€1.5 million to renovate historic Laois courthouse
Reporter:
);
A long awaited restoration of the vacant Borris-in-Ossory courthouse is on Laois County Council’s to-do list for the next three years.
The 200 year old courthouse has not had a sitting since the 1950s but had been renovated for use as council offices. It is now boarded up with a growingly dilapidated appearance, with multiple calls by councillors to restore and repurpose it.
The council has now included €1.587 million for this in their €130 million Indicative Capital Programme 2021 to 2023, announced in mid December.
The fund will mostly be paid in a state grant, with the council paying €158,747 towards it.
€130 million to be spent on Laois county development
Laois County Council unveils a three year spending list that largely relies on State aid
Reporter: );
);
Laois is to get €130 million of capital investment across the county in the coming three years up to 2023.
Laois County Council has unveiled a budget of €130 million that it hopes to spend on capital projects across the council for the next three years.
Most of the money is expected to come from Government grants, including €57.5 million on new council housing.
Council CEO John Mulholland says that their Indicative Capital Programme will depend on future economy and State aid.
€5 million for former Bord na Mona staff to insulate Laois houses
Reporter: );
);
Laois council houses are to be given €5 million worth of energy upgrades installed by former Bord na Móna employees in the next three years.
The state granted money has been allocated for Laois under the Just Transition fund.
The fund is paying to retrain the semi state company’s Midlands workers to work in greener industries, as peat production is ending due to its environmental impact.
Another €300,000 will be spent upgrading Laois council homes under a separate Energy Efficiency programme, also fully paid by the state.
New date given to open delayed new Portlaoise library
Reporter: );
Finish date given for delayed new Portlaoise library -400
A finish date has been given by Laois County Council for the new €5.2 million county library in Portlaoise.
The library is under construction on Main Street with foundations now being installed. However it will be another 18 months before the doors will open for readers after several issues caused delays on the plan.
Director of Services Donal Brennan gave the latest completion date as April 2022.
“In May or June 2022 we should be moving in,” he said.
The site was bought in 2013 from Shaws for €450,000, but the rising construction cost caused the council to stall the project until more government funding was agreed. Work began in early 2019 with a 20 month delivery date. However Covid caused further delays this year as well as soil problems on site.
Space for plots running out at Portlaoise Cemetery
Masterplan wanted for future cemetery for Portlaoise
Reporter: );
);
As Portlaoise continues to rapidly grow in population, the impact is also felt on demand for burial plots, and a councillor is advising that new land be found before space runs out.
Laois County Council is planning to spend €250,000 in the next three years to plan a future Portlaoise cemetery.
The figure is listed as part of the council’s €130 million Indicative Capital Programme 2021 to 2023, announced in mid December.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald urges action now to ensure there is capacity.
“I don’t know if that’s enough. There are over 100 deaths in Portlaoise a year, at least. We need to look at the bigger plan, a master plan. The last thing we want as public representatives is that we haven’t provided for this. If we need land, we should get it,” she said.