Laois County Council have completed the purchase of a former hardware shop that also contained a bakery for €1.85 million.
The news of the purchase of the former Gings hardware store which later became Kelly Lou Bakery was confirmed at Monday’s meeting of Laois County Council.
This is located in Kea Lew Park in Portlaoise and will become the new home of Laois Civil Defence.
The Council were going to build them a new base from scratch but CEO John Mulholland says this decision to switch will save them €1.5million.
He said: “It’s very good all round. Constructing a 900sqm unit would have come in at €3.5 million – not including site works.
“This will cost €1.85 million, an immediate saving of €1.5 million.
“It will have to be refurbished and fitted out with IT and carpets but it’s not far from ready.
“It should take about two months. We don’t know that cost yet, we are doing designs on it.
“I’m certain this will turn out to be a very good project for all using it.”
Cllr Caroline Dwane-Stanley queried if An Post, who are currently in the building, would be remaining after the sale had gone through.
But CEO Mulholland confirmed that these would be gone by August and the building would be for the Civil Defence.
Councillor Catherine Fitzgerald asked if the Order of Malta could be accommodated on the site and it was agreed that this would be looked at.
The Council also confirmed that the building would be used as the count centre for the 2024 Local Elections which would bring an additional saving in having to lease a separate building.
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