Portlaoise Garda station taking over Laois County Council carpark
Lease agreed of underground carpark that was vandalised in the past
A deal has been struck to rent out a Laois County Council carpark that has suffered repeat vandalism, to Portlaoise Garda Station.
The council announced this week that it has struck a deal worth €30,000 a year for its two storey undercroft basement carpark in the Civic Plaza beside the council offices.
The Office of Public Works, which is carrying out a multi-million upgrade of the nearby Portlaoise Garda Station, will rent the facility which has 53 parking spaces.
The lease is for three years, starting on June 1, 2024.
It was approved by councillors at their final council meeting before the local elections, on May 27.
Cllr Caroline Dwane sought assurance that after three years, it will return to council use, and asked who will refurbish the carpark.
Cllr Willie Aird added that the swipe card admission had "given trouble" and also asked who would do maintenance day to day.
"When that land was given over to Laois County Council by Margaret Heffernan of Dunnes Stores. Are we going to be out of pocket? Who will do maintenance?" he asked.
Senior council official Paul McLoughlin said it is envisaged that the station will be complete within the three years. He said it has already been refurbished, and that the OPW will pay for maintenance, with the council to pay for any structural issues during the lease period.
The carpark suffered vandalism just before it was due to host a new Portlaoise Christmas Market in 2023, which left the lift out of order.
That had followed years of disuse due to an older attack by vandals which had left it unusable and required a costly renovation.
During the market, thieves also broke into the locked carpark and stole items from stall holders and organisers, forcing the week long market to shut down for a day.