Busy Laois road needs cat’s eyes despite squeezed budget

Cllr James Kelly argued that the lack of cat’s eyes is a danger on the R445

Published 9th Jul 2026, 20:30 BST The R445 Mountrath to Portlaoise Road. Cllr James Kelly argued that the lack of cat’s eyes is a danger on the R445 Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

Cat’s eyes must be prioritised for Laois roads as a matter of safety despite possible reductions in funding for roadworks, a local councillor has argued.

Cllr James Kelly requested Laois County Council to install cat’s eyes on the R445 Mountrath to Portlaoise Road due to safety concerns along the busy road.

Speaking at the July meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick MD, Cllr Kelly urged that the installation of cat’s eyes is vital for visibility and road safety.

The MD Area Office said they will undertake a visual inspection of the R445 between Mountrath and Portlaoise within its functional area.

They noted that the deployment of cat’s eyes on regional roads is determined by localised visibility, accident history, and fog vulnerability.

Following the review, necessary lining upgrades or targeted road stud installations will be listed for consideration under future Low-Cost Safety Improvement Schemes or regional road maintenance allocations, subject to department funding.

However, Laois County Council announced in May that less road works will be completed across the county this year due to the rise in material costs.

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A budget of €31 million was set out this year for the road network in Laois. However, Director of Services at Laois County Council, Simon Walton, notified councillors that due to a 10% to 15% rise in costs from tenders that the budget may not be able to cover all works.

In light of this limitation, Cllr Kelly said he is aware of the rising costs of materials “but this is another serious road safety issue.”

“The cat’s eyes are reflective road studs and are a vital road safety measure for night time and low visibility driving. They illuminate road boundaries and edges of the road. They assist drivers in maintaining proper lane positions and provide a warning when you stray from your lane,” the Independent councillor argued.

He noted that thousands of vehicles use the road everyday and that the road from Cullohill to the boundary at Kilkenny has the same issue.