Press release
Minister Flanagan announces progress on Garda stations in Sligo, Clonmel, Macroom and Athlone
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Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, was in Athlone today with Minister of State Kevin “Boxer” Moran where he announced progress on the delivery of new Garda stations in Sligo, Clonmel and Macroom and the restoration and refurbishment of Athlone Garda Station.
Minister Flanagan welcomed selection by the OPW of the preferred main contractor to carry out the refurbishment of Athlone Garda Station, as announced by Minister Moran, for works involving the complete restoration and refurbishment of the existing Garda Station and the former Social Protection building next door.
Minister Flanagan, in conjunction with Minister Moran, also referred to progress in relation to acquisition of a site for a new Garda Station in Sligo. He noted that the OPW and the Chief State Solicitors Office are finalising the purchase of the site for the new Sligo Garda Station and that it is expected the process will be concluded in the coming days.
Minister Flanagan said:
"We are now seeing the results of the unprecedented public funding provided to An Garda Síochána in recent years. For example, of the three new Divisional and Regional headquarters provided for, the development in Wexford was completed last year, Kevin Street in Dublin is nearing completion and Galway is expected to be completed in summer 2018."
Referring to the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme, an ambitious programme based on agreed Garda priorities and including over €60 million of Exchequer funding, the Minister added:
"I am particularly pleased, in conjunction with Minister Moran, to recognise further significant progress in relation to the major Public Private Partnership (PPP) project intended to deliver new Garda Stations at Macroom, Clonmel and Sligo, namely that contracts for acquisition of suitable sites in Sligo and Clonmel are nearing finalisation."
Minister Flanagan concluded by reiterating the government’s commitment to ensuring a world-class, strong and visible police presence throughout the country.
ENDS
The Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016 – 2021 is an ambitious programme, based on agreed Garda priorities, including over €60 million of Exchequer funding as well as a major Public Private Partnership (PPP) project.
It includes:
The PPP project under the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme is intended to deliver new Garda Stations at Macroom, Clonmel and Sligo. The OPW has acquired a site for the planned new Station at Macroom; and the purchase of suitable sites in Sligo and Clonmel is being finalised. Once that acquisition process is completed, the development of the PPP bundle will be progressed under the auspices of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA).
Work is progressing with regard to the stations and facilities outlined in the Programme and will be progressed, in conjunction with the OPW and other government agencies over the timeframe of the Programme.
The Building and Refurbishment Programme is in addition to the investment of some €100 million for the construction of 3 new Divisional and Regional headquarters in Dublin (Kevin Street), Galway and Wexford.