Call for 5km travel limit restriction to be relaxed

Photo: Independent Cllr John Leahy.

An Offaly councillor has welcomed the u-turn by government to increase the numbers allowed to attend funerals from the original 10 in Level 5 to 25.

Cllr John Leahy said the original restriction was causing huge upset amongst the public. However, he said the 5km travel restriction is causing huge concern in rural areas, complaining that it is depriving older people and young families of the opportunity to go to parks or other safe open areas to exercise as they are beyond the 5km limit.

"At this time of the year our roads are lethal with the evenings getting darker quicker and weather conditions being poor.

"The last thing we want to see are older people or young families walking or cycling on country roads because they can't visit safe areas to exercise.

"I have been onto the government departments to raise concerns about this and to seek a relaxing of the rules in this case," he said