Local TD ‘really shocked’ as cost of Laois bus stops/shelters revealed at over €24,000 each

A Laois TD has said he is “really shocked” at recently unveiled figures that reveal the cost of new bus stops/shelters in Portlaoise was over €24,000 each while two new wheelchair accessible bus stops/shelters installed in Mountrath came in at close to €62,000, making them the most expensive in the country.

Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming – who is chairman of the Dáil’s Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery – said that close to €2 million has been spent on 70 bus stop/shelters in Portlaoise and two in Mountrath.

A total of €1,805,078 was spent in the county, including €1,681,698 in Portlaoise (70 locations at an average cost of €24,024) and €123,380 on two wheelchair accessible bus stops/shelters in Mountrath (€61,690 each).

The 70 locations in Portlaoise, provided by the National Transport Authority (NTA), vary in price depending on the type of bus stop and amount of construction that was required.

The full breakdown is as follows:

• 48 hardstanding stops – €23,206 each,
• 13 shared landing stops – €22,185 each,
• Four terminals – €48,552.50 each,
• Three minor works – €3,251 each,
• Two large hard standing stops – €37,719 each.

The two new wheelchair accessible bus stops/shelters installed in Mountrath are much more complicated than ordinary bus stops to facilitate wheelchairs, ramps and railings.

Yet at a cost of almost €62,000 each, they are the most expensive wheelchair accessible bus stops/shelters installed anywhere in the country in the last two years.

Deputy Fleming was confirmed by Fianna Fáil in April as the new Chairperson of the Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery in the Oireachtas.

Speaking in this role, the Laois TD said: “I am really shocked, as everybody will be, to hear how much these projects cost,” Deputy Fleming said.

“It is great to see the increased service, but this infrastructure is coming in at a very high cost and this is one of the problems we are facing in the country, whether it is the high cost of provision of services like this or the construction of new houses.

“This is a matter we will have to watch closely to ensure that the taxpayer gets good services to encourage people to use public transport, but it is important that the taxpayer is not ripped off in the process.”

The figures for Laois are even more jarring when compared with similar projects.

In 2023, the NTA delivered 56 bus stops/shelters in Carlow at a total cost of €401,762, which is approximately €7,174 per stop.

In information given to the Oireachtas committee, the NTA said: “Much of the enhancement programme is delivered through a series of contracts under a framework arrangement, with each contractor delivering a multitude of individual projects which vary in size and complexity, with the cost of each individual project a function of the stop complexity.

“These projects can vary from the replacement of an existing pole with a new style pole to the construction of a large hardstand area with shelter, requiring significant traffic management in order to construct the facilities.”

In relation to the cost of the Mountrath work, they said it “posed significant engineering challenges due to existing footpath levels and household door thresholds at street level“.

“The footpath levels were at–grade or below the level of the existing roadway. Therefore, when the special kassel kerb heights were considered and the finished level of the wheelchair clear zone was identified, there was a large drop down onto the existing footpath.

“Grading the footpath to the back to meet the door thresholds was not possible as this would cause drainage issues to the houses. The design also required ramps to ensure proper access to the bus stop for the mobility impaired and railings were installed to remove any trip hazard. 

“An alternative stop location was considered and deemed inappropriate by Laois County Council. Despite significant engineering works at this location, the project was delivered under the estimated scheme budget.”

“As Chairman of this new Dáil Committee I will be insisting that Government Departments and all their agencies provide accurate estimates for all major projects before the final sign off and commencement of construction,” Deputy Fleming said.

“Taxpayers are entitled to have this information in advance and not be landed with a financial bombshell after the project is completed.”

There are a total of 16,000 bus stops across the country with €8 million spent in 2023 and €13.2 million in 2024. For 2025, each of the 31 local authorities, including Laois, have been given €500,000 to enhance bus stops in their administrative area in conjunction with the NTA.

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