FIANNA Fáil TD Willie O’Dea has called on the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Department of Justice to stop “messing around” and take charge of delivering a new Garda Station in Castletroy.
Speaking to the Limerick Post this week, Deputy O’Dea hit out at the OPW and urged it to get a move on and deliver the Garda Station.
“One year ago, the Garda Commissioner gave his seal of approval for a new Garda Station in Castletroy. The Government had already approved capital funding for the project, so this was brilliant news after many years of campaigning. The Office of Public Works were then tasked with finding a suitable location in the Castletroy area for the new Garda Station,” Deputy O’Dea said.
“Unfortunately, however, the OPW and the Department of Justice are completely messing around and not taking charge of the situation,” O’Dea claimed.
“The OPW and the Department of Justice are like two bad football teams kicking the ball from one team to the other all the time when people’s peace and safety in their own locality is being undermined by the lack of a Garda Station.
“Someone in the OPW needs to get their finger out and take control of this situation.”
Deputy O’Dea said that “over the years, the need for a Garda station in Castletroy was always one of the most significant issues raised by local residents”.
“Senior Gardaí had told me that they had made a business case for a new Garda station in Castletroy and thankfully the Garda Commissioner approved it.
“This was the right decision, as Castletroy is an area which includes UL with over 15,000 students and has also experienced a population explosion in recent years, with further significant increases forecast under the County Development Plan.
“The OPW now need to get a move on and deliver this long overdue Garda Station,” he declared.
In response, the OPW said that a business case is required to comply with the provisions of infrastructure guidelines (formally known as Public Spending Code) where it is considered that the acquisition of a property is required.
The department also told the Limerick Post that it is the responsibility of the sponsoring agency, in this case An Garda Síochána, to prepare this business case.
“An Garda Síochána have prepared an initial business case for the acquisition for a suitable site/ property for new Garda facilities at nine sites around the country, including a new station for Castletroy,” the OPW said.
“The Office of Public Works are engaging with An Garda Síochána in respect to the initial business case and will work in collaboration with An Garda Síochána to identify suitable sites and progress the development of the business case.”
