Laois Senator says 80 families unable to move into new homes as they have no ESB connection

A Laois Senator says ESB delays are preventing 80 families from moving into their new homes.  

Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack has raised serious concerns in the Oireachtas over the ongoing delay preventing 80 families from moving into their new homes in the Sandwood development in Portlaoise.

She described the situation as “completely unacceptable,” stating that despite having purchased their homes as far back as January, the families remain unable to access them due to ongoing ESB connection issues.

“These families were told they’d be in by January or February of this year. Then it was pushed to May. Now they’re being told October. Children are already enrolled in nearby schools — and now, come September, some will be travelling from as far as Dublin just to get to class. Some families have even had to reapply for their mortgages due to the time delay. That is an outrageous burden to place on people who have done everything right,” Senator McCormack said.

If you are affected and would like to tell your story contact the Leinster Express/Laois Live here.

The developer, Holybrook, submitted the connection application to ESB in March 2024. However, the ESB has cited capacity issues at the local substation in Portlaoise as the reason for the ongoing delay. Senator McCormack also raised concerns that ESB’s planning and capacity estimates were based on outdated figures from the Department of Housing, failing to reflect the reality of Laois’s growing population and housing needs.

“Portlaoise is a rapidly growing town. We are taking the overspill from the cities as a commuter belt county, but we are not being prioritised when it comes to critical infrastructure like power and water. This is the direct result of years of poor planning and a lack of investment in key services in smaller counties like Laois.”

Senator McCormack, who raised the issue directly with the Housing Minister during a recent Oireachtas Housing Committee meeting, is calling for immediate cross-agency intervention between the ESB, the Department of Housing, and the developer to ensure the connection is completed without further delay.

“These homes are built. They’re ready. The only thing standing between families and a roof over their heads is red tape and a lack of forward planning. That’s not good enough. The government must step in and ensure these families are not left waiting another day longer,” she said.