There is optimism in Portlaoise this week that the town will be given funding to install closed-circuit television cameras to deter criminals and late-night disorder.
It stems from a statement made by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, in the Dβil when he confirmed the town's application for funding for the system was under consideration.
The installation is considered essential in Portlaoise given the presence of two prisons in the town, including the recently opened £43 million Midlands Prison.
Local Fine Gael TD Mr Charles Flanagan, who raised the issue in the Dβil, said the town's application should receive urgent attention.
"There isn't a climate of lawlessness around the town but in recent months there has been an increase in public disorder. The trend would not be towards serious crime but towards vandalism, horseplay and loutish behaviour".
He said the fact that there are two prisons in the town strengthened Portlaoise's case for CCTV.
"The prisons mean there are a lot more people visiting the town than would otherwise be the case."
The chief executive of Laois Chamber of Commerce, Ms Margaret Ryan, said CCTV was of major importance for Portlaoise.
"It's a growing town with two prisons but that is not the only reason. It's needed purely for general safety and well-being," she said.
The Chambers of Commerce of Athlone, Laois, Longford, Mullingar and Tullamore announced details of their Midlands SME eBusiness Programme at a launch in Belvedere House, Mullingar, recently.
The programme was launched by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke.
Designed for small- to medium-sized businesses in the Midlands, the e-Business Programme, supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, will offer training to over 1,000 businesses locally.