Laois Down Syndrome group's 'field of dreams' seeks planning

A Laois Down Syndrome support group has taken a big step forward in an ambitious plan to build a 'field of dreams' training centre.

Down Syndrome Ireland Laois Branch has applied for planning permission to Laois County Council for the first buildings that it wants to place on its 4 acre site given by Laois County Council for the centre of excellence in Abbeyleix.

However planners have returned the application as invalid.

The group who have been fundraising to build their the Field of Dreams since 2016, support some 60 families of people with Down Syndrome of all ages in Laois, to help them live as independently as possible and secure meaningful paid employment.

They envisage a Centre of Excellence, a Training Hub and an allotment for fruit and vegetables with hopes to eventually create independent living quarters at the Abbeyleix property.

Phase One is for meeting rooms, offices, a new site entrance, septic tank treatment system, percolation area and all associated site works.

Learn to discover nature on your farm with Laois IFA

However Laois planners say it is invalid, due to issues around the newspaper notice, a lack of correlation in the plans and incorrect site coordinates. The plan was lodged on April 27 and deemed invalid the following day. It can be submitted again.