Longford County Council has applied for permission to undertake a compulsory purchase order on a derelict property in the town.
Local councillor Uruemu Adejinmi called for the order to be sought in June of this year when she raised concerns over a rat infestation that's encroaching on a playground on St. Michael’s Road.
She claims the large rodents are emerging from the vacant building close to the Tir na nOg creche with those attending the playschool forced to see and hear the rats.
An application has been submitted to An Bord Pleanala to carry out a CPO on a house located at O’Connell Terrace and a decision is expected by mid January.
The Fianna Fail representative says it's important the CPO comes through as a matter of urgency.
''It's such an unsightly worrying situation and it shouldn't have been left to get to this stage where rats occasionally run into the playground at the at the rear of the building where the creche is located. So obviously the CPO process can be quite lengthy. However, I'll be following this closely. I'm hoping that this will be progressed in a timely manner.''
