BREAKING: Breakthrough on new Clonmel Garda Station as impasse delaying project is overcome
The impasse blocking the building of a long-awaited new Clonmel Garda Station has been overcome.
An announcement made by Justice Minister Simon Harris on Tuesday paves the way for the building, which will be located in Kickham Barracks to the rear of the new Kickham Plaza, to proceed.
The new station has always been viewed as of huge importance in the overall plan for the transformation of the former Kickham Barracks site.
On Tuesday Minister Harris gave the all clear for the Clonmel project to proceed through direct exchequer funding.
Up to now the Clonmel project, along with a new station in Macroom had been placed in a Private Public Partnership with a new family court complex in Dublin. Delays with that Dublin project meant all three projects were delayed as they all had to proceed together.
Now Clonmel and Macroom no longer have to wait for the Dublin project and progress can be made providing the new stations in both towns.
It is expected that the timeline for the development of the Garda stations in Clonmel and Macroom will now be substantially reduced as a result of decoupling of the projects from the PPP model.
It is hoped that work will begin on site at Kickham Barracks for the new station in 2024.
Senator Garret Ahearn said “I'm delighted the hold up to the development of Clonmel Garda Station has now been removed. This had been a very complex issue, but I was determined the station would progress.
I'm very grateful to Minister Harris and Minster Donohue for agreeing to a solution, and I now look forward to this project finally breaking ground and providing the citizens of Clonmel and the surrounding areas a new Garda Station on the site of Kickham Barracks."
"I sincerely thank the team at Clonmel Garda station, led by Superintendent Keiran Ruane, for their patience the past few years because they deserve a quality working environment that meets the needs of modern day policing," added Senator Ahearn.