New Laois courthouse plan feared 'dead in the water'
The plan to move Portlaoise courthouse into a new state of the art building is "dead in the water" a Laois Fine Gael councillor claims.
Activity at the present busy courthouse on the centre on Portlaoise Main Street is continuing to intimidate shoppers, and cause lack of dignity to court attendees, according to Portlaoise councillors.
Cllr Willie Aird tabled a motion to the March meeting of Laois County Council, asking the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O'Donovan, to receive a deputation from Laois County Council seeking funding.
"I propose we do something about this. It's on the back boiler, it's now dead in the water. What's taking place hasn't changed, it's gotten worse. We have a site behind us. I want the Oireachtas to keep the pressures on," he said.
Cllr Thomasina Connell who regularly attends the courthouse in her capacity as a solicitor, described the issues in the crowded foyer.
"I fully support this from the point of view of service users. It's not just the town affected. People going in seeking maintenance or on domestic violence cases, its so undignified, they are consulting while people are shouldering past them. There will be a prison officer injured sooner than later.
"It beggeras belief that it is put on hold. People deserve better when they need access to justice. Portlaoise courthouse is the only place they can go but it's worn out," Cllr Connell said.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley agreed.
"People seeking divorces or legal separations have to meet their solicitor in the hallway. There are appalling crowds on the road, and Garda vans have nowhere to go. People are trying to do their shopping. It's very intimidating. Covid took this whole thing outside on the Main Street but it hasn't really gone back in. The building is not fit for purpose. Elderly people tell me they avoid the Main Street on a Thursday and court is going on many other days too," she said.
Cllr John Joe Fennelly agrees with the proposal of a delegation of councillors to meet the Minister in Government offices.
"It's not fair on the businesses and the general public. This has to be progressed swiftly," he said.
"It's not just older people. Small children seeing transfers of prisoners can have a dangerous affect. Portlaoise is a no go area at that time," Cllr Aird added.
While the Courts Service has already bought a site in Portlaoise for a new building, funding may not be given until 2026 to start construction. The building is listed in the National Development Plan.
The site is off the Southern Circular Road behind Laois County Council offices.
It is nearly a decade since it was acknowledged that the present Main Street building is no longer suitable. However the most recent update from Minister Helen McEntee, given to Laois TD Charlie Flanagan last year inferred that the Portlaoise courthouse may have to wait until 2026 for funding.
“The priority project for the period up to 2025 is the proposed new Family Law Complex in Hammond Lane,” Minister McEntee said last October.