Court service refutes Laois Courthouse 'dead in the water' claim

The Irish Courts Service has refuted a claim by a Laois councillor that Portlaoise courthouse is "dead in the water".

However the new planned building may not be ready for another seven years, until 2030.

Cllr Willie Aird made the claim at the March meeting of Laois County Council, where the problems with the current building on Main Street were again highlighted.

He had said elderly shoppers avoid the Main Street on Thursdays. 

A spokesperson for the Court Services told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that plans for the new courthouse "remain in place".

"The current courthouse is located in the town centre. In 2020 the Courts Service purchased a site in Portlaoise at Kyleiproe which will be used to build a new courthouse once funding becomes available," he said.

The spokesperson reiterated that the new building is listed in a ten year plan that extends until 2030.

"The Government's revised National Development Plan 2021 -2030 includes a number of Courts Service projects to be completed during the period of the plan.

"These projects include: ICT projects to support the Courts Service Modernisation Programme. Provision of further new or refurbished courthouses in cities and county towns where facilities remain substandard. Locations where investment is needed include Galway City, Wicklow Town, Portlaoise, Tralee, Roscommon, Naas, Bray, Navan, Swords, Tallaght & Dun Laoghaire. In some of these locations, the proposed projects will include the provision of facilities for Regional Family Law Centres. Family Law Complex on Hammond Lane to be developed by PPP. A new Children’s Court in Dublin. Modernisation of the Four Courts complex.

"The priority project for the period up to 2025 is the proposed new Family Law Complex in Hammond Lane.

"The timing and delivery of the remaining projects, will be dependent on the availability of funding over the remainder of the NDP."