Part of Dublin Road 'left out' of Portlaoise bus routes

A big stretch of the Dublin Road has been left out of the new routes for the first-ever Portlaoise town bus service, according to a Laois councillor.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald has slammed the routes in the town's new bus service by Transport For Ireland, as "completely wrong".

Portlaoise got its first ever town bus service two months ago in February 2025, part of a low carbon agenda. It is "very successful" according to Laois County Council.

All you Need to Know about Portlaoise Town Bus Service

However many residents are calling for more bus stops, including those on the Dublin Road and Abbeyleix Road.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Fitzgerald tabled a motion to the March meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District asking for bus stops on the Abbeyleix Road, the Dublin Road and at the cemetery on the N80 Stradbally Road.

"A lot of elderly people live on the Abbeyleix road. There's new housing going up in two spots. People said to me the road is too narrow for the bus service, is that the reason it was left out?

"At the graveyard, a lot of elderly people visit it, and people come back from funerals who have left their cars parked in the town. 

"The most complaints I am getting is about the Dublin Road. There is major disappointment over the lack of stops. It's nearly a mile between stops. The last stop is beside the church, a narrow stop. The next one is beside the hospital. People in a very large housing estate feel they were let down. It has two large prisons, MIDOC, St Fintan's hospital.

"The route goes out the Borris Road, Colliers Lane and the Block Road. The people forgotten are those on the Dublin Road. It's very unfortunate. It should never have happened. The way the route was done is completely wrong. there are a lot of people on the Dublin Road, workers and residents. You get a wet day and want to use a bus, it's a long way to walk.

"It's a fantastic service, it's going down great and it will get better, but to leave out the Dublin Road is not fair," she said. 

WATCH: Video of launch of Portlaoise Town Bus Service

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded the motion, and said there are enough residents now on the Abbeyleix Road to get a bus.

"I had a motion a month ago about the Abbeyleix Road. Children on the Mountmellick road end if they go to the Holy Family schools, have to get off at Colliers Lane and pick up a second bus. but it's a very successful story, I haven't met anyone not happy with it. 

"People on the Ridge Road are asking me when they'll get a stop, where you hardly get room for a car never mind a bus. 

"There are gaps, but the TII did say they would review it depending on its success and its very successful," she said.

Labour Cllr Marie Tuohy agrees.

"It's fantastic, it is joining the outskirts of the town, that's lifechanging for a lot of people who had no access. A lot came in in taxis to do their shopping. There is quite a gap on the Dublin Road, hopefully that will happen in time. The graveyard would be invaluable as well," she said.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan asked if the talks of a third route to the Abbeyleix Road, Maldron, Rugby Club and Togher were true. 

"It is needed for the schools in Agnaharna and the GAA grounds in Rathleague, it's a huge club and our members will soon increase drastically as well," he said.

Answering all the queries was Laois County Council Director of Services Simon Walton.

"The service as it is is proving very successful. I have noted the matters raised on an ongoing basis with the National Transport Authority (NTA), about the locations and degree of stops. As the months go by it will be reviewed. In time, I don't know how or when, a third route will be introduced," he said.

He refuted the suggestion that the newly narrowed Abbeyleix Road could not fit a bus.

"It is completely commensurate with a bus service. In no way has the layout reduced its capacity for a bus. It will be no different than the Mountmellick Road, where traffic has to stop behind a bus. 

Read also: Primark seeking permission to double size of Portlaoise Penneys

"I know there are areas of the Dublin road not seviced, and that's where we get the most comments. Whenever it is reviewed we will bring them to the attention of the NTA. 

"The feedback from Portlaoise Town Team is positive. Busiest stops are the two on James Fintan Lalor Avenue. On St Patrick's Day over 1,000 people used the service. On the busiest day over 1,300 used it. The numbers are extremely encouraging. Other provincial towns took longer to achieve that. I know the NTA are extremely pleased. They put €2 million into it.

"When we are six months in this July, we will be a full year into the Bolt electric bike rentals, we'll come back and give a summary of the takeup," Mr Walton said.

Laois County Council will sent a letter with Cllr Fitzgerald's requests to the NTA.