The plan for eight new houses to be built in Mountrath has been revisited and changed to six over the risk of flooding.
Risk assessments carried out on Shannon Street revealed that a stretch of land would be at high risk of flooding.
Because of this the council have acted by reducing the plan from eight to six houses.
The news was delivered at the latest council meeting by chief executive John Mulholland, who went on to explain that the assessment showed the piece of land being under threat from a 100-year flooding event.
At the meeting, Cllr James Kelly said he was disappointed that the number of houses was reduced but he was fully understanding as to why it was necessary to do so, but hopes the that two houses could be built elsewhere in Mountrath.
Cllr Kelly said: “We have had very bad flooding there over the past few weeks which has brought home the dangers.
“However, the part of the site that cannot be used for housing can still be used as a green area or for car parking.”
Detailed design of the six house is still underway, which were part of the Laois County Council’s 2015-2017 construction programme.
Elsewhere in Mountrath, Cllr John Joe Fennelly has called for a site beside St Fintan’s Cemetery in Mountrath to be converted to parking, with it currently attracting a siege of dumping on a weekly basis.
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