Delay to install disability parking bay in busy Laois carpark

A long promised disability parking bay in Portlaoise town centre, has now been put off until Lyster Square is remodelled.

It is 11 months since Laois County Council agreed to immediately install the parking spot at Portlaoise Credit Union, in “early 2026” following a motion by Cllr Marie Tuohy.

Now Cllr Tuohy has repeated her request, but the answer confirms an even longer delay.

Now the council says it is awaiting new proposals for Lyster Square, under the Urban Regeneration and Development Project (URDF) before it will proceed with the disability bay.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan tabled the motions on behalf of Cllr Tuohy, who was absent for personal reasons from the October meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.

“It is probably taking a little longer than Marie expected. Her motion was almost 12 months ago. The response was that the bay would be installed early this year.

“The important thing is that this goes in. There are two medical clinics there. The nearest disability parking space is at the old library, that’s a long way for people with medical needs or disabilities,” Cllr Walsh said.

Cllr Buggy seconded the motion.

“I was under the impression that was going to be in six or seven months ago. We need to give it urgent attention,” he said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley supports the call.

“There is a lot of elderly people that use the credit union, it’s badly needed,” she said.

The phase 2 redesign of Lyster Square has €9m of funding from the URDF, along with €3m from Laois County Council. It will include the revamp of footpaths, streetlights, signage and laneways in the town centre, including Bull Lane, Pepper's Lane, Lyster Lane and Lyster Square, the Main Street, Market Square and James Fintan Lalor Avenue.

It is all aimed to make Portlaoise a more attractive, green and low carbon walkable centre.