'Disappointed' No Active Travel cash for safe path to Laois cemetery

A cemetery on the outskirts of a busy Laois town has no footpath leading to it, yet there is no cash to be found for it.

St Patrick's Cemetery is on the Ballyroan road in Abbeyleix.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly from the Portlaoise Municipal District tabled a motion to a recent meeting asking Laois County Council to continue on the footpath that ends close to the cemetery.

"There was recently €3.5m announced for Active Travel projects in Laois. This is a small stretch of path that would make it very safe for anyone attending the cemetery. It would make it very safe," he said.

He said he is "a bit disappointed" with the answer.

The Portlaoise MD council staff confirmed that there is "no funding currently available" through their office, and neither is there any Active Travel funding for the footpath extension.

"Previous active travel works saw significant road safety improvement works completed and this project was concluded in 2024," they stated.

Cllr Barry Walsh had seconded the motion.

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"The Active Travel scheme really concentrates on urban areas of high traffic. There needs to be a separate fund at national level. I had several schemes and I was told they were not urban enough. This road is not safe, there are people stepping onto the road when they are walking," Cllr Walsh said.