OPW in dark over garda plan for Bawnboy station use

DELAY ‘Extra work’ costings hold up B’boro HQ extension

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is still in the dark over what An Garda Síochána intends to do with Bawnboy Garda Station, but says it has “received no instruction to dispose of the property” either.

The small west Cavan station was closed in 2013 as part of cost-cutting measures post recession.

However, almost five years later, in 2017, the Government named Bawnboy among six garda stations to reopen but no works have happened at the Cavan station since.

To date, the Bawnboy Garda Station is one of just two that remains shuttered despite the promise to reopen it.

It was hoped, at first, the station would reopen by mid 2020 but this was put back, in part due to Covid, but also after “technical surveys” identified asbestos in one portion of the property.

Planning permission was obtained that same year, which included the previous accommodation for ‘Married Quarters’ being incorporated.

Bawnboy was among 139 stations closed between 2012 and 2013, which also included those in Newbliss, Corrinshigo, Redhills and Shantonagh in the Cavan-Monaghan Garda District.

In July 2022 Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the reopening was still “being considered”.

But a statement from the Garda Press Office at the time said the planned reopening was “under review”.

It follows statements made by Commissioner Drew Harris on visit to Cavan in October 2021 when he hinted at concerns over the reopening, remarking that “a business case” would need to be examined.

He went further than that by suggesting “alternatives”, for example pointing out that other public buildings like libraries could instead be used as a base to provide local policing services in the community in future.

Works of at least €250,000 if not more are required to bring the current Bawnboy Garda Station up to modern-day standards.

A spokesperson for the Office of Public Works informed the Celt: “The Office of Public Works (OPW) is awaiting direction from An Garda Síochána in respect of plans for the former Garda Station at Bawnboy and has received no instruction to dispose of the property.”

Costings hold up B’boro

HQ plan

Costings associated with proposed “extra” work in relation to a new garda headquarters in Bailieborough are “currently being considered” meanwhile, according to the OPW.

Over €11 million is being spent converting the former National Irish Bank building on Main Street into Bailieborough’s new Garda Headquarters. The extension also takes in part of a neighbouring site to the east.

Last year planning permission was sought for new single-storey extension on the ground floor level to provide for a sheltered bicycle and motorbike parking area and storage space on an adjacent site.

The change was moved by the OPW and would result in an additional site area of 0.056 ha, making a new total site area of 0.206 ha.

The proposed new section will be fenced off and linked to the main garda station at ground floor level.

Works include extending the secure Garda-only courtyard, accessed from the Main Street. Site development works also include the provision of nine parking spaces and electrical vehicle charging points.

The initial HQ plans involved the demolition of a three-storey rear extension at the building’s north side, a single-storey building at the rear of the NIB building, and two associated out-buildings to be replaced by a three-storey over basement building at both the ground level and first floor level.

Local developer Adston Construction Ltd was appointed in 2022 to carry out the works, which began last year.

The current station, a former RIC barracks, was deemed unsuitable for purposes.

A spokesperson for the OPW informed the Celt last week that the purchase of a neighbouring property by the OPW has been completed.

“This now allows the provision of extra secure parking spaces and safer processing of those being arrested,” they said.

Plans to progress the design of the building to facilitate this were approved by Garda Estate Management and Planning Permission for the works was granted in September 2023.

“Since then the detail design has been completed and proposed costings and updated programme to complete the extra works have been received and are currently being considered,” they added.