It was a busy day in Laois County Council this week with the Portlaoise Municipal District holding their November monthly meeting.
The seven Councillors in the area raised motions on numerous local issues, including tourism, parking, polling stations, footpaths and more.
One of the more significant announcements to come out of the meeting are the confirmation that Portlaoise will be switching on their Christmas lights on November 29.
It was also announced that there will be two hours of free car parking in the town on the first three Saturdays in December “to support local business in the run-up to Christmas.”
Cllr Willie Aird (Fine Gael)
Cllr Aird took time away from his General Election campaign to fulfil his role as An Cathaoirleach of Portlaoise Municipal District and tabling three significant motions as well.
Firstly, the Fine Gael Councillor asked Laois County Council to instigate the possibility of purchasing the land adjacent to the Arthur Jacob roundabout on Fr Brown Avenue “with a view to developing a town park.”
Next, Cllr Aird called on the Council to request a meeting with the HSE “to discuss their plan for the recruitment of therapists in Special Schools in Laois.”
Finally, the General Election candidate called for the Council to take in charge Rankin’s Wood (a gated development); however outstanding issues with the residents must be dealt with before any progress can be made around this matter.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley (Sinn Féin)
Cllr Dwane Stanley joined the meeting remotely, first asking for Laois County Council to arrange for the old basket ball courts behind the Convent School to be temporarily designated as a car park for construction workers currently working on the site.
The lands in question are in private ownership and therefore outside the Council’s control, but Cllr Dwane Stanley stressed the importance of this and asked that temporary arrangements be made before Christmas, saying the basketball courts are the only solution to alleviate the shortage of parking spaces for people who work in the town.
Cllr Dwane Stanley also called for the Council to contact Coilte and request the lane at Togher woods be repaired.
The Sinn Féin Councillor concluded by calling for the Council to request that polling stations to be set up at St Francis School and Dunamase College “to cater for residents living that side of town.”
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fáil)
Footpaths and car parking were the focus of Cllr Fitzgerald’s attentions during the meeting, starting by calling for the Council to remove parking spaces at the Church gates on the Stradbally Road.
The Fianna Fáil Councillor next asked for Laois County Council to install traffic calming measures near the old Centrepoint on the Mountrath Road.
Finally, Cllr Fitzgerald requested the installation of a footpath on the Timahoe/Meelick Road, saying this situation is “lethal,” adding that people living on the road “cannot walk into town – it’s just too dangerous.”
Cllr Tommy Mulligan (Independent)
Cllr Mulligan made an empassioned plea for Laois County Council have to highlight and promote “a really fascinating part of history right on our doorstep.”
He said the Council should be doing more to promote the monument structures on Father Brown Avenue which represent The Fort and the transportation of The Seven Septs of Laois to Kerry during the Laois/Offaly Plantation, saying the site has potential to be a tourist attraction.
Turning to road safety matters, Cllr Mulligan asked for tge instalation of a yellow box junction between the Kilminchy Roundabout and the entrance/exit to Dún Masc housing estate “to help address the traffic congestion and alleviate delays for residents exiting the estate.”
The Independent Councillor also requested that the Council’s Road Design Section “prioritise locations of existing uncontrolled courtesy crossings for upgrading through additional painting and signage.”
Cllr Barry Walsh (Fine Gael)
The topic of footpaths has been high in the agenda for Councillors across the county for a number of months, with Cllr Walsh again highlighting problems.
He called for the Council to “repair urgent defects, cracking, and tree damage to footpaths and road gulleys” in housing estates in Portlaoise.
Cllr Walsh also asked that Laois County Council reline Main Street, Ballyroan and review locations of welcome signage in the village.
The Fine Gael Councillor also asked for tge continued re-surfacing works in Ironmills Ballinakill and that it be included in the 2025 roads programme.
Cllr Marie Tuohy (Labour)
Cllr Tuohy focused her attentions on road and pedestrian safety issues in three housing estates across Portlaoise.
The Labour Councillor called for double yellow lines at on the curve at the entrance to Rathevan Close, saying the car parking facilities are “totally inadequate,” leading to problems for ambulance and fire services entering the estate.
Cllr Tuohy also called for the Council to cut back the trees and shrubs blocking views on the way into Highfield Meadows; and requested a review of the entrance road to Forest Park.
Cllr John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fáil)
Cllr Fennelly prioritised the Abbeyleix area with his three motions, starting by calling on Laois County Council to “start the process to take in charge the laneway off Killamuck Road, Abbeyleix” saying the lane is used for access to are “six residential properties and farmlands.”
The Fianna Fáil Councillor went on to ask that the Road from Fr Breen Park to Tullyroe Bridge in Abbeyleix be part of the 2025 roads programme and for resurfacing, drainage and dafety measures to be included.
Cllr Fennelly also asked the Council to widen the bridge at Dysart Aughnacross “to facilitate the movement of wide agricultural machinery” as there are “five farmers crossing the bridge on a daily basis.”
