Portlaoise former hardware and bakery store snapped up by council

Laois County Council says it will save €1.5million by changing its mind about building a new headquarters for Laois Civil Defence, after an offer of a former hardware and bakery shop proved too sweet to resist.

The council's CEO John Mulholland has this week confirmed that it has agreed to buy the form Gings hardware store, later the Kelly Lou Bakery, in Kea Lew Park Portlaoise for €1.85 million.

While money must be invested to make the building suitable for the Civil Defence's staff and training quarters and 17 vehicles, it is a saving, he said at the monthly meeting of Laois County Council on Monday, May 29.

“It's very good all round. Constructing a 900sqm unit would have come in at €3.5m not including site works.

“This will cost €1.85m, an immediate saving of €1.5 m.

“It will have to be refurbished and fitted out with IT, carpets, but it's not far from ready. It should take about two months. We don't know that cost yet, we are doing designs on it,” Mr Mulholland said.

The green light has been already given for the council to apply for a loan to buy it.

“I'm certain this will turn out to be a very good project for all using it,” he said.

The CEO confirmed that the current tenant, An Post, will have moved out by Autumn and the council will buy it as a freehold property.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley had pressed for that assurance, saying she had been told otherwise.

She said that the Civil Defence is happier with the new plan. Cllr Dwane Stanley tabled a motion to the meeting to ask that the building be refurbished as soon as possible after it is bought.

The unit of over 2,200sqm will also be used as a local election count centre in 2024, saving the council on the cost of leasing a unit in the same business park.

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Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald wants the Order of Malta to also be given space there. 

The council had planned to build a base on its own land in Portlaoise after a long search in vain to find and buy a building. That had required the demolition of the Order of Malta headquarters, with an assurance they would be rehomed.

Laois Civil Defence is using an outdated old squash court in Stradbally as its base, with insufficient space for equipment, training or staff facilities.