A decent restaurant, less traffic, free parking. Eugene McDonough
Better parking options for shoppers on Main Street/town centre area. Julie Winters
Increased Garda presence outside popular establishments during peak pub/nightclub hours on weekends. Can be like walking into a minefield at times,
especially if you look a certain way or are walking through town alone. -
If everyone would shop in the smaller shops and keep them alive, i.e., the Main Street. -
Main St. again being the heart of the town. Joan McCarthy
New emphasis on presentation of business premises. Copy places that present themselves well like Kilkenny, Westport, Kenmare etc. Noel McCarthy
More jobs. -
Better shops - Oasis, River Island etc. so we don't have to travel to Carlow, Newbridge or Dublin to get nice clothes!!! -
Reverse the one-way system at Shaws, it keeps the Main Street clear of traffic build-up at school times. Michael Larkin
More industrial development. -
More private sector employment. -
Bring people back into Main Street by having a Market Day. Anne Casey
More employment. -
I would alter some traffic regulations, and get local resident associations to maintain their own streets and roads for starters,
and get derelict buildings cleaned up. The community spirit is gone. P. Coughlan
Remove bollards from Main Street. Get rid of that cobblelock (it looks like a pedestrianised road). Re-tarmac it and make it look
like a real Main Street again. Stag
Encourage multinational companies to move out of the cities and towards the midland counties. Frances
Ring road all around the town and more big name shops. -
Additional jobs. Paul
The Main Street is crying out to be pedestrianised from Lester Lane to Shaws with the provision of
a focal point,e.g. band stand or covered walkway. Joe Murphy
More jobs like every other mid-sized town! -
Main Street is not very appealing to people to shop. Town is too divided with way too many housing estates, with little or no interaction
with neighbours. The town has become very dilapidated, depressing etc. Other surrounding towns seem to have a lot more going for them.
Nothing much ever happens, there is no sense of well-being out there among anyone. -
More Gardaí on the streets after dark. -
Free parking on Main Street. Thomas Fenlon
Maintaining housing estates, street cleanliness and more Garda presence. Elaine Slattery
If there were more bins available. Christina
Clean-up. New ways of dealing with teenage alcohol/drug abuse and loitering. Limit numbers in primary school classes.
More group activities for people of ALL ages and better advertisements for these groups [all methods of advertising;
internet, newspaper, poster, etc.]. Increase Garda presence. Sharon Byrne
More walking and cycle routes around scenic areas. A dog park. Barbara Collins
It would be nice to see more reasonably priced restaurants. It was such a pity to see Jim's Kitchen
close even though it was only open during the day. The restaurant and foodhall was a pleasure to visit and we need something to replace it.
The Dunamaise is a great amenity and should have more plays showing there. In general Portlaoise has improved significantly in the
last 10 years but it still lacks restaurants. -
An Institute of Technology or a University would be a great addition, and very accessible to people from all around the country
due to our central location. Unfortunately, due to the state of education in the country at present, it isn't something
that is likely to happen in my lifetime, at least. Barry Flynn
Improve traffic flow. Pedestrian crossings too near roundabouts. Less roundabouts and more traffic lights with filter lanes.
Car park is highly dangerous for pedestrians. A bigger post office. More Main Street shopping. Give the town back its heart.
John Pattwell
For the people to know that all "non-nationals" are not bad people. -
Make Portlaoise more clean, and reduce anti-social behaviour. Tony Huang
Get the Main Street back in business. Eilish
Get rid of all Councillors and elect new faces. John
More sports facilities. Konrad
I would try to encourage shops back to the Main Street and also encourage more high street clothes shops to the town.
I'd also like the streets and foothpaths free from litter and dog pooh. -
Pedestrianising the Main Street... a few market stalls out, and more cafes and places to sit and have a drink. Roger
More employment opportunities. -
I would like to see all approach roads to the town litter free and one nice sign of welcome in Irish and English - get rid of the
various 'Mickey Mouse' signs on the approach roads. Mary
I.D.A develop jobs. Open up Main St. Allow parking. Tom
More Guards. Council actually doing something. Council provides zero service to me or my family. -
Cleaner streets, more of an atmosphere in the town. -
More companies being set up. There is a wealth of business areas vacant and the geographocal location, together with transport made
easy, should be a major selling point. Colette Meleady
Shop fronts on Main Street and more seating areas for passers-by. Denise Duffy
More entertainments in pubs for middle-aged people. -
Pedestrianise the Main Street. It would help to bring the soul back to it. Paul Conroy
More Garda presence on the streets. Ann Duncan
Someone with vision to manage the Main Street. Lal Curtin
We need a couple of local festivals like the Emo Jazz or World Fleadh. I would also like to see a Welcome Back festival for all the
Portlaoise people who have left the town to seek their fortunes elsewhere. I think we could do it if a committee was formed. Richard Connell
More social clubs where thirty-somethings could chat and just relax. Not necessarily a pub or nightclub. -
Manufacturing job creation with large multi-nationals. Make the Main Street pedestrian! Jean O'Brien
A much better local bus service. For example, carrying shoppers from estates to and from town, and schoolchildren to the various schools. Also
more teenage discos and other recreational centres for the youth especially during the summer holidays. Mrs. S. Jewell
More Gardaí on beat. -
Turn Main Street into a market street on Saturday. It would add a carnival atmosphere and bring in much needed business to the centre of the town. John Casey