Laois County Council has been urged to intervene in an “escalating problem” between two schools and a housing estate in Portlaoise.
The matter arose this week at the May monthly meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District, where local County Councillors presented the matter.
Independent Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley initially tabled a motion calling for the Council to engage with St Mary’s CBS, on the Borris Road, to ask that the school “address the boundary issue” at the public lane way between the school and the Hermitage Estate.
Cllr Dwane Stanley said the lane way is being used by students as a “short-cut” into and out of the school, which is “causing concerns for the residents” of the estate.
Cllr Dwane Stanley said residents of the Hermitage Estate have contacted her about the issue which they say has become an “escalating problem” since the nearby bus stop was installed.
Following a recent report made to the school, Cllr Dwane Stanley said an elderly resident was the target of an anti-social attack when their patio door was “smashed.”
The local Councillor also pointed out that parents have begun using the lane way as a “drop-off point” for students, further exacerbating the problem.
Labour Councillor Marie Tuohy said that the lane way was also being used by the students of Scoil Chríost Rí, with both schools located on the same site.
Cllr Tuohy claimed the lane way was not actually a short-cut, but instead had become a “habit” and a “meeting point” for students of the two schools.
Cllr Dwane Stanley concurred, adding that the issue was becoming more serious on weekends, with students using the lane way for “anti-social behaviour and alcohol consumption.”
In response, Senior Executive Engineer Mr Wes Wilkinson said the County Council would look into erecting a fence to block access and said the Council would also contact the principals of both schools regarding the possibility of erecting fences on the schools’ side of the lane way.
Fine Gael Councillor Barry Walsh welcomed that response but warned that a fence would be “just a temporary fix” and that a more long-term solution needed to be found in conjuction with the schools.
However, Independent Councillor Tommy Mulligan pointed out that the schools are answerable to a Management Company, whom such a decision would have to go through first.
Cllr Dwane Stanley concluded by saying the two schools “must take some responsibility” in coming to a solution.
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