A Laois TD has called for Portarlington Garda station to be restored to a full-time 24-hour service.
Fine Gael TD Willie Aird was speaking on the matter in the Dail a week after an armed robbery incident in the town.
The second largest town in Laois has population of about 9,000, and the station also serves surrounding communities such as Emo, Killenard and Ballybrittas.
“It is a significant concern to the local community that such a large area is currently served by a part-time Garda station,” Deputy Aird said.
“Residents are being forced to travel to Portlaoise for essential services such as passport verification, reporting incidents and accessing community support.”
The Laois Fine Gael TD acknowledged the national improvements in Garda recruitment but said Portarlington needs a full-time service.
“While I recognise the progress being made nationally in strengthening Garda numbers, given Portarlington’s size, growth and location, I strongly believe the town needs a Garda station operating 24 hours a day,” he added.
Urging the Taoiseach to prioritise the issue, Deputy Aird said, “I would ask you to engage with the Minister for Justice and Garda Síochána to make this a priority for the opening of this station.”
In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged the importance of Portarlington as a sizeable town and confirmed that recruitment from Templemore is progressing well.
He also committed to discussing the matter with the Minister for Justice to explore options for restoring full-time operations.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Deputy Aird also welcomed sixth class students from Holy Family Senior School, Portlaoise, to Leinster House for a guided tour of the Houses of the Oireachtas, including Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.
The group was accompanied by teachers John Coghlan and Tommy Mulligan.
The visit offered the students a chance to learn more about how Ireland’s national parliament works, the history of the buildings, and the origins and development of the Oireachtas.
Mr Aird said he was pleased to host the group and is happy to facilitate local primary and secondary schools, along with clubs and community groups across Laois, who wish to arrange a tour.
Leinster House was built in 1745 as a grand Georgian residence for the Duke of Leinster and later became the headquarters of the Royal Dublin Society in the 19th century.
When the Irish Free State was established in 1922, the building was chosen to serve as the new parliament’s home, and the Dáil first met there that same year.
Since then, Leinster House has been the official seat of the Oireachtas, housing both the Dáil and the Seanad, along with offices, committee rooms and public facilities, with additional buildings added over time to support its growing parliamentary functions.
To organise a tour of Leinster House, contact Willie Aird TD’s office at william.aird@oireachtas.ie.
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