'Very dangerous' situation arising outside Laois school

Flooding is causing children to walk onto the N80 road outside a Laois school, a council meeting has heard. 

Cllr Padraig Fleming raised the issue in a motion at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.  

He asked: “That Laois County Council extend the footpath outside Arles National School for 30 metres and include drainage works as part of this area becomes flooded with the result that children have to walk out on the N80 to get into their cars. These works are required in the interest of Health and Safety for all.”

In a written response, Senior Engineer at Roads, Adrian Barrett said: “The Road Design section will meet with Cllr Fleming and representatives from the Board of Management of Arles National School on site to review the issues raised and to identify the appropriate solution. A funding application will be prepared and submitted to Transport Infrastructure Ireland to secure the necessary funds to allow the solution to be delivered in 2023.”

Describing the situation as “very dangerous” for children, Cllr Fleming said a footpath and a bit of drainage would  resolve the issue. He was “terribly disappointed”  to see 2023 mentioned without a specific date. “When is that?” he asked. 

“I accept that it is going to design early in the new year but how long will it take?” he asked. 

“It is just not acceptable that it is dragged on for months and months. I’d like it done at the latest February or March,” he said. 

Cllr Aisling Moran said pedestrian crossings were needed and a footpath right down to the football pitch in Arles.

“And pedestrian crossing as well where the kids are crossing from the school to the housing estate and again down at the football pitch,” she said.  

Cllr Fleming said the need for a pedestrian crossing had been accepted.

“The problem is to get the design people out to design it,” he said. 

“We are still waiting on the road design for that crossing there for the school. I would have hoped it would have happened by now but the whole TII thing and design is holding us up,” he said. 

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Cllr Moran asked if it was possible for the council to carry out the work and then bill Transport Infrastructure Ireland(TII) afterwards. 

Director of Services Gerry Murphy said “the council isn’t going to go out and do work on a national route without their approval.”