Justice minister talks about ‘ reconfiguring’ Sligo station
JUSTICE Minister Frances Fitzgerald hasn’t given any indication when it’s likely Sligo will get its promised new Garda Station.
A pre- election promised from the Minister in October 2015 revealedSligo has been included in a new multi million euro building and refurbishment programme which will run from 2016 to 2021. HOWEVER, there’s been no progress on securing a site for the new station, let alone seeing work begin.
In the meantime, fed up Gardaí at the station threatened to withdraw from the crammed and overcrowded headquarters which has been described as a health and safety risk in an engineer’s report.
In a reply this week to Deputy Tony McLoughlin, the Minister said she was assured that local Garda management and the Office of Public Works were working closely to examine how the station could be reconfigured to address the identified health, safety and space concerns and to address the need for refurbishment works to the public office, custody management and welfare facilities for the station party.
“The Office of Public Works has also been requested to secure additional external accommodation for the purpose of relocating Garda services and personnel while remedial works are carried out.
“In addition, I understand that refurbishment works have been carried out to significantly upgrade the kitchen and toilet facilities at the station. In the longer term, as you are aware, the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme includes a commitment to provide a new Garda station at Sligo town and this will ensure that An Garda Síochána have a modern facility from which to provide a comprehensive policing service to the community,” said the