Moving 'substandard' courthouse would revitalise heart of Portlaoise, says Laois TD

Laois TD Willie Aird has called for funding to replace the ‘substandard’ courthouse in Portlaoise. 

Dep Aird asked Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said moving the courthouse would revitalise Portlaoise town centre and make it more pedestrian friendly. 

He pointed out that the National Development Plan, 2018-2027 had identified the need for a new courthouse in Portlaoise and a site has been bought in the town for the purpose.

Moving the courthouse would open the door to a more accessible, pedestrian-friendly town centre, revitalising the heart of Portlaoise and encouraging new economic growth, stated Dep Aird.  

“I heard from legal professionals and members of the Garda and the Irish Prison Service. They all said the same thing, namely the existing courthouse is no longer fit for purpose. It causes congestion, which has a negative effect on businesses and residents in the town. There is a lack of privacy and dignity for those attending the court,” he said. 

Dep Aird spoke of the logistics of bringing prisoners from the Midlands Prison to the courthouse twice a week.  “No one but us in Portlaoise has anything like the Midlands Prison, in which there are 1,500 prisoners,” he said. 

Dep Aird said a site had been secured in Portlaoise for the new courthouse five years ago. 

“The need is obvious and the benefits are evident. I urge the Minister to prioritise the immediate provision of funding in order that the construction of a new courthouse in Portlaoise can commence without delay,” he said. 

“We must deliver a courthouse that meets the needs of the 21st century. I emphasise the fact that the Midlands Prison is located in Portlaoise. I thank all the people who work there caring for those in that facility every day of the week. Friends of mine work there. From a logistics point of view, vans, security and gardaí are needed. If there was a new facility, we would need less than a quarter of staff who currently accompany the prisoners from the Midlands Prison. That is why there is an urgent case to make today,” said Dep Aird. 

Minister O’Callaghan said “my expectation is that development of the new courthouse in Portlaoise will form part of the latter phase of the current National Development Plan. The precise details remain to be settled.”

He agreed with the need to develop a situation where prison officers are not used frequently during the day to transport prisoners to court. 

“I will bring forward legislation later this year, in the form of a miscellaneous provisions Bill, in which we will seek to give effect to that for many more remote hearings. People can have their hearings from the prison where they are being held on remand rather than being transferred by prison officers to a courthouse for that purpose,” he said.  

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“It makes sense if there is a strong prison, like the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, to ensure that here is a correspondingly suitable courthouse in the vicinity. There is a courthouse in Portlaoise. The Deputy has urged eloquently that it needs to be upgraded, refurbished or replaced. I will take that on board,” he said. 

“I understand why legal practitioners and representatives such as Deputy Aird want a new courthouse there. It is in the plan. I cannot give a commitment as to when the project will start,” Minister O’Callaghan said.