No room for Laois Civil Defence at new headquarters in Portlaoise

Laois Civil Defence cannot fit all of their vehicles into their newly acquired premises as An Post is using most of the building. 

The council bought the former Gings hardware building in Kea Lew Business Park in Portlaoise earlier this year for €1.85 million. 

Council CEO John Mulholland told a meeting of Laois County Council last May that An Post would be vacating the building in the Autumn. 

However, Sinn Fein Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley told the latest meeting of Laois County Council that An Post continues to occupy most of the building. 

“An Post have 70 to 80% of that building. That is not what I bought into,” said Cllr Dwane Stanley. 

She said her belief was that An Post’s tenancy was to be over by the end of August. 

“I feel we have been completely misled on this,” she remarked. 

She pointed out that the council members had agreed to build a new building for the Civil Defence before the purchase of Gings was proposed. 

“They have 16 vehicles and as we speak seven of them will not be able to fit into the building,” she told the monthly meeting. 

Cllr Dwane Stanley said the Civil Defence were to bring their equipment to the building after the National Ploughing Championships but there was now no room. 

“I don’t know how anyone thought this was going to be acceptable,” she said.

“The public think that the Civil Defence got a new building,” she remarked. 

“We are we after getting ourselves involved in. Are we gone into real estate or renting property to An Post?” she asked. 

“I believe we have been misled as public representatives,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran asked had An Post been given a new contract. 

“What is your plan. How do you expect to get them out?” she asked. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming was at a loss to understand why the building wasn’t being solely used by the Civil Defence. 

“I am mesmerised by this. I don’t understand what is going on,” he said. 

Fine Gael Cllr Willie Aird said he had hoped there might also be room in the building for the Order of Malta. 

CEO John Mulholland told the meeting that he had been unaware of a legal contract allowing An Post to stay in the building until March 2024. He said it was only after the May meeting when he became aware when the contract documents were signed.  

He pointed out that it was a longterm project and said he was still firmly of the view that it was a good proposal. He said the building will accommodate the Civil Defence and be used for election counts.  He revealed the An Post contract was worth €72,000 a year. 

He expressed disappointment that the acquisition of the building was not view more positively. 

He said it was the single biggest development that has happened to Laois Civil Defence  in years. 

Cllr Dwane Stanley said she had been told An Post would leave the premises in August. 

“The Civil Defence were promised a new building for all of their equipment,” she said. 

“Civil Defence have the minor part of the building. It is not going to meet their needs,” she said. 

“I feel that I have been misled but I will wait to March and see what happens,” added Cllr Dwane Stanley.

Mr Mulholland said his initial understanding was that they would be there until August. 

“I am not misleading,” he said. 

Cllr Dwane Stanley said she believed the matter should come back before all of the council members who had initially agreed to a new premises for the Civil Defence. 

“They haven’t got a better deal. They got a worse deal,” she said. 

Mr Mulholland said nothing had changed except the timeline. He said a new building would gave cost between €3 and €4 million. 

“I still think that got a good decision,” he said. 

“The only thing that has changed is the timeline with the tenant,” said Mr Mulholland. 

Fine Gael Cllr Willie Aird urged the CEO to ensure An Post had no clause to extend the contract beyond March. 

“I think  it was a great buy and I still think it is a great buy,” he said. 

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Cllr Dwane Stanley argued that the building in its current state of use was not fit for purpose. 

The issue was raised in a motion of the monthly meeting of Laois County Council by Cllr Dwane Stanley. 

She had asked: “That this Council be given an update on the progress made with the building for Laois Civil Defence.”

In response, the council stated that: “The internal works required for the final configuration and  fit-out of the building will be undertaken over a phased basis within the resources available. The current works are being undertaken to facilitate the initial move by Civil Defence to the premises.”