No room for prepaid parkers at new Portlaoise train station carpark

Laois commuters to Dublin have nowhere to park in the council's new carpark next to Portlaoise train station, even though they paid in advance.

The 92 space carpark on Railway Street was opened 17 months ago in November 2023, in a long awaited venture by Laois County Council that was hoped to solve parking shortages at the busy Portlaoise train station. 

It costs anything from €2 for 2 hours, to €30 for daily parkers, prepaid per month.  Video and story from official opening

The problem now for monthly parkers was highlighted by Fine Gael Cllr Conor Bergin, to the council's monthly meeting on March 31, himself a customer.

"It's a fantastic amenity, I use it myself. But people are buying monthly tickets, and there's no parking for them by 8am.

"There should be space reserved for people paying €30 a month. They arrive and all the spaces are full. Demand exceeds what is available. If you pay on the App you should be guaranteed some level of service," said Cllr Bergin, who represents the Mountmellick Borris-in-Ossory Municipal District.

The council's director of services with responsibility is Simon Walton. He accepted that there is a shortage of spaces.

"In one sense, it's nice. It shows the use of the carpark," he said.

Mr Walton has since told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that "no specific changes" have been made yet to solve the problem.

However it is up for discussion again this month as a motion to the next meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.

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In line with the Eco focus to make Portlaoise a pilot low carbon town in Ireland, the carpark also has electric car charging, bike parking, bus pickup and taxi setdown zones.

The site includes the new Goldencroft estate of 67 new A rated social houses, built for Clűid by developers Ardain.

They are next developing and adding to the former Christian Brothers home on the site, to add another 32 apartments for social tenants, along with 20 parking spaces. Read that planning story here.