Calls have been made for safety improvements to be implemented at The Rock National School, with Laois County Councillors expressed concern for students, teachers and parents attending the school.
Cllr Willie Aird raised the matter at the February meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District earlier this week.
The Fine Gael Cllr called for repairs to the digital sign coming from Emo towards The Rock school.
Cllr Aird also called for traffic calming measures to be put in place “to slow the speed of traffic passing in the vicinity of The Rock National School.”
Cllr Aird said the school “is in such a dangerous position, with huge amounts of traffic travelling between Emo and Mountmellick.”
Fianna Fáil Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald supported the motion, saying there is “huge speed from lorries passing the school.”
Mr Conor Delaney, Executive Engineer said:
“Laois County Council will repair the digital sign at the Rock National School and review the current traffic calming measures with a view to supplementing measures to slow traffic at this location.”
Cllr Aird also asked that Portlaoise Municipal District “calls on Laois County Council to install pedestrian safety measures at the pedestrian crossing junction on the Main Street, Portlaoise at Peppers Lane.”
Mr Paul McLoughlin, Senior Engineer said:
“Laois County Council are currently procuring the supply and installation of surface imbedded flashing warning lights to increase visibility and awareness at this crossing.”
Then, echoing a similar motion raised by Sinn Féin Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, Cllr Aird called for the removal of a “dangerous tree on the road in Crookedy, Portlaoise” and also to “complete the cutting of the evergreen trees in Liogard in advance of the bird nesting.”
In response, Mr Wes Wilkinson, Senior Executive Engineer said the Municipal District Office “will make arrangements to remove the tree” in question.
“Portlaoise Municipal District Office staff are currently liaising with residents adjoining the evergreen trees at Liogard with a view to getting the trees cut in advance of the end of February 2024,” Mr Wilkinson added.
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