Millions for Laois roads but nothing for key new Portlaoise and Mountmellick bypass routes

Money allocated by the central Government for national, regional and local roads will exceed €18 million in 2026 but the Portlaoise and Mountmellick N80 bypasses and no other new national road building projects for Laois have not shown up in the allocations published.

The Department of Transport will provide over €1.5 billion in exchequer funding for national, regional and local roads in 2026 which the Department says represents a 13% increase in road funding over 2025.

Details announced on Tuesday, February 17 reveal that spending in Laois is €18.693 million for the calendar year.

The overall budget includes almost €800 million for national roads around the country. Announcing the funding package, Minister Darragh O’Brien said advancing the new national road projects in the current National Development Plan and the Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport is a "priority for this government".

However, there is no money in the pot for new sections of the N80 that would divert non-local traffic around Portlaoise and Mountmellick. Both have been long-term aims of Laois County Council for decades.

Nevertheless, the council will be able to advance work on roads around Laois, though some of the money was already announced. See the full tables of funding below. 

Tables show money allocated to Laois County Council for local and regionall road projects.

Table below is money for national roads in Laois to be spent by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Laois TD Willie Aird welcomed the announcement that €1.5 billion is being provided to local authorities nationwide and the allocation for his constituency. 

"The continued safety for all road users is a key priority for Fine Gael in government and key to that is the protection and regeneration of our existing national road network. As a rural TD, I am acutely aware of the importance of having a safe and efficient road network enables those living in rural communities to connect to work, education and healthcare

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“A specific allocation has been included in this for works on the R445 at the Gandon roundabout towards Ballybrittas to carry out urgent road safety resurfacing works.”

“The allocation for protection and renewal of the existing national road network will fund a range of activities including road safety improvements, pavement renewal, maintenance of bridges and structures, and measures to ensure the network can withstand the increased number of severe weather events,” he said.