Portlaoise and Killeshin housing estates taken over by Laois County Council

Three Portlaoise housing estates and a fourth near Carlow have been taken in charge by Laois County Council.

Borris Avenue and Borris Meadows estates are both off the busy Borris Road in Portlaoise, while several long completed sections of the large Kilminchy estate in Portlaoise is also finally taken over.

Sinn Féin Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley proposed them to be taken over, but asked if outstanding works had been completed.

"These are 36 units owned by An Tuath housing agency. It was outstanding work. the footpath at the entrance had to be raised before final roadsurfacing, and a boundary wall, is this all complete? It's brilliant that it's at this stage," she said.

The Director of Services is Simon Walton.

"If they are being taken in charge, any incomplete work falls to the council so I presume it's all complete," he said.

The taking on of Lake Edge and Lakeside Gardens was proposed by Fianna Fáil Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald.

"I'm glad that eventually they are being taken in charge," she said.

"It's going on for ages," agreed Cllr Thomasina Connell, seconding.

The council estimates that the extra Kilminchy estates will cost €7,250 a year to keep the roads, lights and services maintained. Borris Meadows will cost €2,780 and Borris Avenue will cost €1,360 a year.

In Killeshin, Rathglen, Rathillon and Rathvarna were jointly proposed to be taken in charge by Cllr Padraig Fleming and Cllr Ben Brennan.

"This is a lovely development, it is fantastic. I welcome this very good news," Cllr Fleming said.

"It's an excellent looking site, the quality is unreal. the school and town and village has benefited. They only need roads done now by Laois County Council. The were asked five years ago to make them safe," Cllr Brennan said.

The Killeshin estates are expected to cost €9,870 a year to keep them maintained.