Laois house 'lying idle over 20 years' to be bought forcibly by CPO
A Laois house that has never been lived in since it was built 20 years ago, is to be forcibly sold to Laois County Council.
The house is in a Portlaoise housing estate, Abbey Court, on the Abbeyleix road, backing onto O'Moore Park.
The council say they "exhausted all possible ways of making contact with the owner" and are now proceeding with a legal Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald has welcomed the action.
"This house is vacant for over 20 years I'd say. It's a lovely estate but since it was built this house was left all that time. I am delighted you will get a CPO. I hope the process doesn't take too long. I know residents will be delighted," she said.
She had tabled a motion to the June meeting of Laois County Council asking the council to CPO the property.
Cllr Willie Aird seconded it, having raised the same issue along with Cllr Fitzgerald in the past at meetings.
"At last you are at the progress part. The frustration is not alone among residents, but people say to me it is lying idle and people crying out for houses. I'd love to see a situation to fast track this rather than take baby steps," he said.
Vacant Homes Officer Gerry Ryan gave the response to the motion, saying his office had made several attempts to contact the registered owner.
He said that on the land folio the property is a development company with a solicitor's office as the contact address, but the council was advised that this solicitor no longer represents the company.
"Having exhausted all possible ways of making contact with the owner with a view to returning this property to use, the council has now commenced the CPO porocess and will proceed to acquire the property via this process," he said.