Oral hearing on bid to CPO house and land in Portlaoise
Council efforts to contact the owners of the house and the land by post proved unsuccessful
An oral hearing will take place next month to decide on Laois County Council’s bid to compulsorily purchase a house and land in Portlaoise.
The Council is looking to buy 207 St Brigid’s Place along with its adjoining lands for use as housing.
Council documents state that “the property has been vacant for some time and has been the subject of anti-social behaviour. The property is now in a derelict condition following a fire in late September, 2025. The property comprises two separate folios and there are two separate registered owners.”
“The Housing Department has confirmed that this property would be suitable for social housing and that there is a demand on the housing waiting list for this type of property in this location.”
The documents indicate that the house and adjoining land are registered in the names of two different individuals. It states that Julia O’Shea is the registered owner of the house at 207 St Brigid’s Place while Joseph Gilchrist in Ballyroan is the registered owner of the land.
Laois County Council said “correspondence issued by Registered Post to Julia O'Shea, 207 St Brigid's Place, Portlaoise, Co Laois as the registered owner on 1st October, 2025. The correspondence was returned by An Post on 1st July, 2025 as 'Gone Away'.”
They also said “correspondence issued by Registered Post to Joseph Gilchrist, Crubbin, Ballyroan, Co. Laois as the registered owner on 1st October, 2025. The correspondence was returned by An Post on 1 July, 2025 as 'Unknown at this Address'.”
In February, a Council Town Regeneration Officer and a Director of Services confirmed that the Compulsory Purchase Order(CPO) was necessary and that the land and property is suitable for housing use. They recommended the CPO process which was then approved by Council CEO Michael Rainey in March.
As part of the process An Coimisiún Pleanála will have to approve the CPO which was lodged with them in April.
An Coimisiún Pleanála has now set a date for two separate oral hearings, one in relation to the house and one in relation to the adjoining land at 207 St Brigid’s Place. Both hearings are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 13.
An Coimisiún Pleanála is due to make a final determination on the application by December 7, 2026.