"Where has the money gone?" Laois councillor in the dark on €300 k for streetlights

A large chunk of money allocated to upgrade and light up a busy Durrow road was never spent and has now been cut completely.

That’s what emerged from a recent meeting in Laois County Council where Cllr Ollie Clooney demanded to know what happened to funds earmarked for the Cork Road which he said was one of the darkest in Laois.

He tabled a motion calling on the local authority to provide street lighting on the Cork Road.

In a written reply, Paul McLoughlin, Senior Engineer, said Road Design Public lighting staff would arrange to meet with Cllr Clooney and assess the need for "additional lighting".

The reply didn't please Cllr Clooney and led to further questions about the money he believes has dissappeared for what he said is "one of the darkest roads in our area never mind in all of Laois". He said no light had been installed on the road for nearly three decades. 

He probed council staff on the whereabouts of money he believed was set aside in recent years. He said local people were delighted with an announcement in a press release of €300,000 for work on the road three years ago.

“Where has it gone? There is not a sign of the money”, he said.

Cllr Clooney referenced a draft spending plan on roads for 2023 which contained no reference to the Cork Road.

He said houses are located on the road which is also the route to the Durrow Lions AFC soccer club as well as being popular with walkers. 

“It’s not good enough that people have to walk in the pitch dark,” he railed.

He said he would have had discretionary funds allocated to him spent on lights in the last three years if he knew the money would not be spent.

It was left to Cllr Edmond Kenny, District Engineer, to answer. He made no reference to money Cllr Clooney claimed was announced in 2020 but did confirm funding was allocated and approved under the 2022 Active Travel programme. This was not spent and he confirmed no money was allocated in 2023.

This frustrated Cllr Clooney who countered that there should have been no announcement previously if money was not tied down in the first instance.

“It gives false hope,” he argued.

The councillor said lights and paths are "basic rights" that should be prioritised.

Cllr Clooney was supported by his fellow independent Cllr James Kelly who said he had previously raised the lighting problems on the road with the council.

“The lights are very very poor,” he said.

Apart from the length of the road, he said speed is also an issue to justify lights. 

Cllr John King, Fine Gael, said the situation is faced in similar towns. He wanted to know who plans lighting for towns.

In reply Director of Services, Donal Kelly said the council's Roads Section decides.

Cllr Paddy Bracken added that money was an issue given the cost of putting up a light which, he claimed, could run beyond €4000 for just one.

Big boost for cracked roads in Laois Minister’s village

The issue was raised at the recent Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District meeting.