Councillors have complained that the existing courthouse on Main Street in Portlaoise is one of the busiest in the State and disrupts the town centre.

Cllr Willlie Aird told the last Laois County Council meeting in December 2018 that he had seen another video of a street fight outside the building.

Responding to his request for an update, the council said the Courts Service “is progressing the legal conveyancing” of a 5,000 square metre site behind the county hall which is intended for the new courthouse.

However, Laois County Council CEO John Mulholland said “it will be a while before it can happen”.

He said: “The council did do a lot of the speed work identifying the site and making it ready for purchase. I think the only way of delivering this, is through multiple PPP arrangements for courthouses. I think this one will be in the final tranche.”

The CEO said he will request an update from the Courts Service every three months.