Concerns raised by primary school children have led to a local county councillor calling for extra safety railings to be installed at the Rock of Dunamase.
Cllr PJ Kelly addressed the issue at this week’s meeting of the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District in Laois County Council after hearing that children local to him had suggested it in school.
Cllr Kelly told the meeting that pupils in his local Rath NS, where his own children are in school, highlighted what they felt were dangers at the hugely popular local beauty spot.
“Any time parents are there with children, it’s constantly ‘don’t go there; be careful here’. Small children don’t see the danger until it happens.
“I didn’t want to mention this but it was said ‘your daddy is in the Council’ That’s some initiative from children.”
“I totally agree,” said Cllr Paschal McEvoy. “Children can see what we can’t see sometimes. It’s a massive tourist attraction but it still needs to be looked at.”
“It’s a great motion,” said Cllr Padraig Fleming. “Adults there spend most of their time watching children so they don’t get in danger – children will go out to the edge. I hope something can be done.”
Cllr Mullins also weighed in on the discussion, saying that no other OPW (Office of Public Works) site is as dangerous.
“Kids will be kids,” added Cllr Aisling Moran on the issue. “But no other tourist area has as much danger. It wouldn’t take much or cost a lot of money to improve it and make it a lot safer.”
The response from Laois County Council was that as the Rock of Dunamase is owned by the OPW, they will just advise them of their concerns.
Elsewhere, Cllr Kelly called for the traffic lights at N80 at Oakvale Cemetery outside of Stradbally to be made permanent.
The council response stated that they would discuss the possibility with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) who have overall responsibility
“Residents in that area have said they have never felt as safe coming onto the N80 since the temporary lights were put in place,” added Cllr Kelly.
“An alternative solution to the ongoing safety concerns is to install permanent lights.
“Residents won’t be happy unless a solution is found.”
Cllr Kelly was backed up by Cllr Paschal McEvoy, who said he’d support any solution “all day long” but wasn’t overly happy that it was “being kicked down the road to the TII”.
In Cllr Kelly’s third motion he asked that a speed table scheduled for the Mountmellick side of the primary school in Emo be in place before September. Philip McVeigh, senior executive engineer with the council, said that they are currently engaging with their public lighting contractor to get the job done.
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