Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing this important question. The bypass of the N80 on the eastern and western sides of the town of Portlaoise would mean that traffic, of which there is a high volume on this route from the south east, across the midlands and to the west, would not have to pass through the town of Portlaoise as it does at present. It is very important for Portlaoise, for County Laois and the midlands, but also for the west. The N80 connects the west with important ports to the east such as Waterford and Rosslare. There are already 6 km of this route in place. The 6 km, which have been constructed by Laois County Council, amount to nine tenths of it. The remaining section of which I speak is almost 0.6 km. Nine tenths of the infrastructure is in place and the last one tenth is needed.

To date, it has cost the local authority in excess of €13 million. Often it is asked what development levies are used for; in County Laois, in the main, they have been used well. Laois County Council has used them to get this vital piece of infrastructure in place. The local authority has delivered magnificently.

From a local point of view, it is an important piece of infrastructure for Portlaoise town. There are two low rail bridges in the town and while safety measures and warning measures have been put in place, there is still the occasional bridge-strike when high lorries hit them. It is important to get those high lorries away from the town completely. High lorries are going through James Fintan Lalor Avenue, up through the middle of a shopping area where there are pedestrian crossings and other pedestrian facilities, and that needs to change.

Also, in September next three new schools will open on a campus beside the orbital route and there will be traffic chaos. The Gaelscoil, the local Church of Ireland school and the Educate Together school will open there in September. In the following September, hopefully, the three schools for the parish, which will be amalgamated at Aghnaharna-Summerhill, will also open and we need this infrastructure to move traffic around the town. It is vital. The new schools opening in that area along with the existing facilities will put considerable pressure on the roads in the town, including the Timahoe Road, the Abbeyleix Road, the Stradbally road and the Dublin Road.

From a national point of view, as I stated earlier, it is important to connect ports such as Rosslare with the midlands and the west. If we are to improve the economy and competitiveness, we must improve regional connectivity.

The northern orbital route which was the grand plan for Portlaoise - not to go to the east and to the west of the town but to build a completely new northern orbital - is not feasible because it is dependent on development levies from housing construction. That will not now happen. One would be looking at a cost of up to €30 million to construct it. The local representatives and local officials are realistic about this, and as a local Deputy I am realistic about it. We are not banging down anyone's door looking for funding to construct a new orbital route.

As I stated, the local authority has stepped up to the plate here. The councillors, the local authority staff and the county manager have delivered magnificently. They have put nine tenths of this infrastructure in place.

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