The Health Service Executive (HSE) have been granted planning permission to construct a new Ophthalmology Unit in Portlaoise.
The development will be at Portlaoise Family Resource Centre, Knockmay, and will involve a change the use of existing HSE accommodation located to the North of the building, at ground floor level.
The new Ophthalmology Unit will consist of a Ophthalmological Dark Room, a Nurses Administration Room, and three Clinical Consulting Rooms.
Previously the service was available in Portlaoise Hospital where the clinic was run by Dr Loretta Nolan, but the service was closed when Dr Nolan left the role a number of years ago.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, children from Laois and the surrounding areas have been forced to travel to Athlone to avail of these services.
Laois County Council have also given the green light for a change of use for Block A of Parkside on the Abbeyleix Road at O’Moore Park.
The change the will affect floors at plaza level to the fourth to provide for ten apartments – five two-bed apartments and five three-bed apartments.
As well as a communal space, landscaping works, and bin storage, car parking, bicycle parking and a storage area will be included in the existing basement area.
The Council have also given the go-ahead for several apartments at The Maltings in Portlaoise to be changed from long-term to short-term letting.
The changes at Harpurs Lane pertain to Block 5, taking in four one-bed apartments on each of the first three floors as well as a one-bed apartment and five two-bed on the fourth floor.
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