Compulsory Purchase Order on derelict Portarlington AIB bank and house

Laois County Council is planning to serve a Compulsory Purchase Order to forcibly buy the old AIB bank site in Portarlington.

Director of Services Angela McEvoy confirmed the action at the September meeting.

“We have gone through all the processes. Our next step is to CPO on that,” she said.

She said it is one of 40 properties currently on the Register of Derelict Sites.

It followed criticism by Cllr Aidan Mullins that the Derelict Sites Act needs a review, “it’s not strict enough,” he said.

“The owners are just giving two fingers to the community. It’s not a case that they have no resources. This is on Main Street. It’s disrespectful,” he claimed. 

The council had already levied dereliction fines on the derelict listed buildings on Main Street, owned by Drumgoan Developments and allowed to fall to dereliction. 

The derelict building was granted planning permission to be turned into apartments in 2019, with an altered plan later approved in 2023.