'Eyesore, absolutely dreadful' burnt out council houses in Laois await replacement

Residents in a Portlaoise housing estate are being treated unfairly by the slow progress to knock and replace two burnt out houses.

So claims a Portlaoise councillor who is calling for urgent action in Lakeglen.

A fire gutted a first house and spread to a second back in April 2021, and both have lain boarded up since. Nobody was injured but two families had to move out, with a Garda investigation still open into the cause.

While Laois County Council is working to get Government approval on its designs to demolish and rebuild the houses, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley wants action immediately.

"For everyone walking by the top of the Mountmellick road, let alone residents living in the estate, it's an eysore, it's absolutely dreadful.

"I ask that the council move forward in two phases like they did in O'Moore Place. They demolished in the first phase, and waited until they had the money secured from the department for the work to rebuild.

"I've no doubt there has to be an insurance company involved. I ask that you knock your heads together and try get them demolished.

"I am told that one house will be rebuilt for a family of a person with a disability, and I am delighted as I asked for that," she said.

Cllr Dwane Stanley said that she was told by a council official that a price cannot be placed on the project.

However the design tender currently advertised by Laois County Council, puts the estimated price at almost €350,000 for each house, as revealed by the Leinster Express / Laois Live. Read that story below. 

She said that leaving the burnt structures "causes a difficulty in itself".

"It will attract anti-social behaviour and rubbish being dumped. It's very unfair to residents," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

Cllr Noel Tuohy seconded.

"I welcome the provision of disability access. Unfortunately now when Lakeglen is mentioned, it is described as where the houses burnt down. They have to look at it every day," he said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said that the news the houses will be rebuilt is positive but "I urge you to do it as speedily as possible".

Cllr Willie Aird praised the residents of Lakeglen for keeping the estate looking so well.

Cllr Dwane Stanley had tabled a motion to the January meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking for an update, costs and a start date for the two houses. 

Burnt out Portlaoise houses set for rebuild by Laois council

She also requests that gullies be cleared and road marking repainted on ramps into Lakeglen. This will be done.

In a detailed reply, Laois County Council said that the Department of Housing requested further detail from them on the design for the two new houses.

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They expect that once these design queries are addressed, a design team will be appointed, with a tender for a design team currently being advertised, due to close in February.  Only then will the project move to Part 8 planning and construction tender phase.