New Garda station for Bailieboro being 'pursued'

The provision of a new Garda District Headquarters in Bailieboro is being pursued, according to the Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald.
Responding to a question from Fianna Fáil deputy, Brendan Smith, in respect of the matter, she said it would be pursued in the context of the Gardaí’s accommodation priorities in light of the available resources from within the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Deputy Smith urged her to progress this proposal without further delay as this garda station, which has district headquarters status, should have modern and appropriate accommodation.
In January of this year, the then Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, requested a report outlining proposals for providing a new state-of-the-art Garda divisional headquarters in Bailieborough.
A former RIC barracks, the current station was designed when demands on space, in terms of office, yard and general parking, were significantly less. Large portacabins are currently in use to provide extra office space, and there is inadequate parking for garda patrol cars and private Garda vehicles.
Bailieborough station remains one of two main divisional station in County Cavan after changes enacted last year saw the number decreased to two with the former headquarters Ballyconnell being downgraded, and also losing its superintendent.
However, the Department maintains there is no contractual commitment in place to buy a site for a new station in Bailieborough, and all such acquisitions remain a matter for the OPW in conjunction with An Garda Síochána.