Saga continues over Garda Station

NO APPARENT PROGRESS ON THE PROVISION OF A NEW GARDA STATION AT CALTRAGH IN SLIGO

The long running saga of a new Garda Station for Sligo rumbles on with seemingly no progress on the issue.

The matter was raised in the Dáil by Sligo/Leitrim TD Marian Harkin who told Junior Minister Ossian Smith that the saga about the need to build a new Garda station in Sligo has been on-going for far too long with so many promises made and then subsequently broken.

“The existing station is cramped, it’s overcrowded, the working conditions are unacceptable for many of the staff and we have a situation where the building is not compliant with fire regulations,” Deputy Harkin said.

She went on: “Some offices have no natural light or ventilation.

“There are parking spaces for only 20 staff, while there are 150 people in the building. The heating doesn’t work properly, it is far too cold in the winter and stuffy in the summer.

“Afterall, this building was constructed in the 1840s. In 2019 the OPW stated that Sligo Garda station was not fit for purpose, that’s five years ago when a commitment was given to develop a new regional and divisional headquarters at Caltragh in Sligo, on a site purchased by the OPW at a cost of €1.3 million.

“The money was allocated in the capital plan to build the station, however in early 2020, to everybody’s absolute and utter dismay, the project was stalled.

“The Garda Commissioner did not support the building of a new station in Sligo because of the Garda divisional boundaries.

“It was then decided to refurbish the old structure, which was a crazy decision that in hindsight has been shown to be nothing more than a huge waste of money.

“In recent months new divisional arrangements have been put in place and now we are told the Commissioner supports the construction of a new Garda station, as does the Minister.

“However, we are awaiting the completion of a strategic assessment on the old building before any further progress can be made.

“It is worth noting that this strategic assessment was asked for by my colleague Councillor Marie Casserly and others back in 2020 and no such assessment or report has been published to date,” she said.

Minister Ossian Smith told Deputy Harkin that Garda Estates Management have met with colleagues from the OPW and they are considering the accommodation requirements of the new division.

In reply, Deputy Harkin said that five years ago the money to build a new Garda station was ring-fenced.

“Where is it now, Minister, I’m asking you this morning where are these funds? I understand that the OPW has completed a strategic assessment in relation to this, where is that report and what is its status?

“I’ve raised this so many times with various ministers and the Taoiseach.

“In fact the last Minister for Justice to visit Sligo Garda station is the current Taoiseach, Simon Harris.

“I sincerely hope he remembers that visit when he was able to see for himself first-hand that the Sligo Garda station is completely unfit for purpose at so many different levels,” Deputy Harkin concluded.

Fine Gael Deputy Frank Feighan previously wrote to the Garda Commissioner, Minister Patrick O’Donovan (OPW) and the Minister for Justice seeking a review of the decision not to progress with the OPW site at Caltragh for a new Garda HQ station considering the managerial decision not to amalgamate the Sligo/Leitrim division with Donegal.

He said that he had a number of communications with senior Garda management and the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and said he was pleased with their response to his call for a new building in Sligo as the HQ for Sligo/ Leitrim Gardai.

“The Caltragh site is strategically located, is owned by the OPW and provides an excellent opportunity to provide a modern station rather than working on an old building with all the logistical challenges that brings.”

“I propose to continue my discussions with all parties to ensure that a decision is made on the site without delay and if that decision is positive then that we ensure all efforts are made to expedite the planning and consultation process,” said Deputy Feighan.