Government decision on new Laois court could be imminent as vermin removed from Portlaoise building

Rodents are no longer roaming around the Portlaoise's Courthouse and their recent discovery may have enhanced the prospects of the Government finally releasing funds for a new building in the Laois town before the General Election.

A spokesperson for the Courts Service confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that vermin in the building on Main Street had been removed following pest control work.

The spokesperson also said that no report had been received of damage caused by the rodents to the building's wiring which could have made it unsafe.

The presence of vermin was confirmed by the Court Service in June after the animals could be seen in court chambers during sittings.

The Court Service had confirmed previously that the 240 year old building was no longer fit for purpose. It had worked with the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Laois County Council to identify a site in Portlaoise for a new building. 

A site was secured in 2020 and plans have been drawn up. The construction of a new courthouse is included in a bundle of projects that are awaiting funding green light from the Government as part of the latest phase of implementing that National Development Plan.

It is understood that the next set of funding approvals by Government are due to be made this year, perhaps in tandem with the General Election. Court authorities are hopeful that the Portlaoise project will be included in the Government's announcements.

If the green light is given, a new court will be built near Laois County Council's HQ. Senior OPW management told TDs recently that the new court would be similar to the Letterkenny Courthouse. It opened in 2018 costing €140 million to build under a public-private partnership mechanism.

However, Ciaran O'Connor, State Architect, told Laois Offaly TD Dep Brian Stanley in June that funding had yet to be approved. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

"The site has been bought by the Courts Service but, as of now, it has no capital funding to advance the project," said Mr O'Connor.

There has been active lobbying and appeals in Portlaoise for several years for a new courthouse.

The existing building is about 240 years old. It has undergone several costly renovations and upgrades in recent years but there are just two court chambers which are used for Circuit and District Courts sittings as well as family law and civil matters.