LOCAL TD Sean Fleming has announced that a €20,000 grant has been approved to upgrade the playground in Mountrath to include a major biodiversity element.

ONE of the largest solar energy farms in Ireland is being planned for Laois. A subsidiary of a global Danish-owned energy company – Ørsted Onshore Ireland Midco Ltd – is planning to develop a solar farm across a stretch of land measuring 4.

THREE community centres in Laois are the big winners in the recently announced €783,172 that has been allocated to 11 community centres in Laois.

SCHOOLS in Mountmellick, Portarlington and in Ratheniska have been approved for new special education classes.

OUR Journalist Joe Barrett has reported on every town commission, town council, county council, general election and referendum count that have been held in either Laois or in Offaly over the past 25-years.

TWELVE candidates submitted their nomination papers by closing time today Saturday 16 November to contest for three seats the 34th Dáil from the Laois constituency.

Portlaoise man Jason Lynch signed the nomination papers in Portlaoise Court House on Friday and will be contesting the election as an Independent candidate.

Two new bridges are to be built over water courses on the site

“I know I have an uphill climb ahead of me,” - Rosie Palmer (Green Party)

FUNDING to the tune of €271,296 from the Government’s latest multi-annual Rural Water Programme was allocated to three group water schemes in Laois. The Heath Group Water Scheme is to receive €97,527.

I along with my party are fighting for a €15 an hour minimum wage and ending the pay discrimination of those under 20 - Ken Mooney

The successful groups each received a share of the total funding of €229,213