The single biggest issue in the rural areas is the poor state of local roads according to Paddy Buggy, Fine Gael candidate in the upcoming Local Elections in the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District.
Mr Buggy is calling for the total resurfacing of what he describes as the “worst affected roads” in the District.
These include stretches of road in Ballyfin, Clonaslee, Rosenallis, Clonaghadoo, Kilcavan and Derryguile.
“Due to traffic congestion in Mountmellick, there is a detrimental affect on the surrounding country roads where traffic is diverting onto to try escape the traffic congestion in the town,” Mr Buggy said.
“These roads have fallen into total disrepair and the local residents living on these roads are fearful for their lives with traffic travelling at high speeds.
“These roads are generally narrow with nowhere to pull into when meeting on coming traffic and were not designed for high levels of heavy goods vehicles.
“A complete new traffic management plan is urgently required for the area, with many roads requiring safety measures put in place to eliminate the dangers people are experiencing on a daily basis.”
More taxis needed in Portlaoise
Independent candidate in the Portlaoise Municipal District, Pauline Flanagan, has called on the Government to increase incentives for taxi licences in Laois, by introducing measures to “alleviate the onerous application system to address this shortage.”
Following a question in the Dáil from Independent TD Carol Nolan, it emerged that the number of licensed taxis in Laois has fallen by over 13% since 2019; from 239 down to 207.
“The significant decrease in taxi availability is something that people have been saying to me whilst canvassing at the doors,” Ms Flanagan said.
“Deputy Carol Nolan’s parliamentary question has revealed this reduction throughout Laois and this is definitely having an impact on the local Laois community and businesses.
“This will only continue to be exasperated as we head into the summer tourist season.
“I know plenty of people throughout rural Laois that are simply not coming in to Portlaoise town to have a few drinks because they know it will be too difficult to get a taxi home.”
Town and Village projects
Laois town and village projects have been allocated almost €50,000 in funding for various projects around the County.
Mountrath and Ballylinan will be allocated €10,000 each to support the development of town teams in each area.
Mountmellick Town Team has also been selected to complete a Town Centre First Plan following a recent announcement of Government funding.
Town Teams are groups of local residents, business people, community representatives, who work with Laois County Council to develop Town Centre First plans to regenerate and develop their areas.
Separately, under the Local Biodiversity Action Fund, the Government has allocated €13,976 has been allocated for Portlaoise Orbital Route, which will support biodiversity awareness.
Abbeyleix Bog will receive €11,766 to treat invasive species, which are animals and plants that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment and cause significant damage.
Finally, €3,967 has been granted for In Your Nature Podcast 2024 Series.
Sean Fleming TD, Minister of State, welcomed the funding, saying: “This is very welcome news for our local communities in Laois.
“This funding for Mountrath and Ballylinan will allow for further regeneration of Laois communities, following the successful rollout of the Town Centre First plan in Rathdowney.
“The additional funding for projects in Portlaoise and Abbeyleix will also allow for enhancement of the local environment in these communities.”
First time Sinn Féin candidate for Borris-Mountmellick Helen Campion visited her damaged poster on the R445 between Castletown and the Pike of Rushall.
However Helen isn’t holding any grudges even though her face has been cut out of her election poster.
She said: “I won’t be removing it, I quite like it. Personally I would prefer to move on to election campaigns without posters, but for now they are a necessary evil in order to compete, especially as a first time candidate.”
There have been numerous instances of election posters being damaged over the subsequent weeks all over the county.
The heads of Ollie Clooney, Fintan Cuddy, Paddy Corrigan and Helen between Castletown and Ballacolla.
There have also been many reports of Sinn Fein posters being removed or stolen in the Rock and Sheffield Cross.
However despite all the hysteria around the canvases Helen is able to see the funny side of the ordeal.
She said: “I will be keeping this one as a momento for sure when the campaign is over.”
SEE ALSO – Election Diary: Housing reform, farmers partnership and the future for Portlaoise
