I was there on a school tour when I was in Junior Infants (2005 / 2006) back in 2006 (I was 5 (6 in November)). According to the lift, it says it was installed in 2008, so there must have been no upstairs back when I was there. Great video.
Also, Portlaoise seems to have plenty of Orona lifts (Midland Park Hotel, Maldron Hotel, Church Street Car Park, Odeon Cinema (formerly Storm Cinema), replacement of the main lift in the hospital (where I was born))