Gardaí in hunt for new barracks site

December 2000

The search is on for a site for new purpose-built garda station in Wexford town, but a replacement barracks could still be some time down the road.

‘It’s not a day too soon,’ said an officer this week, commenting on the existing and very overcrowded barracks on Roche’s Road.

The Office of Public Works, which has set a January 3 deadline for the submission of details on prospective sites, says it is looking for an area of between one and a half and two acres, in the centre of Wexford town or its environs.

The existing garda station was built just before World War 2 and was designed to accommodate far fewer than the 60 officers now working there. Some years ago, a next-door office block was redesigned as offices, but even that work has done little to alleviate the overcrowding.

‘Once you get the site, you can start pushing your case forward, but we need to get a site first. If we get a suitable site, we have to get planning permission and then go through the same formalities as everybody else, so it could still be some time away,’ said the officer.

When did gardaí hope to move? ‘At the earliest possible opportunity,’ he replied.

[NOTE: It actually took a further 17 years - until earlier this year - before gardaí did eventually move to a new station].