Demolition complete on burnt out Portlaoise council house
Laois County Council gives update on long awaited reconstruction
Two Portlaoise council houses that had to be abandoned by tenants after a fire almost two years ago, are still awaiting reconstruction.
Number 13 Lakeglen was demolished by a contractor for Laois County Council in recent months, with secure hoarding erected around it.
The adjoining property, number 14 Lakeglen, to which the fire had spread from number 13 in August 2022, is now boarded up.
Sinn Féin Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley got an update on the reconstruction plan, at the May 2024 meeting of Laois County Council.
The Director for housing and planning is Angela McEvoy.
She said that the planning application will come before councillors as a Part 8 decision.
"We will notify yourselves and go through that process in the next week," she said.
The demolished house will be rebuilt, and the other one renovated, to offer a four bedroom and a three bedroom house to tenants.
The length of time it took for demolition was criticised by Cllr Dwane Stanley in the past. Last September she reported that dumping and rats were on the properties, creating an eyesore and a health concern for residents in the estate.