New footpaths needed in Portlaoise cemetery

LAOIS County Council told local councillors that it is currently reviewing and calculating the extent of work that is needed to be carried out at Portlaoise Cemetery along the Stradbally Road.

In as written reply to Portlaoise Municipal District Council councillors at their recent meeting the senior executive officer at the council’s community section Georgina Ireland also said, that the council, “acknowledges the concerns raised regarding the condition and maintenance of Portlaoise Cemetery.” 

She said it was the council’s “aim to develop and implement a comprehensive multi-annual works programme.” 

 But added: “The scheduling and extent of any planned works will be subject to the availability of funding.” 

Ms Ireland assured councillors that “Laois County Council remains committed to working in collaboration with the Cemetery Committee to ensure that appropriate improvements are made.” 

That in essence was the reply to cllr Catherine Fitzgerald who called on the council to put in place a programme of works and to install a new footpath in the cemetery.

Cllr Fitzgerald, who is also a member of the cemetery committee said: “It’s all down to finance. The footpaths are in a very bad condition and whatever money we get, which is very little, doesn’t go far enough.

“What were asking for is a programme of works. Even if it’s a 10 or 15 year programme that we’d know that every year there’s something in the budget to do one or two footpaths in the cemetery every year. At least people can see a bit of progress.” 

She said: “It’s very difficult for people with mobility issues to get into some parts of the cemetery. When its raining and funerals are taking place, families and people are standing in muck and dirt. It’s just not good enough.” 

Seconding the motion for works to be carried out cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, who is also a member of the cemetery committee said: “Back years ago we were shown a drawing of what we had hoped to have achieved like a new gate entrance. The way it is at the minute there’s a pillar at the entrance that cars are hitting as they go in and out. There was a bit of an adjustment to be done to the entrance, but that was knocked on the head, because when it came down to do it, the money wasn’t there for it. It went off the radar completely.

“Every year when we (Municipal District Council) have out budget meeting you’d see there about €30,000 for cemetery footpaths. But what it’s actually being used and spent on is for new footpaths in the new area of the cemetery. It’s not addressing the issue, the current situation with the old footpaths.” 

Cllr Dwane Stanley said the cemetery committee also holds flag days and church gates collections and money raised through those efforts goes back into the upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery.

She said: “What we’re looking for is to get the gates back onto the radar and footpath repairs, not in the new part of the cemetery.” 

Cllr Marie Tuohy is also a member of the cemetery committee. She said: “People walking or in wheelchairs need to be able to get around the cemetery. There needs to be a long-term programme of works and a plan put in place.”