Home News Council €3 million for Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District’s 2024 Roads Programme

€3 million for Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District’s 2024 Roads Programme

Laois County Council General

The Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District has increased allocation of The Roads Programme from €2.5 million to €3 million.

Independent Cllr James Kelly has welcomed the increase, noting the additional €500,000 has been added to offset rising material costs.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Paddy Bracken bemoaned numerous delays on scheduled roadworks in Mountmellick which have been put back due to Irish Water projects that are yet to take place.

Cllr Bracken, along with Cllr Ollie Clooney called for increased spending on roads to be accessed through the Climate Action Fund.

The pair said that the increased damage to the roads were as a result of the increased flooding, making road repairs a climate issue at certain locations.

This was strongly supported by Fine Gael Cllr John King and Fianna Fáil Cllr Seamus McDonald.

Fine Gael Cllr Conor Bergin also called for flooding issue in the Municipal District to be addressed with river drainage, specifically on the River Nore which crosses a great deal of the district.

Cllr Bracken also sought clarification on the discretionary funding at each County Councillor’s disposal.

Mr Donal Brennan, Director of Services confirmed that each Cllr has €31,000 for community projects, burial grounds, and roads and footpaths.

There is also a fund of €25,000 which was designated for a single project across the Municipal District.

However, because of the nature of the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District, which sees several towns of similar size dispersed across the west of the county, it was agreed that the €25,000 be divided equally among the six Cllrs.

This brings each Cllrs Community Discretion Fund to just over €35,000 in total.

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