Portlaoise is like a patchwork quilt. I've complaints from people on motorbikes who are afraid on that road. The amount of traffic still going through Mountmellick needs to be on a priority list for the deputation as well," he said. 

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald described the N80 between Portlaoise and Mountmellick as "lethal".

"It is very concerning. I feel sorry for the people who don't know it. It needs urgent attention," she said.

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Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley agreed that the same road is "lethal".

"I had several motions calling for work. I remember Simon giving the answer that it is not on the national development plan. It's lethal. I live off it. It is impossible to get out. I've been calling for the three roundabouts to be built since 2011. We can't do them until the whole road is upgraded and the orbital route in place. This has to be changed at national level," she said.