Road repairs at Laois cross lasted ‘a couple of hours’

ROAD surface repairs at a Laois crossroads lasted just ‘a couple of hours’ before they were washed away, according to a local councillor.

Cllr Ollie Clooney said that temporary repairs were inadequate at Ballykealy Cross, Cullohill, as he asked for the road to be fully resurfaced.

“The last temporary repairs lasted only a couple of hours. A couple of lorries came along and it was all gone. It’s worn down to stone now,” he told the April meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District.

The Independent councillor also asked for resurfacing to be carried out in dry weather, so that it would “last a bit longer”.

He was supported by Cllr James Kelly, who said the condition of many local roads proved that Laois was not get getting enough funding for repairs and resurfacing.

Cllr Kelly said: “It’s not the fault of Laois County Council or the councillors but the department, for not giving us enough funding. This is all about road safety.” 

In a written response, senior engineer Rory O’Callaghan said that ‘no budget is available’ in 2025 for restoration improvement works at Ballykealy Cross but temporary repairs would be carried out.

He added: ‘The 2026 Road Works Programme will need to be reviewed and agreement reached with the members, to consider the inclusion of this road into next year’s roads programme. This will result in a change to the 2026 works programme.’ 

Cllrs Clooney and Kelly said that the roads programme would have to be reviewed, because a number of roads in the district needed to be prioritised.