Funding of €1.5 million has been approved by Laois County Council for a new Civil Defence facility in Portlaoise.
However, a suitable property has not yet appeared on the market due to the limited number of appropriate buildings.
At the recent meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley proposed a motion calling for an update on the progress made in securing a building in Portlaoise for the Civil Defence.
Cllr Dwane Stanley said that the group is currently based in Stradbally, but a fire station is due to be built on that site.
She commended the work they do in a voluntary capacity in all weathers and asked if there was any timeframe on finding a facility.
Supporting the motion, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said that it was really necessary for the group to secure a good, proper base.
Also supporting the motion, Cllr Noel Tuohy said: “With groups like the Civil Defence and the Fire Service, we forget they exist until we need them.”
Director of services Simon Walton said that, in the recent adoption of the Capital Budget 2022-2024, the Councillors approved the provision of €1.5million to enable the purchase of a Portlaoise-based facility to support the ongoing operations of Laois Civil Defence.
He said the council continues to seek to identify suitable on-the-market properties that will meet the ongoing and future needs of Laois Civil Defence.
Mr Walton said that the €1.5million funding was the first time such a commitment had been made in Laois, but the issue now is identifying an appropriate building.
“There’s a limited number of buildings out there that are suitable,” he said, “but we’re keeping an eye on the market and our hope is that a property will emerge.”
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