A Laois County Councillor has called for a two-stage process to be enacted in relation to two houses that were burnt out in a Portlaoise housing estate.
A new design was previously agreed to refurbish two properties in Lakeglen in Portlaoise.
At a recent meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, Senior Engineer Trevor Hennessy gave an update on the project.
He said: “The detailed design for the refurbishment of these two houses agreed by the Housing and Planning Departments was submitted for the Department for approval.
“This detailed design included for the demolition of the two existing fire damaged properties and construction of two new dwellings.
“Laois County Council’s Housing Department are currently addressing further design queries raised by the Department of Housing.
“Once these queries are addressed, the Housing Department will proceed with the formal appointment of a design team.
“A tender for the appointment of the design team is currently advertised and is due to close in February 2023.
“Once the design team is appointed, this scheme will then be progressed to Part VIII planning and construction tender stage.”
Sinn Fein Councillor Caroline Dwane-Stanley welcomed this update but called for works to be carried out quicker.
She said: “For everyone walking by the top of the Mountmellick road, let alone residents living in the estate, it’s an eysore, it’s absolutely dreadful.
“I ask that the council move forward in two phases like they did in O’Moore Place.
“They demolished in the first phase, and waited until they had the money secured from the department for the work to rebuild.
“I’ve no doubt there has to be an insurance company involved. I ask that you knock your heads together and try get them demolished.
“I am told that one house will be rebuilt for a family of a person with a disability, and I am delighted as I asked for that.”
Cllr Dwane-Stanley says there is an ongoing Garda investigation into what happened to the houses in the first place.
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