A Laois County Councillor has called for the Donaghmore Workhouse to be turned into an IT training hub.
Cllr John King put down the motion at Monday’s meeting of Laois County Council.
As it stands, the workhouse, located between Borris-In-Ossory and Rathdowney, is an educational tourist attraction ran by a committee of volunteer spearheaded by Trevor Stanley.
It also has been fitted with high-speed broadband and it was this that led Councillor King to put down his motion.
He wishes to see Donaghmore become a technology training centre, for local small business owners including farmers.
He said: “We are all here in Donaghmore today and the best part of €100,000 was invested in it.
“It’s near the motorway and there are 55 or 60 businesses in the Rathdowney area who have asked me if they can avail of this property.
“I met Dermot Bannon here to showcase it some weeks ago. The fact that we own this place with parking and toilets, I am asking the chief executive to develop this.”
Cllr King received support from fellow Councillors, including Cathaoirleach Conor Bergin.
He said: “On one hand it is a solemn occasion to have our meeting here, remembering the suffering and hardship of people who died here.
“But this is also a modern facility managed by local people, owned by Laois County Council and offering high speed broadband.”
In response, a Laois County Council official said that future plans need to be developed to explore increased space in Donaghmore, and that as it is a protected structure, any intervention will require expertise and a source of funding.
But they agreed to explore the matter further and revert back to Councillor King with a response.
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