At the latest Portlaoise Municipal District meeting, a motion was put forward for the council to give an update on any progress made with the regeneration of O’Moore Place and the adjoining field.
Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley put forward the motion, and received a reply from Senior Engineer Michael Rainey.
In the written response, Mr Rainey said that the adjoining field is being acquired for extra housing, while they are applying for funding to regenerate the existing estate.
“Co-operative Housing are in the process of signing a Heads of Agreement with the owner of the adjoining field for the delivery of social housing.
“A separate funding application will be made to the Urban Regeneration & Development fund to support regeneration works within the existing estate,” said the statement.
Cllr Dwane Stanley welcomed the news, calling it, ‘a good news story for O’Moore Place,’ but says that residents won’t believe change is coming until it happens.
Derelict houses to be demolished
She stated that she believes six houses are to be demolished, including four in the middle of the estate to give a view into the field.
Cllr Dwane Stanley added that “34 units are being built” and that there are sales of agreement on two of the derelict houses in the estate. “Huge progress is being made. I would like to see a time frame and the first sod turned in the field.”
Cllr Noel Tuohy also welcomed the progress and said that the residents in O’Moore Place feel, ‘that they’ve been neglected for years’.
SEE ALSO – ‘Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil back failed Minister and failed housing polices’ – Stanley
