'We're waiting and waiting' delayed new council estate in Portlaoise

A new date has been given to start building a long delayed new council housing estate in Portlaoise, while the adjoining walls to Oaklawn estate next door are to be repaired.

Laois County Council and Clúid Housing are going to build 54 homes on the site of the former Hepburn Court, to be called Radharc Darach.

It is six years since the council started buying up the derelict and burnt out houses in Hepburn Court, a privately built development that was vandalised by some of its private tenants, later blocked off by the council.

Along with the council's field behind it, it is to be replaced with a larger social housing development.  Work was to start last spring but the contractor pulled out of the deal.

Now a new contractor is being appointed, and work is promised to start in October.

"Enabling works for site utilities have commenced on site. Contractor appointment for construction works contract will be finalised by end of Q3 (September) 2024, with works on site due to commence early in Q4 (October - December). Inspections of all boundary walls along Oaklawn have commenced and a programme of necessary repairs to these boundary walls is to be agreed," senior Laois County Council engineer Trevor Hennessy reports.

His update is on foot of a motion tabled by Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley to the September meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.

She also asks for a new boundary wall running between the new estate and Oaklawn estate next door. 

"This was a motion I submitted in June and there hasn't been a whole lot happened since. A contractor was appointed last year but pulled out because of the huge delays. You were going with a modular build but had to retender. I was told there was a new contractor in April or May. I'm not sure what's holding it up. 

"The remaining houses have been demolished. You have been working on the sewers but we're waitingand waiting on a start date, how long will it take? And what is the delivery date? We badly need this whole site developed. It seems to be going on forever.

"The residents of Oaklawn want this boundary wall, it's practically gone. You need to put a capping on to prevent climbing. Two residents are getting a wall but I want it for all residents, it wouldn't be right to leave the rest of them hanging," Cllr Dwane Stanley asked. 

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald seconded the motion.

"I met Clúid and they will build the boundary wall beside houses nearest the development. This is all taking too long. The place is left derelict. People want to know a start date," she said.

Acting Director of Services Paul McLoughlin said there had been "difficulty with the contractor's availability". He said he would check the start and delivery dates and let the councillors know.