Trees cracking Laois footpaths but council will 'never' have cash to fix them

Laois footpaths continue to deteriorate because Laois County Council gets no money from the state to repair them.

A senior council official has agreed that the issue is creating trip hazards, but says there will "never" be money in the county budget to fix them, pushing the responsibility back to the Government.

Trees are cracking paths in Portlaoise, causing trip hazards, was the alert from Cllr Tommy Mulligan, who complains that he does not know what to say to residents in his own estate of Kylebrook.

"This is a huge issue in all the Laois districts but particularly Portlaoise estates built 20 and 30 years ago. At a residents' meeting it was put to me, what can you do? I had to say 'I don't know' and they were all looking and saying 'you should know'," Cllr Mulligan said.

He tabled a motion to the recent monthly meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking Laois County Council and his fellow councillors to discuss the problem of "planning and prioritising future footpath repairs" in the district.

"In Kylebrook, my own estate built in 1996, there have been no repairs done. There are issues with bumps and the unravelling of tarmac. Forest Park has bigger issues, with trees cracking and raising the paths. 

"I know you have a plan to meet other county councils Simon, but in the short term, what do we say to residents associations?," he asked of Director of Services Simon Walton.

Mr Walton admits it is making trip hazards.

"The funding that is available to the council gives no opportunity or chance for a restoration programme for paths across all urban areas, cemeteries, housing estates, all built 40 and 50 years ago in Portlaoise. I accept your point about trip hazards, the unravelling of concrete and tar," he said.

He said they can do small repairs only, and hopes the state will launch a nationwide scheme.

"The council will never be in funds to do it, other than the state introducing a fund. I think the extent of paths is now equal to the length of roads. Consideration should be given to introducing a fund for paths," the director said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald seconded the motion.

"It's a huge issue in Portlaoise. Older people are afraid to walk, they are keeping their heads down afraid they are going to trip. 

"We should tell planners not to be sowing trees near paths. I think this is a national problem. There was a Town Commission path programme for years. It's absolutely essential.  I fully support installing cycle ways and greenways but not if you can't get the basics," she said.

The council director confirmed that before urban district councils -including in Portlaoise and Mountmellick - were abolished in 2014, they had dedicated annual footpath funding, but this has "died away".

Rathevan and Rossdaragh estates in Portlaoise are more casualities, said Cllr Barry Walsh, "in a bad way with trees".

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Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said the issue has been highlighted many times.

"Luckily we have discretionary funding, we had none for a time. I had to use mine for O'Moore Place and the Borris Road. The problem is you pick out the worst area, and anyone else in the estate is asking when you do their bit, and you have to say 'sorry, it's not going to be done'. In Broomville, dropped kerbs are essential for people in wheelchairs, the older paths don't have them. I had to pay for two in there," she said.

Cllr Paddy Buggy suggests that brick and cobble paths should not be allowed, to reduce the chance of tripping.