Planning sought for Bawnboy Garda Station

The Office of Public Works (OPW) will advertise their 'Part 9' planning application for Bawnboy Garda Station in County Cavan from next Monday, December 21, which has been welcomed by a local Fine Gael minister.

Minister for Social Protection and Rural & Community Development and Cavan TD Heather Humphreys has welcomed the announcement from the OPW.

She said: “The Covid-19 Pandemic has only served to heighten the value of community policing. It is a comfort for communities when they know of the local Garda presence, which a local garda station facilitates.”

The station in Bawnboy was among six earmarked for reopening by Acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin in November 2017, along with Ballinspittle, Co Cork; Donard, Co Wicklow; Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow and Rush, Co Dublin.

Bawnboy had been among 139 stations shut around the country between 2012 and 2013, which also included those in Newbliss, Corrinshigo, Redhills and Shantonagh in the Cavan-Monaghan Garda District.

The OPW and an Garda Síochána finalised the layout of the new station at the end of November 2020; which includes the previous Married Quarters accommodation to be incorporated and function as part of the station.

The necessary Part 9 planning application will be submitted on Monday, December 21, and the tender documents are being prepared for the procurement of works required to re-open the station.

Today’s announcement comes after the OPW formally went out for tender for the new Bailieborough Garda Station in County Cavan.

Minister Humphreys commented: “This is really welcome news for the entire community. Once operational, Bailieborough will have a first-class garda station that the town deserves.

“I have been in close engagement with Minister O’Donovan and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and I am really pleased that the process for both Bailieborough and Bawnboy Garda Garda Stations respectively have moved to the next stages."