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Image of a factory with a sign saying Portlaoise

Leprino Foods Company to close Portlaoise cheese plant

The Leprino Foods Company said today it will close its Portlaoise manufacturing plant in the second half of next year.

The volunteers of PATH with the sleeping bags they collected from the Electric Picnic

Sleeping bags left at Electric Picnic given to homeless

Volunteers have begun distributing hundreds of sleeping bags left behind by festival-goers at Electric Picnic to people in need in Dublin.

Leinster • 25 Sep 22

Mental Health Commission has published three reports today

Hospital seclusion exceeded legal limit, report finds

A patient was subject to an extended episode of seclusion at a Dublin mental health unit, a report by the Mental Health Commission has found.

Health • 22 Jun 21

30 jobs will be lost due to the closure of Portlaoise Leisure Centre

Protest over closure of leisure centre in Portlaoise

Over 300 people have marched through Portlaoise in a protest over plans to close down a community leisure and swimming pool complex in the town with the loss of 30 jobs.

Leinster • 22 Jun 20

Laois County Council says refurbishment works will now get under way at the site

30 jobs to go with closure of Portlaoise leisure centre

A leisure centre in Co Laois is to close with the loss of 30 jobs.

Regional • 16 Jun 20

The man and woman both worked at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny

2 hospital workers die after testing positive for virus

Two healthcare workers at St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny have died after testing positive for Covid-19, the hospital has confirmed.

Coronavirus • 16 Apr 20

The drugs arrived in parcels from the US and Spain

€194,000 worth of herbal cannabis seized at mail centre

Drugs worth an estimated €194,000 have been seized in Co Laois.

Leinster • 06 Jan 20

Gardaí have thanked the public and the media for their assistance

Wicklow teen found safe following an appeal

Chloe Fitzgerald, who was reported missing from the Avoca area of Co Wicklow, has been found safe and well following an appeal.

Leinster • 22 Aug 19

The drugs arrived in parcels from Kenya and Thailand

Over €80,000 worth of drugs seized at Laois mail centre

Revenue officers have seized drugs worth over €80,000 in Co Laois.

Regional • 01 Apr 19

Investigations into the stabbing are ongoing

Gardaí investigate Portlaoise stabbing

A man has been injured in a stabbing incident in Portlaoise.

Leinster • 26 Sep 18

SkOUT Secure Intelligence CEO Aidan Kehoe

SkOUT Secure Intelligence to create 30 Laois jobs

US-based cyber-security firm SkOUT Secure Intelligence is to create 30 jobs as it opens a new European headquarters in Portlaoise in Co Laois.

Business • 10 Jul 18

Baby Mark's parents Róisín and Mark Molloy gave their reaction after the verdict was delivered yesterday

Father says no closure after inquiry into son's death

The father of a baby who died shortly after birth at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise in 2012 has said he and his wife were "taken aback and very upset" by the verdict reached by the Medical Council yesterday.

Health • 25 Apr 18

Catalin Rosloveanu, Costel Rosloveanu and Costel Podaru appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court this afternoon

Three in court for possession of stolen jewellery

Three men have appeared in court in connection with the recovery of €250,000 of stolen jewellery from a midland shopping centre during Storm Emma.

Courts • 15 Mar 18

The Philips recall was sent to 11 Irish hospitals

Concern over foetal monitors used in Irish hospitals

RTÉ Investigates has learned that the Health Service Executive is to review safety concerns relating to certain foetal monitors being used in several Irish maternity hospitals.

Ireland • 07 Jun 19

Locals in Portlaoise have expressed their concern over any move to downgrade the hospital

New medical assessment unit for Portlaoise hospital

A new medical assessment unit is to be set up at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, the Health Service Executive has confirmed.

News • 08 Mar 17

Draft report is being discussed by Dept of Health officials

GPs fear downgrade at Portlaoise hospital

The Dail has heard that GPs are concerned that a downgrade is being planned for the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise as the Minister for Health confirmed his department is examining a draft report on the future of services there.

News • 01 Jun 16

A firearm and a number of suspicious devices were recovered

Two arrested over firearm, suspicious devices find

Two men have been arrested and a firearm recovered after a car was stopped and searched in Co Laois.

Ireland • 26 Feb 16

Leo Varadkar said he is committed to the role of the hospital within the Dublin-Midlands group

September date likely for Portlaoise hospital plan

A Health Service Executive report on an action plan for the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise is now likely to be ready in September.

News • 09 Jul 15

The changes come after a damning HIQA report on the safety of services at the hospital

Complex surgery to be transferred from Portlaoise

All complex surgery is to be transferred from the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise and emergency department hours at the hospital are expected to be reduced to an 8am to 8pm service.

News • 03 Jun 15

The report was ordered after the deaths of five babies in the maternity unit at the hospital

Group set up to oversee Portlaoise recommendations

A group has been set up to oversee the implementation of recommendations contained in a recent HIQA report on maternity services at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.

News • 27 May 15

Tony O'Brien said the picture of what happened at Portlaoise was 'not a pretty one'

Portlaoise inquiry team will have 'free rein'

Health Service Executive Director General Tony O'Brien has said that collectively, the executive would be "ashamed" of what occurred at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.

News • 20 May 15

Parents of babies who died at the hospital are before the health committee

Bereaved parents call for HSE management probe

Parents of babies who died at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise have called on the Minister for Health to set up an investigation into all levels of HSE management.

News • 20 May 15

Leo Varadkar said it was "appalling" that parents were not dealt with honestly

Parents lied to over baby deaths - Varadkar

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has admitted that parents of babies who died at the Midlands hospital in Portlaoise had been lied to over the circumstances of their children's deaths.

News • 17 May 15

Mr Vardakar said patients were treated without respect, care and compassion when they most needed it

Varadkar 'ashamed' over patient treatment

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has said he is ashamed at the manner in which patients were treated at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

News • 14 May 15

Phelim Quinn said an oversight committee should be appointed to oversee the recommendations

Oversight committee urged over Portlaoise report

HIQA has said that given the significant system-wide recommendations in its Portlaoise investigation, there must be the political commitment to improve quality, safety and governance in the health system.

News • 13 May 15