Bailieboro Garda Station project to proceed to tender

The project to develop the new regional Garda headquarters in Bailieborough will proceed to tender “in the coming weeks”. Cavan Senator Joe O'Reilly (FG) informed the Celt of the development this morning.

It follows confirmation earlier this month that the Office of Public Works (OPW) had finalised a deal to acquire the National Irish Bank site in the east Cavan Town for the development of the new station under the An Garda Síochána Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021. As first revealed by this newspaper last November, there had been negotiations for the centrally located site, to incorporate a three-storey purpose built barracks to the rear of the historic banking premises.

“The development of the new regional Garda headquarters in Bailieborough will benefit both the local community, and our entire Garda division,” remarked Senator O'Reilly.

“Every resident in Bailieborough, and in every town and village across the Garda division has the right to feel safe in their own homes and on our local streets. I believe that this investment by Fine Gael in Government is a positive step in making members of our local community feel more secure. The people of Bailieborough, and our entire Garda division, have had to wait too long for this project to proceed but we are finally on track to deliver the new regional Garda headquarters in Bailieborough,” he added.
The existing station was built in 1870 for the Royal Irish Constabulary, and was criticised heavily in the recent O’Higgins’ Report as “unfit” for purpose.
“It is vital that the hard-working men and women of An Garda Síochána are provided with the support and resources necessary to support them with the duties they carry out on a daily basis to protect every member of our local community. Delivering the new regional Garda headquarters is one step in providing our local Gardaí with the infrastructure they require,” commented Senator O'Reilly.
He pledged to continue to work with the Department of Justice to ensure that the development of the new Garda headquarters “does not face any further unnecessary delays”.