Laois councillors plead for more houses outside 'top heavy' Portlaoise

Laois councillors are pleading for houses and sewerage to be built in the county, but not in Portlaoise, while the CEO of Laois County Council says the whole county will keep growing.

Cllr Ollie Clooney says it would be easier to win the Lotto than to get a public wastewater treatment plant for the village of Ballacolla.

“There’s lights, community centre and paths all there but it’s 26 years since a house was built inside the speed limit in Ballacolla, and that was a private house,” he said.

“The day Irish Water was allowed to take over our water was a detonator for local communities. Some schools only have two kids in classes. Irish Water have to come to the table and do something with rural villages.

“There has to be a change in emphasis. Put services where there is no population and people will follow it.  This is not just a council problem, it goes to the top, to Government,” Cllr Clooney said. 

Cllr Ben Brennan of the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District warns that schools will close and people will emigrate.

“Portlaoise is top heavy. We need to start building in small communities where there are facilities in place. We can't be taking everyone into the town. There's three schools in our parish could close because they are not getting the houses. Keep them alive," he urged.

“Give villages a chance. They are losing post offices. They are losing everything. If you don’t, those people won’t go into the town, they’ll emigrate,” he said.

“I support more houses but you can’t build them unless you have infrastructure in place. The schools even the hospital can’t cope in Portlaoise. You are bringing in people from different areas the whole time and there’s nothing for them,” Cllr Brennan added.

They spoke as Laois County Council announced that it will be welcoming offers of more land to rezone for housing, to meet new Government targets.

The Laois CEO Michael Rainey insisted to them that he is focused on the entire county for development not just Portlaoise.

"Portlaoise is not the only growth centre in this county.

"I am very conscious of brownfield sites. I don't want a doughnut effect, with growth on greenfield sites on the edge of town. This county is delivering houses and we will continue to. If we meet the IDA or Enterprise Ireland it's one of the factors they ask for. 

"That will allow us to have economic and social growth across the county, but in a balanced way, developed across all towns and villages, subject to utilities," the CEO said.

"It's a challenge for all local authorities. We've been asked to grow all our towns, in a time when infrastructure is so hard to achieve. But it is good news that we are being asked to grow as a county town.

"For years we saw all the growth go to Tullamore, Athlone and Mullingar. For the first time ever the state is recognising that Portlaoise and Laois has the potential to grow and develop. Portlaoise has been put in its proper place as a growth centre in the region.

"It's not going to be easy. We do need to engage with the housing activation office to ensure we get infrastructure. Key infrastructure deliveries, like the Portlaoise northern relief road and the Mountmellick bypass. We won't be shy, we are already engaging with the ESB and utilities so that the infrastructure is there," the council chief said.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly had pointed out that Abbeyleix is still waiting on two orbital routes.

“We’ve a lot of land in towns and villages that we can’t get people to develop. In Abbeyleix we have two orbital routes planned around the town, waiting 20 years with no movement. That might deter people from building on land within 2km of the town,” he said.

Mountmellick is also lacking in infrastructure, added Cllr Paddy Bracken.

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“It is very limited on where you could have more development. Build in small areas to sustain schools. Portlaoise and schools around it are under pressure yet small schools are trying to stay open. To build a house in Mountmellick is no cheaper but the sites are cheaper,” he said.