A large cohort of Laois commuters are spending up to two hours per day travelling each day to work.
Responses received during the first week of Laois County Council’s Commuter Survey show that a quarter of those who have taken the survey so far, have a journey of up to 120 minutes to work.
The survey is being undertaken to provide an accurate and up-to-date snapshot of commuting patterns of people living in Laois and working outside the county and help market the county from an economic point of view as a destination of choice for investment – showing the range of skills that are being lost to the county each day.
Dom Reddin, Acting Head of Enterprise at Laois County Council says the response to the survey is very positive so far.
He said: “For the first time ever commuters in Laois are having their say around how they feel about commuting.
“It’s their direct, lived experiences and it’s these insights that we will use to help shape policies that will make working closer to home a reality for people living in our county.
“We are delighted with the response so far and I would encourage those who haven’t already filled it out, to take a few minutes and ensure their voices are heard.
“The survey is available at laois.ie/survey. It takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and is anonymous.”
Angela McEvoy, Director of Services at Laois County Council says: “This survey is a vital step in understanding the skills and potential within our commuter population.
“By gathering this data, we can create strategies that attract investment and generate local employment, ensuring Laois continues to thrive as a great place to live and work.”
The findings will identify key locations within Laois where skills and talent are concentrated and will form the basis for future economic development strategies.
All survey feedback will help Laois County Council understand what factors influence commuting decisions and what supports could encourage more local employment opportunities.
The survey is being carried out by leading Market Research Company, Interactions Research.
For more information or to complete the survey, please visit laois.ie/survey.
