Plans to renovate houses
GARDAÍ are to be accommodated in old station houses in Carnew and Aughrim, so as to ensure a presence in communities even if there is not a 24/7 counter service.
At a meeting of Wicklow Joint Policing Committee last Wednesday, Cllr Pat Kennedy queried whether this would be possible in Aughrim, as it was indicated that a second serving garda would not be allocated.
‘If we had a young garda with a family who could be accommodated in this property, then people would have confidence and there would be a good relationship built up,’ he said.
Chief Superintendent John Paul Quirke said that this has already been done with success in Roundwood and Avoca and that plans are in the pipeline for Aughrim and Carnew.
He said that consultations are ongoing with the Office of Public Works and that significant works would have to be carried out before they would be fit for habitation.