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27 Oct 2025
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27 Oct 2025
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A Laois County Council-backed plan to build 11 apartments on the site of a derelict hotel in Portlaoise was 'daft' according to a Laois TD who believes the county hotel should have been demolished.
Independent TD Brian Stanley made the comments at a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the Dáil.
He raised the former County Hotel on Main St with Department of Housing officials.
"It was a derelict site for 30 years. Laois County Council then compulsorily purchased it, I think, and an Approved Housing Body (AHB) was going to develop it by putting 11 apartments into the existing building, which I always thought was daft because it did not lend itself to getting that many apartments into it. I believe it should have been demolished, but I am a layperson. The AHB has pulled out and it is back to the council, and it looks like the building will be demolished," he said.
The Leinster Express / Laois Live reported in July 2025 that Clúid Housing pulled out due to the high cost. Their decision was discovered just weeks before the derelict Portlaoise property was to be demolished.
Tender documents reported upon by the Leinster Express / Laois Live in August said that the council requires the demolition of the old hotel to be replaced by up to 12 units at a cost of at least €5.2 million.
Dep Stanley believes the Department must give the green light to the local authority to proceed with the amended go-it-alone plan.
"It needs to be fast-tracked," he told the meeting.
He castigated the wasted time. MORE BELOW PICTURE
Front elevation of the different appearances of the County Hotel if the Clúin plan proceeded.
"It has been derelict for 30 years and it has been two years since the AHB pulled out. It is now back with the council, and it just needs to be fast-tracked. I think I am correct in saying it was 2019 when the AHB became involved, so six years have been wasted on top of the period it was derelict," he said.
READ ALSO: Portarlington building finally set to be completed for public use after delay
Dep Stanley said he raised the issue because units in Laois are needed for single people and smaller families.
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