IDA Ireland seeks planning permission for road infrastructure at Portlaoise business park

IDA Ireland is seeking planning permission for road and infrastructure works at its 36-hectare Portlaoise business park, with construction scheduled for 2027.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke confirmed the development timeline in the Dáil in response to parliamentary questions from Deputy Brian Stanley regarding site activation in County Laois.

According to the Minister, planning permission is currently being sought for a new road extension and associated services to open up the IDA Business and Technology Park in Portlaoise. The park spans 36 hectares, of which approximately 33 hectares remain available for marketing to manufacturing and international services firms.

In addition to road infrastructure, IDA Ireland has partnered with Laois County Council to prepare an application for advance planning permission covering an advance building design on the site. That proposal is under active review by the local planning authority.

Site readiness works also include granting ESB access to build infrastructure intended to increase local power capacity for the business park and the wider area. Upgrades to the park's public lighting and CCTV network are also taking place.

The initiatives form part of IDA Ireland's five-year strategy, *Adapt Intelligently 2025–29*, which focuses on regional property solutions. During the exchange, Deputy Stanley noted that 156 IDA-backed jobs are currently located in Laois and urged the agency to accelerate site preparation to attract new industrial employers.