Costly new Portlaoise building in Portlaoise prison complex in limbo

An expensive new building constructed with taxpayer's money for the Irish Defence Forces on public property in Portlaoise that appears to be in limbo looks set to be handed over to prison authorities at some point to let them find some use for something that was built for soldiers.

Construction work appears to have been completed on the Dublin Road facility beside the Irish Prison Service (IPS) Training College on the town's Dublin Road.

It was built as a secure transit facility for Irish soldiers going on and coming off armed duty at Portlaoise Prison. The building was due to replace a base at the rear of Portlaoise Garda Station. It is to be demolished to make way for a new extension to what is the Laois Offaly Garda HQ.

However, the use of the new building on the Dublin Road was thrown into doubt this summer when the Government decided that soldiers were no longer needed for Portlaoise Prison as the number of paramilitary prisoners had dwindled to the low single figures.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live asked the IPS, the Department of Justice and the Office of Public Works in recent weeks what use the purpose-built unit would be put to in the wake of the Government's decision.

The OPW said at the end of July that the new unit will be complete in the coming weeks. It also outlined a contingency agreement.

"There is a pre-existing agreement that if this piece of land/building was no longer to be required by the Defence Forces, then it would revert to the IPS. If and when that happens, IPS will consider the best use for the building," it said.

The Department of Justice gave the same reply in July.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live asked the IPS in late August if it had taken ownership of the building. A statement said it remains with the OPW. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The planning notice on the Dublin Road.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live asked the OPW if the building has transferred to the OPW by the builders and if so has the Defence Forces taken up occupancy. We also asked if there a timeframe on how long the Defence Forces require use of the building given that the Government has decided that soldiers will no longer be needed at Portlaoise Prison.

The OPW was also asked what the final cost to the State is for the project.

A reply to these questions is awaited.

The OPW told the Leinster Express/ Laois Live in late 2022 that delivery of the new Defence Force building would not delay the placing of the main contract works for the redevelopment of the Portlaoise Garda Station. The substantial works have yet to commence at Portlaoise Garda Station.

Plans for an expanded Garda Station and new Defence Forces building have been in the works for more than a decade.